[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23006]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       LET THE PEOPLE INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEIR U.S. CAPITOL

  (Ms. NORTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I want to welcome my colleagues back after 
the Thanksgiving recession. While they were gone, Christmas almost got 
canceled; but this morning, there is a reversal of the Secret Service 
decision to close the National Christmas Tree lighting to the public, I 
believe because the White House intervened. I very much appreciate it, 
if that is what happened.
  With a little more thought, the White House could reverse the 
decision to deny access to the beautiful Christmas tree decorations in 
the White House itself. For example, if people were to leave their 
Social Security numbers ahead of time, as visitors do now, we could 
give at least some access.
  The House needs to follow suit and begin tours of the Capitol again. 
This, too, is not rocket science. It is particularly inappropriate for 
the people's House to continue to deny access. Let us resume the 
Christmas spirit that has always been a part of the Nation's Capitol, 
and especially of the people's House. Let the people into this House 
and into this Capitol.

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