[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E373-E374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO PERMIT COMMERCIAL FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY 
                   ON THE GROUNDS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2014

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to introduce a bill to permit 
commercial filming and photography on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. 
Currently, such filming and photography is only authorized on Union 
Square. The bill would permit commercial photography and filming 
outside of the Capitol and congressional office buildings by permit. In 
today's world, where many societies are facing upheavals, our country, 
with an exemplary model of democracy, should be the first to encourage 
commercial photography and filming to record various scenes of the 
legislature, which symbolizes U.S. democracy at work. The time is 
overdue to allow to commercial filming and photography of the exterior 
of the historic 19th century Capitol building. There is no good reason 
filming should be confined to Union Square. Specifically, my bill gives 
the Capitol Police the discretion, depending on the circumstances in 
and around the Capitol, to issue a permit authorizing commercial 
filming activity on any parcel of Federal property under the control of 
the Capitol Police with

[[Page E374]]

views of the Capitol and congressional office buildings, under the same 
conditions as those in Union Square. Such areas might include 
Independence Avenue on the House side, and Constitution Avenue on the 
Senate side.
  No policy or security reason exists to justify the limit of 
commercial filming and photography of the Capitol complex to only one 
location, Union Square, particularly considering that permits are 
necessary. The blanket selection of only one location for such filming 
raises serious First Amendment issues. People are regularly seen on 
East Capitol Street (east of 2nd street), where they get a full view of 
the Capitol building taking pictures, demonstrating how arbitrary it is 
to limit commercial filming to Union Square.
  My bill would allow commercial filming and photography from areas 
with views of the Capitol and congressional buildings that are under 
the jurisdiction of the Capitol Police, in addition to Union Square, 
which is located directly west of the Capitol. In addition, the Capitol 
Police would have the authority to charge a fee to cover any costs 
incurred by the Architect of the Capitol as a result of the issuance of 
the permit, to be deposited into the Capitol Trust Account. The Capitol 
Trust Account was established to accept proceeds from any fees 
collected for commercial filming permits for Union Square. Amounts in 
the Capitol Trust Account would be available without fiscal year 
limitation for such maintenance, improvements, and projects with 
respect to the Capitol grounds as the Architect of the Capitol 
considers appropriate, subject to the approval of the Committees on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate.
  Vistas of the U.S. Capitol are among America's most iconic. Limiting 
commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, an important vehicle 
for telling the nation's story, does not serve the American people. 
Indeed, most of the world's people know our country and revere our 
system of government largely through commercial photography and films 
of the Capitol, which symbolizes our democracy at work. Commercial 
films and photographs of the Capitol, the seat of our democracy, are 
perhaps the best modem vehicles for telling the nation's story and 
showcasing its democratic system of government. My bill would enable 
appropriate, permitted commercial filming and photography of the 
Capitol, and would create economic benefits for the nation, the city, 
and private business.
  I urge support of this bill.

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