Rand Paul (R-KY)
A bill to amend title 3, United States Code, to prescribe a process to authorize certain activities at the Executive Residence at the White House, and for other purposes.
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 408.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill proposes an amendment to title 3 of the United States Code regarding the Executive Residence at the White House. It seeks to establish a specific process for authorizing certain activities or improvements at the residence. The President would be required to submit descriptions of activities or improvements with an aggregate cost exceeding $1,000,000 to specific Senate and House committees. Authorization for these activities can only occur after chairmen of these committees publish a statement in the Congressional Record confirming they have reviewed the information. Additionally, the President must submit semiannual progress reports on these authorized activities.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill increases transparency by requiring the President to submit detailed descriptions and semiannual progress reports for high-cost activities at the White House.
- Scored +2
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill enhances fiscal responsibility by requiring congressional review and semiannual progress reports for major White House improvements.
- Scored +1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill imposes stricter oversight on large expenditures at the Executive Residence to ensure better control over spending.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Oversight of White House Spending: The bill requires the President to submit descriptions of any activity or proposed improvement at the Executive Residence that has an aggregate cost of more than $1,000,000 from all sources of funding (Section 1, paragraph 1).
-
Enhanced Transparency via Congressional Review: The President is only authorized to carry out activities after the Chairmen of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives publish a statement in the Congressional Record that they have received and reviewed the information (Section 1, paragraph 3).
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Full Access to Information for Review: To ensure effective oversight, the bill requires that submissions include all information necessary for the Chairmen to review the activity, regardless of classification or access controls (Section 1, paragraph 2).
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Regular Progress Monitoring: The President is required to submit semiannual progress reports, due no later than June 1 and December 1 of each year, regarding all authorized activities (Section 1, paragraph 4A).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Increased Administrative Burden and Reporting Requirements: The President or a designee must submit detailed progress reports twice a year that include all information necessary for committee review, including expected progress for the next period (Section 1, paragraphs 4A and 4B).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill increases transparency by requiring the President to submit detailed descriptions and semiannual progress reports for high-cost activities at the White House.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill enhances fiscal responsibility by requiring congressional review and semiannual progress reports for major White House improvements. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill imposes stricter oversight on large expenditures at the Executive Residence to ensure better control over spending.
- 5/12/2026
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 408.
- 5/11/2026
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (consideration: CR S2204)
- Introduced in Senate