Norton Provision for Continued Commercial Filming and Photography at Union Square Passed by Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) bill to give the Capitol Police the permanent authority to issue permits for commercial filming and photography in Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol, near the Botanic Gardens) was included in the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch today. Norton has worked to get this legislation through Congress since the jurisdiction over Union Square was transferred from the National Park Service (NPS) to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) in 2011. NPS allowed such filming and photography, and with the urging of Norton, the Capitol Police has permitted continued filming, but legislation is necessary because such filming is otherwise prohibited on Capitol grounds. Norton got her bill included in the House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2013 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. However, those bills did not become law because Congress simply extended existing appropriations bills in a continuing resolution.
"We are pleased that both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have agreed that commercial photography and filming of the iconic U.S. Capitol must continue," said Norton. "Maintaining the existing authority to film and photograph the Capitol was necessary, but we are continuing our work to expand filming and photography to other areas of the Capitol on the outside of the Capitol building. The current limited filming opportunities do a disservice to the American people, keep our country from using an invaluable tool for sharing the story of American democracy, and needlessly deprive the District and the nation from the economic benefits."
After Union Square was transferred from NPS to AOC, Norton met separately with all the federal stakeholders to ensure that the NPS policy of allowing commercial filming and photography in Union Square would continue pending passage of legislation.
Published: July 9, 2013