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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Secret Service wants $8 million to build a replica White House to help train agents after an embarrassing security breach last year.

Secret Service Direct Joseph Clancy says the agency that protects the president needs the training facility in a suburb about 20 miles (30 kilometres) from the real executive mansion, to provide agents and officers more realistic training experience.

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He says training is now done in a parking lot but the parking lot doesn’t have the bushes and fountains as the White House grounds do.

In September a man armed with a knife was able to climb over a White House fence, dart through thick bushes and run deep into the mansion before being subdued.

Clancy made his pitch Tuesday to a House Appropriations subcommittee.