[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool 
requires a civil engineering plan.
  First, replace the fractured subterranean pipes: Underground, the 
pool's 12-inch supply and return lines are deteriorated. They leak an 
estimated 16 million gallons of water every year. The Mall site 
actually sits in a floodplain related to drainage into the Potomac 
River. Water pressure pushes upward against the floor, forcing paint 
and sealant to blister, pop, and peel off.
  Second, stabilize the lateral soil movement. While the 2012 overhaul 
stopped the pool sinking downward, it did not solve the side-to-side 
shifting. The pool sits on the Potomac River mudflats that continuously 
ooze and shift laterally.
  Third, reengineer the expansion joints for shifting. A 2,000-foot 
concrete pad naturally expands and contracts like an accordion in 
freezing winter weather. Engineers have to install heavy, flexible 
water stops that seal gaps while letting slabs move without tearing.
  Finally, there is drainage. Proper drainage and soil stabilization 
are required to manage runoff and prevent groundwater from seeping 
through the basin and compromising the concrete.
  It isn't a vandalizing problem. It is an engineering problem. It can 
be solved.

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