Section 1 Short title; findings
Short title— This Act may be cited as the “New Executive Workgroup for the White House as an Iconic Treasure Expressing Honor, Obligation, Unity, Strength, and Excellence of our Nation Act” or the “New White House Act”.
Findings— Congress finds the following:
In 1789, the United States became the world's first modern national constitutional republic.
In 1791, the Nation’s first president, George Washington, selected the site for the White House, and the cornerstone was laid in 1792, after a competition design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban was chosen.
The security of the White House and the First Family has always been of utmost importance to the Nation.
The security needs of the White House have evolved along with the Nation. As conditions warranted, the White House has been modified in order to meet these evolving needs.
In 1808, the first fence around the White House was constructed under the oversight of Thomas Jefferson’s administration. This fence was constructed of wooden split-rail barriers on three sides of the grounds and a retaining wall on the other side which bordered the Potomac River wetlands.
In the 1930s, the wrought-iron fence of the 19th century was replaced by a steel fence tipped with tall bronze spears.
The current fence is about 7-feet tall and there are plans to install a taller one in 2018.
During World War II, security became especially strict. The remaining gaps in the White House fence were closed and access to the driveways was restricted. At the same time, the gates to the White House grounds were reinforced.
In 1983, following a truck-bomb attack on the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon, low concrete walls were put up around the White House.
With the rise of vehicle traffic in Washington DC, bollards—sturdy, vertical posts—were added to prevent security breaches by automobiles.
In 1950, an assassination attempt on President Harry S. Truman further raised concerns over the safety of the President.
In the 20th century, there were numerous instances of the White House perimeter being breached by those who wished to reach the President.
On April 13, 1912, Michael Winter made it several feet inside the front door of the White House before being stopped by staff. This was his second attempt to reach President William Howard Taft.
On September 26, 1963, Doyle Allen Hicks rammed his pickup truck through the White House gates and drove 25 feet into the North Portico main entrance. He intended to reach President John F. Kennedy.
On February 17, 1974, Robert K. Preston, an Army private, stole a helicopter from Fort Meade, Maryland. He hovered over the Washington Monument and the White House grounds before leading two State police helicopters on an aerial chase around Maryland and Washington, DC. Preston then returned to the White House and officers were forced to shoot at the helicopter. Preston was upset about flunking out of flight school.
On February 22, 1974, Samuel Joseph Byck tried to hijack a Delta passenger jet at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. His intention was to crash the jet into the White House. He forced his way onto the plane and killed an airport policeman and the copilot before being shot by police.
On December 25, 1974, Marshall Fields crashed his automobile through the Northwest Gate of the White House and drove close to the North Portico. He threatened to detonate explosives which he had strapped to his body. Fields surrendered to officials after hours of negotiation.
In October 1978, Anthony Henry scaled the White House fence while wielding a knife. He slashed two officers before White House guards were able to subdue him. He intended to find President Jimmy Carter.
On September 12, 1994, Frank Eugene Corder stole a Cessna plane and entered the prohibited airspace around the White House. He crashed on the lawn just south of the Executive Mansion.
On October 29, 1994, Francisco Martin Duran, armed with a semiautomatic rifle, fired over 29 rounds at the White House from the sidewalk on Pennsylvania Avenue. He intended to kill President Bill Clinton.
On May 23, 1995, Leland W. Modjeski climbed over the White House fence and ran towards the White House with a handgun. He was shot by the Secret Service.
On September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush was taken to an undisclosed location due to security concerns at the White House following attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
A 2015 House of Representatives report showed that there were 104 attempted breaches of White House security between April 2005 and April 2015.
On November 11, 2011, Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez fired an assault rifle at the White House. He hit the residential wing of the building at least seven times. This attack was not immediately detected and Ortega-Hernandez was not found and arrested for 5 days.
On January 26, 2015, the Secret Service was forced to lock down the White House due to a drone flying above the White House grounds. The drone crashed on the Southeast side of the complex.
On November 26, 2015, a man draped in an American flag jumped the White House fence during a Thanksgiving celebration at the Executive Residence.
It is now time to build an Executive Office and Residence which takes modern national security concerns into account and will be able to serve the Office of the President far into the future.