[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 38 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E258-E259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER AND STAFF FOR SURPASSING 20 
                      MILLION VISITORS TO THE CVC

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREGG HARPER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 5, 2018

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the staff of 
the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) and recognize the CVC for 
surpassing its twenty-millionth visitor.
  On December 2, 2008, the CVC opened to the public for the first time. 
By May of the following year, the CVC welcomed its one millionth 
visitor. During this past December, after just nine years in operation, 
the CVC welcomed its 20 millionth visitor.
  Since its opening, the CVC has been guided by four primary goals to 
better serve the U.S. Congress: Security, Visitor Education, Visitor 
Comfort, and Functional Improvements to the U.S. Capitol.
  Today, which traditionally marks the beginning of the Spring tourist 
season, the CVC provides a secure public environment to welcome and 
assist a large number of visitors. The CVC creates and presents 
informative programs on the workings and history of the Congress, the 
legislative process, and the art and architecture of the Capitol to 
millions of visitors each year, all while providing the amenities, 
comfort, convenience, and accessibility for visitors appropriate to one 
of the nation's most visited tourist destinations.
  The CVC team welcomed 2.4 million visitors in 2017, the highest 
single-year total since the facility opened. Even more remarkable is 
that almost half of those visitors came during the Spring season 
between the months of March and June. As we are about to begin a new 
Spring tourist season, I am reminded of just how important the CVC is 
as we welcome our constituents to Washington, D.C.
  Behind the scenes, the CVC provides modem, efficient facilities for 
the operational functions of the Capitol, as well as provides important 
work space for both the House and Senate, and improves connectivity 
between the Capitol and the Library of Congress.

[[Page E259]]

  While the CVC does provide world-class tours for over two million 
visitors each year, its service to Congress doesn't stop there. The CVC 
team has also supported more than 7,000 congressional events in CVC 
meeting spaces as well as welcoming and assisting guests at 
Congressional Gold Medal Ceremonies, commemoration ceremonies, annual 
Memorial Day and Capitol Fourth Concerts, and presidential 
inaugurations, among many other events.
  Also, in support of Congress, the CVC team has developed training 
programs for congressional staff to learn about the history of the 
Capitol and Congress and the artwork that represents their story. 
Critical safety and emergency evacuation procedures are key elements of 
this program. To date, more than 31,000 interns and other staff have 
participated in the training program, enhancing their ability to 
deliver high-quality tours to constituents.
  The majority of visitors to the CVC are our constituents, and based 
on independent surveys, 93 percent of visitors to the Capitol said 
their expectations were met or exceeded and that they were likely to 
recommend taking a Capitol Tour to their friends. These numbers reflect 
the passion and knowledge the Visitor Center's team brings to the 
Capitol each day, as well as their commitment to inform, involve, and 
inspire every visitor.
  The CVC will celebrate its 10th anniversary on December 2, 2018. As 
the CVC embarks on its second decade serving as the front door to the 
Capitol and the Congress, I wish to recognize the hard-working CVC 
staff that remain committed to providing world-class services to our 
visitors, our constituents, and those of us who work in the Capitol 
each day.

                          ____________________