[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 512--SUPPORTING REOPENING THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL 
      BUILDING AND SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

  Mr. HAGERTY (for himself, Mr. Moran, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. 
Lankford, Mr. Braun, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cramer, 
Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Tuberville, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Thune, Mr. 
Paul, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Johnson, 
Mr. Boozman, Mr. Marshall, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Risch, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Wicker, and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 512

       Whereas the United States Capitol and Senate Office 
     Buildings closed to public visitation on March 12, 2020, at 
     the very outset of the pandemic;
       Whereas, since March of 2020, the American people have 
     learned how to safely gather and enter public places despite 
     the existence of COVID-19 and, due to Operation Warp Speed, 
     have had the opportunity to be vaccinated against COVID-19 
     for more than a year;
       Whereas, despite the existence of COVID-19, tens of 
     thousands of people routinely gather across the country for 
     sporting, entertainment, worship, and other events;
       Whereas, despite the existence of COVID-19, stores, 
     restaurants, and other public places have been successfully 
     welcoming the public since the pandemic began in 2020;
       Whereas, despite the existence of COVID-19, the American 
     people, including Members of Congress, routinely use crowded 
     public transportation vehicles, including airplanes and 
     trains;
       Whereas, despite the existence of COVID-19, most Americans 
     have long since resumed working around co-workers, customers, 
     and others;
       Whereas it is illogical and unacceptable that, despite the 
     rest of the United States being open, the United States 
     Capitol Building and Senate Office Buildings, buildings that 
     belong to the American people, remain largely closed to 
     public visitation; and
       Whereas it is time to once again welcome the public 
     participation in the legislative process and the public 
     visitation of our historic buildings that have always been 
     hallmarks of American democracy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the importance of reopening the United 
     States Capitol Building and Senate Office Buildings to the 
     American people to facilitate public participation in the 
     legislative process and public visitation of these historic 
     buildings; and
       (2) supports returning to the public visitation policies 
     for Senate Office Buildings and the portions of the United 
     States Capitol Building and Capitol complex within Senate 
     jurisdiction that were in place before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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