Norton Applauds David Rubenstein for Funding Washington Monument Elevator Modernization

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement regarding the National Park Service’s (NPS) announcement that philanthropist David M. Rubenstein has pledged the funding needed for NPS to modernize the Washington Monument elevator.

“The nation, led by the District of Columbia, cannot thank David Rubenstein enough for coming to the rescue of the Washington Monument for a second time, first to repair its basic structure and now its spine, the elevator, which is the lifeline of the Monument itself,” Norton said. “The Washington Monument is a symbol of national pride for all Americans and is vital to the District’s local tourist economy. The much-needed modernization of the monument’s elevator will resolve the chronic problems that have forced repeated shutdowns of the monument, many of which occurred during peak tourist season. I will be working closely with appropriators now that private funds are in place for the elevator modernization to help secure the funding included in the President’s fiscal year 2017 budget to construct a permanent screening facility for the monument so that the dual projects can take place at the same time, saving taxpayer dollars and allowing the monument to reopen as soon as possible.”

Norton said she will urge appropriators to include the funding for the permanent screening facility in the soon-to-be-passed continuing resolution, which will likely fund the government into next spring, because the federal contract that NPS is currently drafting will include both construction projects in order to save time and money.