House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.), joined by 22 committee ranking members, called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to immediately reopen the U.S. Capitol complex to the American people. For close to two years, the U.S. Capitol and congressional office buildings have been closed to the public.
“The U.S. Capitol is a shrine to the greatest republic in the history of the world, yet you continue to prevent easy access to the American people. Ordinary Americans who wish to visit the People’s House – which their tax dollars maintain – are entirely shut out and may only view the buildings from afar. This is the People’s House, but the American people are not allowed to enter,” wrote the Republican lawmakers.
Despite safe and effective vaccines, treatments, and testing widely available to the public, Speaker Pelosi is continuing her restrictive COVID-19 visitor policy. Under current operations, the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, whose sole purpose is to accommodate visitors, is closed to the public and tours are prohibited. Only Members of Congress, congressional staff, and invited, official business visitors are allowed in the Capitol and House office buildings. However, official business visitors must be pre-arranged and met by House staff at the designated entrance, present their identification, and check-in at the Appointments Desk. It is unclear what is done with visitors’ information prior to or after the visit.
“This extended closure has had real consequences on Americans’ most fundamental constitutional rights. Citizens who wish to visit the Capitol complex to exercise their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, peaceably to assemble, or to petition the Government are prohibited from readily doing so. While the Constitution strictly prohibits Congress from passing a law infringing these rights, you appear to have usurped our founding document by prohibiting exercise of these rights through an authoritarian decree,” the Republican lawmakers continued. “COVID-19 has become the pretext by which Democrats attempt to assert control over every aspect of American life. It is well past time to reopen the House of Representatives, and we urge you to open it immediately so all Americans may once again fully participate in our great democracy.”
So, what do you think? Should the U.S. Capitol be reopened to we the people or is Speaker Pelosi justified in her actions? As always, share your thoughts below!
Donny Ferguson is a professional fundraiser and organizational manager. Born and raised in Texas, he has lived in Washington, D.C. for 16 years. Ferguson also served as Senior Communications and Policy Adviser in the United States House of Representatives, operating one of Capitol Hill's most effective media operations.
Where the HELLL is the GOP demand to release the Jan. 6th political prisoners just down the street in the Washington DC Capital Police Gulag?
Their year in solitary confinement without charges is more important!
We want to know the country is full of greddy lawyers, those being held , where is a group of lawyers that has the balls to take on this criminal activity, our constution is being destroyed by The Democratic party leader, we want them to pay dearly. When Donald J Trump was president we had 4 years of law & order,now it is a joke.
Pelosi is probably a root cause of the “incident” the Capitol so her part in the Jan. 6th issue needs to be fully investigated. She has made a mountain out of a mole hill with her Committee unless they investigate all involved including HER and her cohorts! She will do anything to hurt Pres Trump including part of the inhumane, un-American treatment of “suspects” and those imprisoned with ? involvement on Jan. 6th. How is that allowed to be happening? Where is “innocent until proven guilty”? Where is our COUNTRY?
Release prisoners of 1/6/21, reopen all federal buildings, remove all fencing around capitol, and let’s regain our sanity prior to Democrats take over of our country and constitution !!!
Pelosi &group release those people. What you are guilty of is beyond words, you & Democratic party leaders take heed, this matter will not be forgotten we hold you people accountable. Hate destroys the haters.
The Leaders of the Democrat party are putting the yoke of oppression on the Jan 6 victims of arrest as a deterrent to others. It’s like trying to put a “finger in the dike” to hold back the flood of right minded people who see through their continued takeover of our American Constitution and way of life.