[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1046 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1046

 To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to develop and implement a 
    plan to improve the Capitol grounds through the elimination and 
              modification of space allocated for parking.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                May 27 (legislative day, April 19), 1993

 Mr. Moynihan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to develop and implement a 
    plan to improve the Capitol grounds through the elimination and 
              modification of space allocated for parking.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Arc of Park Capitol Grounds 
Improvement Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. CAPITOL GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

    (a) The Architect of the Capitol is authorized to develop and 
implement a comprehensive plan for the improvement of the grounds of 
the United States Capitol as described in section 193a of title 40, 
United States Code. Such plan shall be consistent with the 1981 Report 
on the ``Master Plan for the Future Development of the Capitol Grounds 
and Related Areas'' prepared in accordance with Public Law 94-59 (July 
25, 1975). Such plan shall result in an ``arc of park'' sweeping from 
Second Street, Northeast to the Capitol Reflecting Pool to First 
Street, Southeast, with the Capitol Building as its approximate center. 
Such plan shall provide for, at a minimum:
            (1) elimination of all current surface parking areas, 
        excepting those areas which provide on-street parallel parking 
        spaces;
            (2) replacement of off-street surface parking areas with 
        public parks. Such parks shall be landscaped in a fashion 
        appropriate to the United States Capitol grounds;
            (3) reconstruction of Delaware Avenue, Northeast, between 
        Columbus Circle and Constitution Avenue as a thoroughfare 
        available principally to pedestrians as contemplated by the 
        Master Plan;
            (4) elimination of all but parallel parking on Pennsylvania 
        Avenue, between First and Third Streets, Northwest;
            (5) to the greatest extent practical, continuation of the 
        Pennsylvania Avenue tree line onto United States Capitol 
        Grounds and implementation of other appropriate landscaping 
        measures necessary to conform Pennsylvania Avenue between First 
        and Third Streets, Northwest, to the aesthetic guidelines 
        adopted by the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation;
            (6) closure of Maryland Avenue to through traffic between 
        First and Third Streets, Southwest, consistent with appropriate 
        access to and visitor parking for the United States Botanic 
        Garden;
            (7) construction of additional underground parking 
        facilities, as needed. The cost of construction and operation 
        of such parking facilities shall be defrayed to the greatest 
        extent practical by charging appropriate usage fees, including 
        time-of-day fees. Such parking facilities shall be made 
        available to the general public, with priority given to 
        employees of the Congress.

SEC. 3. APPLICABLE LOCAL LAW.

    The construction and operation of any improvements under this Act 
shall not be subject to any law of the District of Columbia or any 
State or locality relating to taxes on sales, real estate, personal 
property, special assessments, uses or any other interest or 
transaction (including any such law enacted by Congress), nor shall 
they be subject to any law of the District of Columbia relating to use, 
occupancy or construction, including without limitation building costs, 
permits, or inspection requirements (including such laws enacted by 
Congress): Provided, however, That the Architect of the Capitol shall 
comply with appropriate recognized national life safety and building 
codes in undertaking such construction and operation.

SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL.

    The Architect of the Capitol shall be responsible for the 
structural, mechanical and custodial care and maintenance of the 
facilities constructed under the Act and may discharge such 
responsibilities directly or by contract. The Architect of the Capitol 
may permit the extension of steam and chilled water from the Capitol 
Power Plant on a reimbursable basis to any facilities or improvements 
constructed under this Act as a cost of such improvements.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

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