Political Quotes

“the legislation that I bring to the floor today is the end result of a long journey that goes back to the 104th Congress, when the Capitol Visitor Center, or the CVC, was first debated. Bills were introduced and none were passed. After the 1998 entry by a gunman into the Capitol and shooting of two Capitol police officers, money was appropriated in the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1999 for the planning, construction, and design of the CVC. While that bill provided for the bricks and mortar of the CVC, H.R. 5159, the Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 is the administrative blueprint or framework for the day-to-day operation and management oversight of the CVC. H.R. 5159 defines the duties, responsibilities, and roles for a variety of administrative offices such as the Chief Executive Officer of Visitor Services, Office of the Capitol Visitor Center, and the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. The bill also provides for visitor center services, restaurants, and the gift shop. This bill does not affect or change staff-led tours in any way. H.R. 5159 is a bipartisan initiative that received unanimous support and was reported out favorably with an amendment from the Committee on House Administration.”