PLEASE NOTE:
Several federal offices have changed their tour policies recently
to reflect
the need for increased public safety. As of October
2001, the White House,
FBI, and the Pentagon have suspended their tours indefinitely, and
all requests
for tours after September 2001 will not be honored. My offices are
currently
not able to accept reservations for these tours. We will resume the
coordination of these tours when security restrictions have been lifted.
The United States Capitol Guide Service, on the advice of the
United States
Capitol Police, has altered their tour policy as follows and their
program may
be restricted at any time should changes become necessary.
Public tours are being offered on a limited
basis. The Capitol Guide
Service will conduct tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday
through
Saturday. Tours will not be offered on Sunday or on holidays. Tour
lines will
form in front of the East Front Plaza, next to the East Front Screening
Facility. At the conclusion of the tour in the East Front Lobby,
the Capitol
Guide Service will offer all visitors the option of visiting the
Senate or the
House of Representatives galleries if they are in session. The guides
do not
carry gallery passes, so you must request the appropriate number
of passes from
my office before your tour. Please contact my tour coordinator to
secure
gallery passes in advance of your visit. We would be happy to mail
these to
you, or you may visit our office in person when you arrive in Washington
and
pick up your gallery passes at that time.
For additional security, the Capitol Police Board has implemented
new
procedures effective December 8, 2001, regarding items that visitors
will not be
permitted to bring in the Capitol. These prohibited items include:
aerosol and
non-aerosol sprays, cans, bottles, oversized suitcases, duffle bags,
oversized
backpacks, knives of any length, razors, box cutters, mace and pepper
spray.
The Capitol Police are authorized to make exceptions, if a prohibited
item is
determined to be necessary and required to serve child care, medical
or other
special needs. Prior to your tour, please feel free to leave your
belongings in
my office, Room 304 of the Russell Senate Office Building.
In the past, my staff was able to escort constituents from our
office in the
Russell Building to the Capitol for tours. However, due to the aforementioned
security restrictions, all constituents must now pass through the
East Front
Screening Facility before entering the Capitol. Congressional staff
are no
longer allowed to lead constituent tours in the Capitol as they
always have
done in the past. Instead, staff members are required to remain
with groups as
tour guides from the Capitol Guide Service escort visitors through
the facility.
We regret the inconvenience these new security restrictions may
cause and thank
you for your patience and understanding.
Thank you very much for your continued interest in visiting our
nation’s
capital. I hope that you and your family enjoy the many sights that
Washington
has to offer. Please feel free to contact Sarah
Marks of my staff at
(202)-224-2742 for answers to any questions you might have or for
updates on
tours of federal offices.
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