Contact: Grace White
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) led an effort joined by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican Whip Steve Scalise, Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, and Republican Members of the Committee on House Administration, Ranking Member Rodney Davis and Rep. Barry Loudermilk in introducing a House Resolution to reopen the United States Capitol and House of Representatives to the public.
The members released the following joint statement:
“It has been 719 days since Speaker Pelosi closed the People’s House to the public. This far exceeds the amount of time of any prior closure over the course of the Capitol’s more than 200-year history.
Across the country places have reopened including businesses, stadiums, museums, and nearly every single statehouse. The United States Senate, on the opposite side of the same building, first resumed limited tours months ago and made the decision to further expand access to tours later this month even prior to the passage of yesterday’s resolution, and yet the People’s House remains closed.
Just last night, the President himself said ‘COVID-19 need no longer control our lives’ before a crowd of hundreds of people in the House Chamber but that is not the reality on Capitol Hill.
We proudly consider this a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But to truly serve the people, we must make this institution accessible to the public. Today, we stand united as House Republicans to deliver a clear message to Speaker Pelosi – reopen the People’s House today.”
