House Appropriations Committee Approves Norton Provision for Continued Commercial Filming and Photography at Union Square

WASHINGTON, DC – The House Appropriations Committee, as part of the fiscal year 2014 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill it passed today, approved Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) provision to give the Capitol Police the permanent authority to issue permits for commercial filming and photography in Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol, near the Botanic Gardens). The Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee passed the bill last week. Norton has worked to get this legislation through Congress since the jurisdiction for Union Square was transferred from the National Park Service (NPS) to the Architect of the Capitol in 2011. NPS allowed such filming and photography, and with the urging of Norton, the Capitol Police has permitted continued filming, but legislation is necessary because such filming is otherwise prohibited on Capitol grounds. Norton said that codifying the existing authority to film and photograph the Capitol is necessary, but that she is continuing her work to expand filming and photography to other areas of the Capitol on the outside of the Capitol building.

"We are pleased that the House Appropriations Committee has agreed to permanently allow filming and photography in Union Square," said Norton. "The current limited filming and photography opportunities at the Capitol building keep our country from using an invaluable tool for sharing the story of American democracy, and needlessly deprive the District of Columbia and the nation from the economic benefits."

Norton got her bill included in the House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2013 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. However, those bills did not become law because Congress simply extended existing appropriations bills in a continuing resolution.

Published: July 18, 2013