{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-allow-commercial-filming-on-capitol-grounds", "Norton Introduces Bill to Allow Commercial Filming on Capitol Grounds When Congress is Out of Session", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to permit commercial filming and photography on all U.S. Capitol Grounds, beyond the single area where it is currently permitted, Union Square, when both chambers of Congress are out of session.\u00a0 Norton said her bill would provide a patriotic and economic boost to our nation and to the District of Columbia by allowing filmmakers to showcase the Capitol in its fullest authenticity to the nation and the rest of the world.\u00a0 The expanded filming would be subject to the same terms and conditions as filming in Union Square.\u00a0 Norton said her bill addresses any security concerns by giving Capitol Police full discretion to issue filming permits depending on the circumstances in and around the Capitol.\u00a0 Norton\u2019s bill is part of her effort to expand public access to public space, particularly around the Capitol.\n\u201cIn our open and free democracy, to the fullest extent possible, we should allow access to film our nation\u2019s most iconic democratic symbol\u2014the Capitol,\u201d Norton said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is neither business-friendly nor true to the nation\u2019s democratic traditions to exclude filming of the Capitol, and, as we have shown, there is no justifiable policy or security reason to limit filming to Union Square.\u00a0 Encouraging commercial photography and filming at the Capitol would help spread the story of our national legislature around the world, while providing a boost to both the economies of the nation and the District of Columbia.\u201d\nNorton\u2019s introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of a Bill to Permit Commercial Filming and Photography on the Grounds of the U.S. Capitol\nToday, I introduce a bill to permit commercial filming and photography on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, east of Union Square, the only area where such filming is currently authorized.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 In today\u2019s world, where many societies are facing upheavals, our country should be the first to encourage commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, which symbolizes U.S. democracy at work.\u00a0 Hollywood and other commercial filmmakers should not have to go to other or fake capitol buildings for movies and films about the U.S. Capitol.\u00a0 The current policy permitting filming near the United States Botanic Garden shows that the Capitol police can handle filmmaking on Capitol grounds, especially when Congress is not in session.\u00a0 However, filming from that vantage point captures the least familiar view of the Capitol.\u00a0 At a time when the reputation of Congress is particularly low, filming of the Capitol, a building that represents American democracy, could bolster its image.\u00a0 Keeping filmmakers from standing in front of the Capitol is neither business-friendly nor true to the nation\u2019s democratic traditions.\u00a0 Encouraging commercial filming and photography at the Capitol would help spread the story of our national legislature around the world.\u00a0 The time is overdue to allow commercial filming and photography of the exterior of the historic 19th century Capitol building.\u00a0\nThere is no good reason why commercial filming and photography should be confined to Union Square.\u00a0 Specifically, my bill gives the Capitol Police the discretion, depending on the circumstances in and around the Capitol, to issue a permit authorizing commercial filming and photography under the same conditions as those in Union Square.\u00a0 Such areas might include, for example, Independence Avenue on the House side and Constitution Avenue on the Senate side.\u00a0 No policy or security reason exists to justify limiting commercial filming and photography of the Capitol complex to only one location, Union Square, particularly considering that permits are necessary.\u00a0 People are regularly seen on East Capitol Street (east of 2nd Street) taking pictures, where they get a full view of the Capitol building, demonstrating how arbitrary it is to limit commercial filming and photography to Union Square.\u00a0\nCapitol Police would also have authority to charge a fee to cover any costs incurred by the Architect of the Capitol as a result of the issuance of the permit, to be deposited into the Capitol Trust Account.\u00a0 The Capitol Trust Account was established to accept proceeds from any fees collected for commercial filming and photography permits for Union Square.\u00a0 Amounts in the Capitol Trust Account would be available without fiscal year limitation for such maintenance, improvements, and projects with respect to the Capitol grounds as the Architect of the Capitol considers appropriate, subject to the approval of the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate.\nViews of the U.S. Capitol are among America\u2019s most iconic.\u00a0 Limiting commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, an important vehicle for telling the nation\u2019s story, does not serve the American people.\u00a0 Indeed, most of the world knows our country and reveres our system of government largely through commercial films and photos of the Capitol, which symbolizes our democracy at work.\u00a0 Commercial films and photographs of the Capitol, the seat of our democracy, are perhaps the best modern vehicles for telling the nation\u2019s story and showcasing its democratic system of government.\u00a0 Republicans and Democrats alike revere the image as a symbol of patriotism.\u00a0 My bill would enable appropriate, permitted commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, and would create economic benefits for the nation, the city, and private business.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-allow-commercial-filming-on-capitol-grounds"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8706878870725632, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": 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