Norton Says D.C. and Nation Would Benefit From Expanded Filming around Capitol and Requests a Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter to Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-CA) and Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Committee on House Administration, and to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, requesting a hearing on expanding commercial filming and photography around the grounds of the Capitol, following the transfer of Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol) from the National Park Service (NPS) to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), the only area where commercial filming and photography is allowed. Norton believes that expanding the permissible filming areas would have significant benefits for the economy of the District of Columbia and of the nation. The District has an office of Motion Picture and Television Development, which coordinates commercial filming in the city. However, many films involving the nation's capital are made in cities such as Baltimore because of restrictive federal policies Norton has been trying to get changed. "Commercial films and photographs of the Capitol, the seat of democracy, are perhaps the best modern vehicle for telling the nation's story and showcasing its democratic system of government," Norton wrote in her letter.

Norton said that the transfer of jurisdiction provides a "once in a century" opportunity to review and update the filming and photography policy of a past era. She said that there does not appear to be policy or security reasons for limiting commercial filming and photography to Union Square. Earlier in the year, Norton met separately with all the federal and District stakeholders and recommended strongly that NPS's policy of allowing commercial filming and photography at Union Square not only be maintained by the AOC, but that commercial filming and photography should be allowed in additional areas with views of the Capitol.

The text of Norton's letter follows.

Dear Chairmen Schumer and Lungren and Ranking Members Alexander and Brady:

I want to thank you again for the attention you have given to implementing the Capitol Police Board's recommendation to continue to allow commercial filming and photography in Union Square, following the transfer of jurisdiction from the National Park Service to the Architect of the Capitol. In an April 2, 2012, letter, I requested that you consider allowing commercial filming and photography in additional areas with views of the Capitol, such as Independence Avenue on the House side and Constitution Avenue on the Senate side.

The transfer of jurisdiction in the fiscal year 2012 omnibus spending bill did not involve a hearing. I therefore write to request that you hold a hearing to learn the history of the current commercial filming and photography policy and to explore the feasibility of expanding commercial filming and photography beyond Union Square. Security matters, of course, and any security issues could be considered in a closed hearing, but, I believe, that transparency about this issue would be beneficial to Congress and the public alike. Commercial films and photographs of the Capitol, the seat of democracy, are perhaps the best modern vehicle for telling the nation's story and showcasing its democratic system of government.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Published: May 24, 2012