House approves White House 'trespass' bill, sends to Obama

By Pete Kasperowicz - 02/27/12 07:53 PM ET

The House on Monday evening easily approved a bill that would clarify in U.S. law that it is illegal to trespass on White House grounds or the permanent residence of the Vice President.

Members approved the bill, H.R. 347, under a suspension of House rules, by a 388-3 vote. The non-controversial bill was subject to just a brief debate in the afternoon, seeing the easy vote.

The only "no" votes were from Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), Paul Broun (R-Ga.), and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.).

Under current law, people can be fined for knowingly intruding in a building where the president or vice president is staying temporarily, but no penalties are prescribed for those who trespass in their permanent residences. To impose fines in the latter case, the Secret Service now uses a provision of D.C. code dealing with misdemeanor infractions.

The bill was slightly amended and voice-voted by the Senate earlier this month, so House passage of the Senate version sends it to the White House for President Obama's signature into law.

— This story was updated at 7:43 p.m. to reflect more vote details.