Norton Cheers Decision to Continue Commercial Photography at Union Square and Asks for Expanded Filming Outside of Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who spent the past two weeks meeting separately with stakeholders about the transfer of Union Square from the National Park Service to the Architect of the Capitol, today said she was "absolutely delighted" by today's statement from Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance W. Gainer that the Capitol Police Board would maintain existing polices and practices for permitting commercial photography and filming at Union Square for 90 days, while working "toward making these practices permanent under the new jurisdictional arrangement." Union Square, the area immediately beneath the west Capitol grounds between 1st and 3rd Streets and Pennsylvania and Maryland Avenues – including the Capitol reflecting pool – and the only area around the Capitol that currently allows commercial filming and photography, was transferred to the Architect of the Capitol from the National Park Service in the 2012 omnibus spending bill.

"I went into the meetings carrying a lot of unknowns and a lot of concern from Americans here and nationwide about the meaning of this transfer for First Amendment activities, and for commercial filming and photography," Norton said. "Each of the meetings left me greatly reassured. However, of course, only the chair of the Capitol Police Board could announce the policy of the Board. The continuity of policy signals the understanding of the Board about the importance to the nation and the world of this vista. However, as I said at the meetings, I also believe that the Board should use the transfer as an opportunity to engage in a thorough review that could allow permits for commercial photography and filmmaking at a number of areas outside the Capitol buildings, such as near Independence Avenue on the House side, and Constitution Avenue on the Senate side. The vista of the U.S. Capitol is among America's most iconic. Limiting commercial films and photography, an important vehicle for telling the nation's story, does an unintended disservice. Most of the people of the world know us and revere our system of government largely through commercial photography and films of the Capitol, which symbolizes our democracy at work. The nation can only gain by putting our best face forward."

Norton held meetings separately with the Architect of the Capitol, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, the House Deputy Sergeant at Arms, the U.S. Capitol Police Chief, the heads of the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall, and District of Columbia government officials.

Published: January 20, 2012