Norton to See Architect Friday & to Hold a Hearing on Safety Hazards in Capitol Complex (7/13/2010)

Norton to See Architect Friday and to Hold a Hearing on Safety Hazards in Capitol Complex

July 13, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today spoke with Architect of the Capitol (AOC) Stephen Ayers regarding a report today of serious fire and safety violations in the Capitol complex, and asked him to come to her office on Friday to discuss it. The detailed report by the Office of Compliance (OOC) estimates that there are an estimated 6,300 safety hazards in the Capitol complex, many of them potentially fatal. Norton, who has begun planning a hearing on the report, said "I was relieved today when the AOC told me that he is making considerable headway, with 60% of the violations abated. However, Congress has some work to do, including bringing itself fully under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, rather than only partially, as it is today. The Capitol sees millions of visitors each year, including thousands of school groups, and Congress has nearly 30,000 non-Member employees. Their safety must not be compromised when they visit or work in their own Capitol."

The report details serious safety violations -- from open stairwells in the Russell Senate Office Building that could create a dangerous smoke funnel, preventing people from escaping if the building caught fire or sustained an explosive attack, to the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, which lacks adequate exit stairwells. While the report does not estimate the cost of repairing the violations, Norton told the Architect that she was pleased that the AOC has requested $755 million in its FY 2011 budget request to address its backlog of deferred maintenance, including violations cited by the OOC.

Norton, who chairs the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over federal buildings, will meet with Ayers on Friday to discuss next steps and will hold a hearing on the state of the Capitol complex and on the developing Five-Year Capitol Complex Master Plan when Congress returns from its August recess. Norton said, "We recognize the enormous costs of maintaining a large complex, including the U.S. Capitol, four House office buildings, three Senate office buildings, the U.S. Supreme Court, three Library of Congress buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, and the National Garden. However, Congress has consistently underfunded its growing operations. For the sake of our own constituents and employees, we must clear up these violations quickly."