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Norton Requests Capitol Police Board Remove Fencing Blocking Maryland Avenue Buildings

March 9, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter requesting the Capitol Police Board remove the fencing around the buildings at 100 and 110 Maryland Avenue NE to allow staff, students, mail and deliveries to access the buildings.

"If the fencing around the buildings cannot be removed — either for security or engineering reasons — I ask you to make accommodations to improve access, such as creating identification cards for the people who work and study in the buildings," Norton said in her letter.

Norton requested a response in writing by March 12, 2021. The full letter is below.

March 4, 2021

Jennifer A. Hemingway

Acting Chair, Capitol Police Board

Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper

U.S. Senate

U.S. Capitol, Room S-151

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable J. Brett Blanton

Member, Capitol Police Board

Architect of the Capitol

U.S. Capitol, Room SB-16

Washington, DC 20515

Timothy Blodgett

Member, Capitol Police Board

Acting Sergeant at Arms

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Capitol, Room H-124

Washington, DC 20515

Yogananda Pittman

Ex-Officio Member, Capitol Police Board

Acting Chief of Police, U.S. Capitol Police

119 D Street NE

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Members of the Capitol Police Board:

I request you improve access to the privately owned buildings at 100 and 110 Maryland Avenue NE, which are located inside the fencing that was erected around the U.S. Capitol complex after the attack on January 6, 2021. The fencing has made it difficult for staff, students, mail and deliveries to reach the buildings. If the fencing around the buildings cannot be removed—either for security or engineering reasons—I ask you to make accommodations to improve access, such as creating identification cards for the people who work and study in the buildings.

The buildings have been on Capitol Hill for nearly 100 years and serve as the headquarters for over 40 non-profit organizations. Over 300 individuals work in the buildings, students take classes in the buildings and the buildings receive mail and deliveries. I understand there have been conversations between the U.S. Capitol Police and the United Methodist Church to improve access, but security personnel at the fencing are not always aware that employees, students, mail and deliveries are allowed to access the buildings.

Please provide a written response to this letter by March 12, 2021.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton