[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 112 (Tuesday, August 3, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H6928-H6929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO PERMIT TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION
AND OTHER WORK ON CAPITOL GROUNDS
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 167) authorizing
the Architect of the Capitol to permit temporary construction and other
work on the Capitol Grounds that may be necessary for construction of a
building on Constitution Avenue Northwest, between 2nd Street Northwest
and Louisiana Avenue Northwest.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 167
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),
SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS.
The Architect of the Capitol may permit temporary
construction and other work on the Capitol Grounds that may
be necessary for construction of a building on Constitution
Avenue Northwest, between 2nd Street Northwest and Louisiana
Avenue Northwest. Such work may include activities resulting
in temporary obstruction of a curbside parking lane on
Louisiana Avenue Northwest and on Constitution Avenue
Northwest, between 2nd Street Northwest and Louisiana Avenue
Northwest.
SEC. 2. PERIOD OF USE.
Work on the Capitol Grounds under section 1 is authorized
during the period beginning August 6, 1999, and ending
October 31, 2001, or such longer period as the Architect of
the Capitol determines necessary.
SEC. 3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
(a) In General.--Work on the Capitol Grounds under section
1 may not begin until the Architect of the Capitol receives
such assurances as the Architect may require to ensure that--
(1) all areas of the Capitol Grounds that are disturbed by
reason of such work will be restored to their original
condition without expense to the United States; and
(2) such work will be carried out so as not to interfere
with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be prescribed
by the Architect of the Capitol.
(b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The United States shall not
incur any expense or liability incident to any activity
associated with work on the Capitol Grounds under section 1.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 167 will authorize the
Architect of the Capitol to enter into an agreement with the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners for a construction project that
is scheduled to begin August 15, 1999.
The Carpenters and Joiners Union headquarters is located on
Constitution Avenue between 2nd Street and Louisiana Avenue, Northwest.
This property is adjacent to the Capitol Grounds.
The Union plans to demolish its existing headquarters and construct a
new larger facility. In order to do this, a small section of parking
spots and a sidewalk on Louisiana Avenue will be closed for about 2
years.
Let me be clear about the affected area along Constitution Avenue and
Louisiana Avenue. It is the curbside lane between 1st and 2nd Street,
Northwest only. This authority in no way extends beyond those two
streets insofar as the Capitol Grounds are concerned.
This activity will not interfere with the needs of Congress and will
not cost the government. The building owners will restore all affected
areas of the Capitol Grounds to its original condition once
construction is completed.
I support this resolution wholeheartedly and urge my colleagues to
join in support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 2130
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First, Mr. Speaker, may I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Shuster) for the way in which he has shepherded this matter through
committee and to the floor. I am very grateful for the attention he has
given it. May I also thank the distinguished ranking member the
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for his invaluable assistance
in getting this matter to the floor this evening. I very much
appreciate the work of my own chairman the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Franks) who in committee today saw to it that this matter came and
was expeditiously handled in the subcommittee itself. This
straightforward resolution will allow the Architect of the Capitol to
permit temporary construction and necessary other work on the Capitol
grounds. The site is along Constitution Avenue in my district between
Second Street and Louisiana Avenue Northwest and along Louisiana to
First Street Northwest. The construction project will create a high end
building with class A office space right here at the foot of Capitol
Hill. The new building will be 10 stories high and will contain 500,000
square feet. The Architect has requested a resolution to permit the
temporary closing of the curb lane along Louisiana Avenue and
Constitution Avenue.
Again I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for the very
expeditious way in which he has handled this matter and for his
continued support for activities that positively affect the economic
health of the Nation's capital, the District of Columbia.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me
this time. I rise to support the resolution and to express my great
appreciation to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for
moving so expeditiously on this matter which is very timely for the
carpenters union for the replacement and construction of this facility
so near to the Capitol. I appreciate the support of the chairman of the
subcommittee also for acting so quickly. I want to compliment the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia on her steadfast persistence
and leadership on this matter. She is a true advocate and champion for
the District and a great voice.
This facility has one of the prime locations in all of Washington. It
shall be very interesting to see the facility removed and
reconstructed. I understand that there is a splendid plan to replace
that facility. It is very important to all who are concerned, not only
those building the structure but those who are going to rent, the
various associations that would be a part of this.
I just wanted to rise and express my great appreciation to the
majority for moving so quickly on a matter of such timely importance to
those involved and again to compliment the gentlewoman for her
leadership and express my great appreciation to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for his cooperation.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I
very much appreciate the remarks of the ranking member the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar). I do want to say that I know that the
carpenters union is as grateful for the way in which this has been
handled this evening as I am. I want to assure the House that the
matter under construction has received already the approval of the
appropriate Federal and local authorities and will continue to go
through those approvals. We needed only now the approval of the House
to make sure the construction could indeed proceed.
[[Page H6929]]
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that
the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution,
House Concurrent Resolution 167.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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