Reps. Kelly, Latta lead effort to re-open the U.S. Capitol to the public

Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) led more than 60 of their House colleagues in calling for the reopening the U.S. Capitol to the American public. The letter requests Attending Physician Brian P. Monahan “immediately issue up-to-date Social Distancing Guidelines” to Congressional leaders.

This request comes as major sporting and entertainment events have resumed around the country, and the Senate Sergeant At Arms has chosen to reopen the Senate side of the Capitol Building to visitors and tours on a limited basis. The Senate Sergeant At Arms’ decision was not mirrored by the House Sergeant At Arms.

You can read their full letter here.

“The U.S. Capitol must continue to act as ‘The People’s House’, where the American public can actively participate in the government that serves them.  Without their participation, this institution is incomplete,” Kelly said. “The American people don’t have the luxury of closing their doors when times get tough. Yet, for nearly two years Congress has done just that. I urge the Attending Physician to immediately update his guidance on the closure of the U.S. Capitol and consider its reopening. As our nation adapts to COVID-19, so must its public institutions.”

“For generations, the Capitol has been a symbol of our Democracy,” said Latta. “It is the hall of the legislative process and holds 222 years of history. By withholding access to ‘The People’s House’ and the history it has preserved, we are depriving the American public of learning about the deep history that this building houses. We must work together to find a successful path to safely re-open the Capitol to the American public.”

BACKGROUND
The Capitol closure order, issued by the House Sergeant At Arms on March 12, 2020, cited guidance from the Attending Physician and Congressional leadership as the justification for issuing the order. Since that time, Congressional leadership has repeatedly stated it defers to Attending Physician Monahan on questions of COVID-19 workplace safety policies, including a recent statement made by Committee on House Administration Chair Zoe Lofgren to the Washington Post. Despite the importance of this issue, the last Social Distancing Guidelines (V6.1) issued by the Attending Physician’s offices were dated July 27, 2021.