[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10730]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     SAVE THE CAPITOL'S OLDEST TREE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk for a minute or two about 
an issue that may not be the most pressing issue before the Nation 
today, but it is one that is, nonetheless, important for the historical 
nature of the U.S. Capitol and its grounds.
  The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) and I have been 
made aware recently that the oldest tree on the Capitol grounds may be 
cut down on the recommendation of the Architect of the Capitol and his 
arborist advisers.
  Frankly, despite earlier assurances to Congress that many trees 
planted by Frederick Law Olmsted, one of the Capitol's earliest 
landscape architects, would be saved, far too many trees have been 
sacrificed for this new visitor's center.
  The oldest tree, which, by the way, is right outside the door here, 
if you go outside the door and look at about 1 o'clock you will see it 
there, it was planted by Frederick Law Olmsted, as I said. He was the 
Capitol's earliest Architect. We were told it would be saved.
  Now, this tree is a rare English Elm, reputed to be over 175 years 
old, and it was never slated in the original plans to be removed. In 
fact, earlier assessment by a notable national tree company employed by 
the Architect of the Capitol said that it should be preserved.
  Reports now that the tree is ``dangerous'' seem to have little 
factual foundation, other than a more recent report by the same 
arborist. Furthermore, other old trees on the Capitol grounds are no 
more or less dangerous than this elm tree.
  I would point out that recently these fences have been built around 
these trees, and it is impossible for the tree really to be dangerous, 
unless some kind of typhoon moved through.
  Far more alarming to the tree's health is the news that the visitor's 
center contractor wants to dig a 60 foot hole at the base of the elm 
along the drip line, to dig a hole for whatever purpose, for a possible 
staging area for construction, or as part of the new paved area for 
temporary parking for Members of Congress.
  I think this is totally indefensible, the idea we would cut down one 
of the oldest trees on the Capitol grounds so that Members of Congress 
can have a temporary parking place while they are building the 
visitor's center.
  I hope my colleagues will join the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Frelinghuysen) and me in urging that this tree be saved.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Frelinghuysen).
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. 
Bass) and other Members of the House for their support of protecting 
this very famous English Elm.
  Mr. Speaker, as the House of Representatives works to protect the 
U.S. Capitol building and all symbols of our democracy, we need to be 
mindful that such changes must be reasonable and respectful of our 
history. Our Capitol continues, as it always has been, to be accessible 
to millions of people who visit each year.
  It is estimated that nearly 20,000 visitors up to September 11 
entered the building daily, and Congress has addressed the new security 
and safety demands of this many people visiting, especially during the 
construction of a new Capitol visitor's center to facilitate their 
entrance into the Capitol proper.
  This center project has already resulted in changes to what Frederick 
Law Olmsted, the Landscape Architect of the Capitol, a very famous 
American, envisioned and implemented back in 1874, where lawns, trees, 
and shaded walks were first put into his plans. Many trees have already 
been removed. Some have been saved for the new center.
  But I join with the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) and other 
colleagues to focus our attention in Congress on one particular tree, 
an English Elm, the oldest tree on Capitol Hill, on this campus, that 
some here, as the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) has said, 
would like to cut down to make room for a construction site, for use of 
the construction materials, or a temporary parking lot for Members of 
Congress.
  This oldest tree, a rare English Elm, is reputed to be over 150 years 
old. It was never slated to be removed. In fact, an earlier assessment 
by the Davey Tree Company employed by the Architect of the Capitol said 
it should be preserved. Reports now that the tree is dangerous seem to 
have little factual foundation, other than a more recent report by 
Davey. Furthermore, there are other old trees on the Capitol campus 
that are no more or less dangerous than this elm.
  As the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bass) has said, there is 
news that the contractor for the visitor's center would dig a 60-foot 
hole at the base of the tree. This would virtually kill the tree.
  This is a tree that deserves to be preserved and protected. We urge 
all Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats and citizens, to 
urge the Capitol Preservation Committee to direct the Architect of the 
Capitol to save the tree.

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