H.R. 8543 – Build the Ballroom Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated May 7, 2026 at 9:22 AM UTC

The Build the Ballroom Act authorizes the President to construct a permanent ballroom on the White House grounds. The purpose is to provide a secure venue for large formal events and state dinners that currently cannot be held at the White House due to space limits. The bill mainly affects the President, the Executive Office of the President, and White House operations.

Key Provisions

Allows the President to approve and oversee construction of a permanent ballroom on the White House property.
The ballroom must be designed to meet the needs of the President and the Executive Office, include heating, electricity, furniture, and may require removal of existing structures.
Construction is to consider modern security concerns and serve the President’s office for the foreseeable future.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

April 28, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 28, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

April 28, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 28, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8543

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2026

Mr. Fine introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To authorize the construction of a ballroom on the grounds of the White House, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Build the Ballroom Act.

2.

Findings; sense of Congress

(a)

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Under the current structure, the White House is unable to host formal events or state dinners for over 200 people because of space constraints.

(2)

Larger formal events must be held off campus, which risks the security of the president.

(3)

On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot President Ronald Reagan while he was leaving an event at the Washington Hilton.

(4)

On April 25th, 2026, Cole Tomas Allen attempted to assassinate the President and his guests during White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

(b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that it is now time to build a ballroom located on the grounds of the White House which takes modern security concerns into account and will be able to serve the Office of the President far into the future.

3.

Construction of ballroom on White House grounds

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may construct a ballroom on the grounds of the White House that—

(1)

is planned taking into account the needs of the President and the Executive Office of the President;

(2)

is approved solely by the President;

(3)

includes heating, electricity, and furniture;

(4)

includes removal of any applicable existing structures; and

(5)

is constructed as a permanent structure.