Norton Requests Capitol Police Enforce Prohibition on Engine Idling

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today sent a letter to Acting Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Yogananda Pittman asking that USCP enforce the prohibition against engine idling for more than three minutes at the Capitol complex. Congressional staff often idle their car engines outside the Capitol while waiting for their Members of Congress to exit.

"Idling creates air pollution, which can cause asthma and respiratory illnesses, heart and lung diseases, and contributes to climate change," Norton said. "Idling not only risks the health of Members, staff, employees and visitors to the Capitol complex, it also risks the health of my constituents in the immediately surrounding community."

The full letter follows below.

February 26, 2021

Yogananda D. Pittman
Acting Chief of Police
United States Capitol Police
119 D Street NE
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Acting Chief Pittman:

I urge the United States Capitol Police to enforce the prohibition in the Traffic Regulations for the United States Capitol Grounds against engines idling for more than three minutes. The most common instance of such idling appears to be when staffers are waiting in cars on the East Plaza for their Members of Congress to exit the Capitol. Idling creates air pollution, which can cause asthma and respiratory illnesses, heart and lung disease, and contributes to climate change. Idling not only risks the health of Members, staff, employees and visitors to the Capitol complex, it also risks the health of my constituents in the immediately surrounding community.

Please respond to this letter in writing by March 25, 2021.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton
Member of Congress