Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today called the newly opened Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) in Washington, D.C. “a magnificent structure, a worthy addition to the historic building that is the symbol of our great nation.”
“The Capitol Visitor Center is a long overdue and needed expansion of the United States Capitol and the first addition built for the convenience of the American public and not for Members of Congress,” said Mica. “The public will no longer have to stand in rain, sleet, snow, heat, and cold in order to visit their own seat of government. The CVC is worth every dollar expended and critics of the project do not have a clue about the complexity of the project, security measures, and other factors that required additional funding and time for completing the center,” Mica added. “Those who envision an addition on the cheap with drywall and drop tile ceilings will be disappointed. Those who envision a magnificent Capitol extension for the benefit of the public that will enhance the historic U.S. Capitol will be pleased. This grand and beautiful addition to the Capitol will serve many generations to come”.
After first being elected to Congress in the early 1990’s, Mica came to Washington, D.C. and immediately noticed how ill-equipped the Capitol was for accommodating its millions of annual visitors. In 1995 Mica introduced legislation authorizing construction of a visitor center. Mica has remained a fierce advocate for not building a mediocre tourist facility, but a historically complimentary extension of the existing Capitol.
“This new facility will greatly improve the visitor’s experience, and includes a state of the art museum that allows the nation to view some of its most precious artifacts and documents, which are rarely available to the public,” Mica continued. “For the first time, documents that are rarely displayed, like the Emancipation Proclamation, will be accommodated in 18,000 square feet of exhibition space.”
The 580,000 square foot CVC is the largest expansion of the Capitol, representing a 75% increase in its total size, and one of the most significant projects undertaken by the Office of the Architect of the Capitol since the extensions to the Capitol and it distinctive dome were built more than 140 years ago.
“One person who deserves a tremendous amount of credit for overseeing this monumental and difficult task is former Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman,” Mica said. “With his talent, guidance, and leadership, this will be a project for the ages.”
Construction for the CVC was approved by Congress in 1998. Ground was broken in 2000, but the attacks of September 11th delayed the start of construction until 2002. Although the cost of the project increased since first authorized, the size and scope of the center expanded. Security, utility, and access improvements also added to the project cost and timetable.
The original project was approved before several significant security incidents, including 9/11, the anthrax attacks, and the shooting of Capitol Police Officers Chestnut and Gibson. These events led to dramatic increases in the project’s security costs. The project was revised to incorporate a number of important security and life safety upgrades that will protect the public against explosives, chemical and biological attack, fire and other hazards.
Other changes that increased the initial authorization included numerous utility upgrades and the decision made by Mica, and other Capitol Preservation Commission Members, to finish all of expansion space, rather than returning to finish it years later. “While the latter decision again added to the initial delay, scope and cost of the project, in the long term that is a wise decision that will save many millions of dollars in the future,” Mica said.
“Over time, the requirements for the CVC changed, and we have a much larger, more secure, more visitor-friendly facility than originally conceived,” Mica added. “Now that the doors have opened, the American people will be the final judge of this addition to their Capitol.”
After a 10:00 a.m. dedication ceremony on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, the Capitol Visitor Center will open to the public at 1 p.m.
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