[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 5, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E7]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

                        Tuesday, January 5, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce a bill to permit 
commercial filming and photography on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, 
east of Union Square, the only area where such filming is currently 
authorized. This bill would permit commercial photography and filming 
outside of the Capitol and congressional office buildings by permit, so 
long as both the House and Senate are not in session. In today's world, 
where many societies are facing upheavals, our country should be the 
first to encourage commercial photography and filming of the Capitol, 
which symbolizes U.S. democracy at work. Hollywood and other commercial 
filmmakers should not have to go to other or fake capitol buildings for 
movies and films about the U.S. Capitol. The current policy permitting 
filming near the United States Botanic Garden shows that the Capitol 
police can handle filmmaking on Capitol grounds, especially when 
Congress is not in session. However, filming from that vantage point 
captures the least familiar view of the Capitol. At a time when the 
reputation of Congress is particularly low, filming of the Capitol, a 
building that represents American democracy, could bolster its image. 
Keeping filmmakers from standing in front of the Capitol is neither 
business-friendly nor true to the nation's democratic traditions. 
Encouraging commercial photography and filming at the Capitol would 
help spread the story of our national legislature around the world. 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 why commercial filming and photography 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 and 
photography under the same conditions as those in Union Square. Such 
areas might include, for example, Independence Avenue on the House side 
and Constitution Avenue on the Senate side. No policy or security 
reason exists to justify limiting commercial filming and photography of 
the Capitol complex to only one location, Union Square, particularly 
considering that permits are necessary. People are regularly seen on 
East Capitol Street (east of 2nd Street) taking pictures, where they 
get a full view of the Capitol building, demonstrating how arbitrary it 
is to limit commercial filming to Union Square.
  Capitol Police would also have 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 and Senate.
  Views 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 knows our country and reveres 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 modern 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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