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Norton Asks for Kids to Be Able to Sled on Capitol Grounds with Snowstorm Coming Shortly

March 4, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote U.S. Capitol Police Board Chair Frank Larkin requesting a waiver of the sledding ban on Capitol Grounds effective from March 5-8 in anticipation of a snowstorm expected to drop a significant amount of snow in the District of Columbia. Members of Congress and the public can request a waiver of any of the Capitol Police Board Regulations. Last month, Norton wrote Larkin urging the U.S. Capitol Police Board to overturn of the prohibition on sledding on the Capitol Grounds. The Board has until March 26, 2015, to provide Norton with a formal response to her letter.

"This could be the last snowstorm the D.C. area gets this winter, and may be one of the best for sledding in years," Norton said. "Children and their parents should able to enjoy sledding on one of the best hills in the city. This is a one-time waiver that will allow D.C. kids to sled while we await a more formal review of the ban, which will likely come after the last snow has fallen in our region. Have a heart, Mr. Larkin, a kid's heart, that is."

Below is a copy of Norton's letter:

March 4, 2015

The Honorable Frank J. Larkin
U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms
Chair, Capitol Police Board
U.S. Capitol, Room S-151
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Sergeant At Arms Larkin:

As you are aware, I wrote you last week requesting that the Capitol Police Board remove the ban on sledding on U.S. Capitol Grounds from Capitol Police Board Regulations. However, the District of Columbia is expected to receive seven to eight inches of snow tomorrow, the largest snowfall this winter. Families have started calling my office because they do not want to be turned away once again from sledding on U.S. Capitol Grounds. Therefore, I am requesting a waiver of the sledding ban effective from Thursday, March 5, 2015, through Sunday, March 8, 2015, so that children, parents, residents and visitors to the nation's capital can sled on U.S. Capitol Grounds, one of the best hills in D.C. for sledding. Pending further review by the Capitol Police Board of my recent letter, we seek this immediate waiver in light of the upcoming snow.

Sincerely,


Eleanor Holmes Norton


CC: The Honorable Paul D. Irving, Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine

Architect of the Capitol Stephen T. Ayer

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