Hearing of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee - "The Congressional Workplace: Safety Concerns and Future Plans"

Statement

Good afternoon and welcome to today's hearing. I am pleased to welcome our witnesses and look forward to their testimony. My interest in the Capitol Complex is deep seated as the District of the Columbia's lone federal representative and as the Chair of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the capital program of the Architect of the Capitol. Today, the subcommittee plans to examine the Fiscal Year 2009 State of the Congressional Workplace report produced by the Office of Compliance and how it relates to the Architect of the Capitol's capital infrastructure plan. The Office of Compliance (OOC) was created in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-1). The Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) was passed to ensure that Congress and its auxiliary agencies generally follow the same employment, labor, accessibility, and safety laws that applied to both the private and public sectors.

The Congressional Accountability Act applies to the employees of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of the Attending Physician, the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, the United States Capitol Police, the Government Accountability Office, and the Library of Congress, covering an estimated 30,000 employees. Section 215(e) of the Congressional Accountability Act requires the OOC to inspect the facilities of the agencies under its jurisdiction for compliance with occupational safety and health standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, at least once each Congress. On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, the Office of Compliance released its Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report, "State of the Congressional Workplace". The FY 2009 Annual Report prepared by the Office of Compliance report covers 96% of the 17 million square feet of space occupied by Congress and other legislative branch facilities in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.

The Capitol Complex has a long and storied history. The Capitol Complex includes the House office buildings, the Capitol, the Senate Office buildings, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court building, the Botanical Gardens, the Capitol Power Plant, and other buildings. The Capitol first began construction in 1793. Extensions, additions and renovations of the Capitol have continued from the late 18th century until now when the Capitol Visitors Center, the most recent addition to the Capitol opened in 2008.

Today, the Capitol Complex encompasses over 450 acres and houses several important institutions in American government. With several of the buildings approaching 100 years old, the care, condition and safety of the buildings of the Capitol Complex are important concerns that this subcommittee plans to address. In addition to being symbols of democracy, these buildings also house the working offices of America's elected officials, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Library of Congress.

Today, the Capitol Complex encompasses over 450 acres and houses several important institutions in American government. With several of the buildings approaching 100 years old, the care, condition and safety of the buildings of the Capitol Complex are important concerns that this subcommittee plans to address. In addition to being symbols of democracy, these buildings also house the working offices of America's elected officials, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the Library of Congress.

I believe that we need to take a hard look at the long term plans to maintain the safety and accessibility of the United States Capitol Complex. Going forward with long term capital asset planning, it will also be important to examine some of the measures that the Architect of the Capitol and Office of Compliance are taking to ensure that Legislative Branch employees and the millions of visitors to the Capitol Complex are not exposed to harm unnecessarily, and further, that these offices are conducting or identifying requisite training or establishing safety practices and procedures for Congressional employees and visitors.

I believe that we need to take a hard look at the long term plans to maintain the safety and accessibility of the United States Capitol Complex. Going forward with long term capital asset planning, it will also be important to examine some of the measures that the Architect of the Capitol and Office of Compliance are taking to ensure that Legislative Branch employees and the millions of visitors to the Capitol Complex are not exposed to harm unnecessarily, and further, that these offices are conducting or identifying requisite training or establishing safety practices and procedures for Congressional employees and visitors.

I also remain concerned about the issues I detailed in a letter on August 18, 2010 where I explained my concerns to the Architect on emergency preparedness and response training for CVC workers, workings conditions, employee benefits, including the possible loss of benefits, as well as reports that CVC forbids employee contact with Members of Congress. For example, CVC employees allegedly were instructed to flush the contents of a bag of white powder labeled "anthrax" down the toilet instead of alerting U.S. Capitol Police of its discovery. It is also alleged that CVC employees are subject to harmful working conditions, including uniforms inappropriate for outdoor work in summer and winter months, and limitations on water consumption. I consider these allegations serious and expect to hear from both parties on how these issues are being resolved.

I look forward to the testimony of officials from the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of Compliance, the American Institute of Architects, and union officials to ensure that the U.S. Capitol Complex remains a safe and accessible workplace

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