Norton Passes Bills to Help Katrina Victims and Honor Slaves Who Helped Build Capitol (10/30/07)

Washington, DC-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, passed two important bills out of her subcommittee today: H.R. 3315, a bill to name the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) "Emancipation Hall," in honor of the contributions of slaves who built the Capitol; and H.R. 3495, to establish the National Commission on Children and Disasters to address the needs of children who are faced with disasters like Hurricane Katrina. Both bills, which Norton cosponsored, are expected to be approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee before being sent to the House floor for consideration. Also passed and headed to full committee were the John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act and a bill to name a federal building and courthouse in Toledo after two prominent figures in Ohio history.

Norton held a hearing on the Emancipation Hall bill last month because her subcommittee has jurisdiction over the naming and designation of public spaces in the Capitol building. She said that the "Temple of Liberty," as the Capitol was called, ironically was built by "negro hires," blacks who were essentially hired out to build the Capitol while their slave owners pocketed their "wages." More than three million people visit the Capitol each year. However, few are aware of the untold stories of the black slave laborers, and today little remains on Capitol Hill that bears their imprint, not even a marker. "Naming the CVC's great hall in honor of slave laborers is long overdue, but still will be a token of the respect these blacks never received," Norton said.

The $500 million CVC construction project will beef up security, reduce long lines to tour the Capitol and provide visitors with a more enjoyable and educational experience. The visitor center is expected to be completed in the fall of next year. The CVC is a Norton priority, not only because it has become a necessity for the Capitol, but also because the new attraction is important to her emphasis on enhancing tourism here.

The Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety, and Health Act resulted from concerns about the nation's inability to meet the special needs of children displaced by Katrina. About a quarter of the people who lived in the ravaged areas were under the age of 18 and more than 400,000 of them were under five. The National Commission on Children and Disasters will conduct a comprehensive study to examine the needs of children as they relate to preparation, response and recovery from emergencies and disasters. The Commission will look at issues of health, welfare, education, housing, transportation, and other relevant areas of concern, and report to Congress and the President. The bill also sets up a national children's center under the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as an information resource for public and private agencies.

Norton has zeroed in on Katrina recovery on a variety of fronts, including getting House approval yesterday of her Katrina and Rita Recovery Facilitation Act of 2007. This bill is designed to provide additional federal relief for the continuing problems that make day-to-day life difficult for Gulf Coast residents and prevent them from returning home.

The Kennedy Center bill authorizes appropriations for maintenance and capital projects there for the next three fiscal years. Norton held a hearing in June on the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian Institution after reports of questionable spending at the Smithsonian. The hearing investigated congressional neglect of the physical facilities, and compared the fundraising and the composition of boards of both institutions, which receive significant federal funding while also relying on private funding. In the coming days, Norton will introduce a bill to address serious, unmet infrastructure and financial needs of the Smithsonian.