Norton Says Hearing Are Coming on Inauguration Snafus (1/29/09)

Norton Says Hearings Are Coming on Inauguration Snafus

January 29, 2009

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that hearings are being planned on "the heartbreaking snafus" that prevented some ticket-holders from gaining access to their designated areas and the thousands who were held in the Third Street tunnel, reportedly without police presence or communication, missing the once-in-a-lifetime inauguration they were promised. She is encouraging District residents to also report their Inauguration problems to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), and the Secret Service, which was the lead agency for the Inauguration at feedback@jccic.senate.gov. Norton, who went to great lengths to get almost 1,000 extra Inauguration tickets for her constituents said, "I could not be more distressed that so many ticket-holders were unable to get to their assigned places to view the Inauguration. I know how much this meant to people. We've got to get to the bottom of the wreckage that spoiled the chance of a lifetime for thousands of visitors and Washingtonians."

The Congresswoman's staff has spoken with JCCIC regarding its consolation packets for ticket-holders who missed the ceremony, but no information was available.