Norton to Former Senate Sergeant-At-Arms on Capitol Complex Security: "Don't Fence Us In'

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today called former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer's comments in a Roll Call article yesterday about fencing off the Capitol Complex, "desperate, distasteful, and disrespectful." Gainer suggested adding a fence around the entire perimeter of the Capitol and "re-routing" traffic on Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue. He called the public lanes on Independence and Constitution avenues an "attractive nuisance" and suggested a "tasteful fence" around the Capitol Complex.

"I believe that most Members of Congress would agree that we do not want to be fenced in and our constituents don't want to be fenced out," Norton said. "Calling the streets around the Capitol an "attractive nuisance' is the same as calling the public a nuisance. Gainer's notion of a "tasteful fence' would be inherently distasteful and disrespectful to D.C. residents and the millions who visit the Capitol each year. Worse, closing the streets and enclosing the Capitol within a fence would send the message that a Congress that cannot keep itself safe without fencing itself in cannot keep the country safe. If security officials were actually suggesting gating the Congress from our constituents, they would signal that they have given up on state-of-the-art security and simply don't know what to do. It is instructive that Gainer never recommended such a proposal while he was seargent-at-arms. He is using the Canadian tragedy to re-float his earlier try at this same proposal. The Capitol Police, who guard the Capitol grounds outside as well as the inside of the Capitol, are fully equipped, have guns, and are well-trained. Gainer's comments are a slap in the face not only to our constituents, but also to the Capitol Police."

Norton says she is strongly committed to public safety and to keeping government and its First Amendment areas open to the public. She said that she does not regard the two as inconsistent and does not believe 21st-century security officials do either. Last month, following the White House breach by Omar Gonzalez and ahead of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the matter, Norton toured the White House perimeter to see for herself whether public access was being safeguarded or if the first target for fixing White House security was the public. Prior to her site visit, Norton sent a letter requesting a meeting with then- U.S. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson, who later phoned Norton.

Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the Secret Service closed Pennsylvania Avenue at the front of the White House and E Street at the rear to public access. However, Norton worked with the White House and the National Park Service to widen E Street at the back of the White House, and maintained the access across E Street, a major thoroughfare for the city and the region was rescued. However, E Street was summarily closed after 9/11 and the Secret Service has since found no way to reopen this road. Norton said that Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House must remain open to the public just as the Capitol Complex should.

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