Capitol Dog Relief Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8748 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8748

To construct dog relief areas on the United States Capitol Grounds, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 2024

Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. Wild, Mr. Carson, 
Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Kean of New Jersey, and Ms. Norton) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 
                           and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To construct dog relief areas on the United States Capitol Grounds, and 
                          for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Capitol Dog Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. DOG RELIEF AREA.

    (a) In General.--The Architect of the Capitol, in coordination with 
the House Office Buildings Commission, the Committee on House 
Administration of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Rules and Administration of the Senate, shall--
            (1) identify not less than 1 suitable location for a dog 
        relief area on the United States Capitol Grounds;
            (2) approve a design for such area;
            (3) construct such area; and
            (4) construct any additional dog relief areas necessary to 
        support the dogs on such Grounds or in Capitol Buildings.
    (b) Dog Relief Area Design.--
            (1) Design reference.--The Architect may base the design 
        referred to in subsection (a)(2) on a dog relief area not 
        located on the United States Capitol Grounds.
            (2) Design standards.--Each dog relief area constructed 
        under subsection (a) shall adhere to standards--
                    (A) described under the 2010 ADA Standards for 
                Accessible Design adopted by the Department of Justice 
                (or any successor standards); and
                    (B) developed by the Architectural Review Board of 
                the Architect to preserve the historic character of the 
                United States Capitol Grounds.
    (c) Disposal of Animal Waste.--
            (1) Solid waste disposal requirement.--Each individual 
        possessing a dog shall dispose of the solid waste produced by 
        such dog on United States Capitol Grounds by placing such waste 
        in a sealed plastic bag and placing such bag in a trash 
        receptacle.
            (2) Violations.--An individual who violates paragraph (1) 
        shall be fined--
                    (A) in the case of a first violation, not more than 
                $100; and
                    (B) in the case of a violation following a first 
                violation, not more than $500.
            (3) Enforcement.--The United States Capitol Police may fine 
        an individual under paragraph (2) for each violation under 
        paragraph (1).
            (4) Disposition of fines.--Fines collected pursuant to the 
        authority provided under paragraph (2) shall be made available, 
        without subsequent appropriation, to the Architect for 
        maintenance of the United States Capitol Grounds.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Capitol buildings.--The term ``Capitol Buildings'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 5101 of title 40, United 
        States Code.
            (2) United states capitol grounds.--The term ``United 
        States Capitol Grounds'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 5102 of title 40, United States Code.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, 
to remain available until expended.
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