Norton Acts To Prevent Uncertainty For Filming and Photography in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released her letter to Senate and House leaders of the respective appropriations subcommittees requesting that they include in the expected six-month fiscal year 2013 Continuing Resolution (CR) language that permanently authorizes commercial filming and photography in Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol, near the Botanic Gardens), as provided in both the House Appropriations- and Senate Appropriations-passed fiscal year 2013 Legislation Branch Appropriations bills.

After being transferred last year from the National Park Service (NPS) to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in fiscal year 2012, the Capitol Police Board, using its own authority, continued to allow commercial filming and photography in Union Square, but Norton wants to allay uncertainty that could arise before the regular fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill is signed into law, given the expected length of the CR. The District has an Office of Motion Picture and Television Development that encourages filmmaking in the District and Norton wants more filmmaking to take place by the Capitol.

She said that continued access to the only place in the Capitol's vicinity where filming is allowed is important to Americans, visitors, commercial photographers and filmmakers, and the District. She also pressed the appropriators to allow permits to film the Capitol at various sites, in addition to Union Square. "In today's world, with revolutions for democracy afoot, encouraging commercial photography and films to record various views of the Capitol, which symbolizes U.S. democracy at work, is particularly timely and appropriate."

Earlier this year, Norton met separately with all the stakeholders after the transfer of Union Square. She held meetings separately with the AOC, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, the House Deputy Sergeant at Arms, the U.S. Capitol Police Chief, the heads of NPS and the Trust for the National Mall, and District of Columbia government officials.

Norton's letter is attached.

Dear Chairmen Nelson and Crenshaw and Ranking Members Hoeven and Honda:

Thank you for your attention and action on the commercial photography and filming policy for Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol, near the Botanic Gardens). I write now to encourage you to avoid a delay in implementing your decision. We are pleased that both the House and the Senate Appropriations Committees passed fiscal year 2013 Legislative Branch Appropriations bills containing provisions that would allow continued commercial filming and photography in Union Square, after it was transferred last year from the National Park Service to the Architect of the Capitol.

Because a Continuing Resolution (CR) will be in place for the first part of fiscal year 2013, I ask that you include in the CR a provision, as provided in your respective appropriations bills, to permanently allow commercial filming and photography in Union Square. The priority that you have given to this matter, and what we have learned from our own discussions with the affected agencies, reinforces the importance of this request to thousands of Americans, to visitors, and to commercial photographers and filmmakers who depend upon access to this site.

We also hope that in future legislation you consider allowing permits for commercial photography and filming at a few additional areas outside of the Capitol and congressional office buildings. In today's world, with revolutions for democracy afoot, encouraging commercial photography and films to record various views of the Capitol, which symbolizes U.S. democracy at work, is particularly timely and appropriate.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Published: August 16, 2012