December 19, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 206 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO PERMIT COMMERCIAL FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON 
                    THE GROUNDS OF THE U.S. CAPITOL

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 19, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce a bill that would 
permit commercial filming and photography on the grounds of the U.S. 
Capitol, beyond east of Union Square, the only area where such filming 
is currently authorized. This bill would permit commercial filming and 
photography outside of the Capitol and congressional office buildings 
by permit, so long as both the House and Senate are not in session. In 
many countries worldwide, freedom of expression is limited. Our country 
should be the first to encourage commercial filming and photography of 
the Capitol, a symbol of U.S. democracy at work. Commercial filmmakers 
should not have to go to other cities or fake capitol buildings for 
movies and films about the Capitol.
  The current policy permitting filming near the United States Botanic 
Garden shows that Capitol Police can handle filmmaking on Capitol 
grounds, especially when Congress is not in session, as my bill would 
provide. However, filming from that vantage point captures the least 
familiar view of the Capitol. Keeping filmmakers from standing in front 
of the Capitol is neither business-friendly nor true to the nation's 
democratic traditions. Encouraging commercial filming and photography 
at the Capitol would help spread the story of our national legislature 
around the world. The time is overdue to allow commercial filming and 
photography of the exterior of the historic 19th-century Capitol.
  There is no good reason why commercial filming and photography should 
be confined to Union Square. Specifically, my bill would give Capitol 
Police complete discretion to issue a permit authorizing commercial 
filming and photography under the same conditions as those in Union 
Square. No policy or security reason exists to justify limiting 
commercial filming and photography of the Capitol complex to only one 
location, Union Square, especially considering that permits are 
necessary. Visitors are regularly seen on East Capitol Street (east of 
2nd Street) taking pictures, where they get a full view of the Capitol 
building, demonstrating the arbitrary nature of limiting commercial 
filming and photography to Union Square.
  This bill would also provide Capitol Police the authority to charge 
fees to cover any costs incurred by the Architect of the Capitol 
resulting from permit approval, to be deposited into the Capitol Trust 
Account. The Capitol Trust Account was established to accept proceeds 
from any fees collected for commercial filming and photography permits 
for Union Square. Amounts in the Capitol Trust Account would be 
available without fiscal year limitation for maintenance, improvements 
and projects as the Architect of the Capitol considers appropriate, 
subject to the approval of the Appropriations Committees of the House 
and Senate.
  Views of the Capitol are among America's most iconic. Limiting 
commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, an important vehicle 
for telling the nation's story, does not serve the American people. 
Indeed, most of the world reveres our system of government largely 
through commercial films and photos of the Capitol, a symbol of our 
democracy at work. Commercial films and photographs of the Capitol, the 
seat of our democracy, are perhaps the best modern vehicles for telling 
the nation's story and showcasing its democratic system of government. 
Republicans and Democrats alike revere the image of the Capitol as a 
symbol of patriotism. My bill would enable appropriate, permitted 
commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, and would create 
economic benefits for the nation, the District of Columbia, and private 
business.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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