Norton Calls on Smithsonian African American Museum, Contractor to Ensure D.C. Workers are Hired for Museum Construction

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today sent a letter to officials at the Smithsonian, Clark Construction Group, LLC, Smoot Construction, and H.J. Russell & Company about reports and protests concerning a lack of District of Columbia residents and of African Americans working on the construction of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and asked that the museum and contractors meet with her. "This long sought-after addition to the museums on the National Mall has important symbolic significance to District residents and to African Americans nationwide, both of whom suffer from particularly high unemployment right now," Norton wrote in her letter. The Congresswoman continues to closely monitor hiring at the Department of Homeland Security headquarters project on the St. Elizabeths campus in Ward 8, as well as other ongoing federal projects in D.C., and said she will be monitoring the museum site and requiring monthly reports detailing hiring at the museum site, as she does for other sites in the District.

The text of Norton's letter follows.

Dear Gentlemen:

The Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian) has awarded Clark/Smoot/Russell Joint Venture a very significant construction contract for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. As the member of Congress representing the District of Columbia and as ranking member of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over Smithsonian construction, I am very concerned by reportsand protests about a lack of D.C. residents working at the construction site, as well as by additional concerns that were brought to my attention about a lack of African Americans working on a project that commemorates African America history. This long sought-after addition to the museums on the National Mall has important symbolic significance to District residents and to African Americans nationwide, both of whom suffer from particularly high unemployment right now.

Consistent with the historic and symbolic importance of this project, it is also important for the Smithsonian and Clark/Smoot/Russell to continue the model our office has used with the General Services Administration for construction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Headquarters project on the St. Elizabeths campus and for the other American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects under construction in this city. This model includes a plan for outreach, recruitment, and training, and ensures that District residents are adequately represented in accordance with their skills. Our office will be using the same system for monitoring of hiring for the construction of the museum as is currently being used for the St. Elizabeths site. That model has helped us to understand the available pool of D.C. workers and their skill levels.

It is also important to note that this project is being funded in part with federal funds, which subjects it to the anti-discrimination requirements of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and will be monitored for the hiring of women and minorities by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Please have the appropriate decision-making officials from your offices contact my office to arrange a meeting this week or next to discuss this project.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton