SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

Russell Building Room 418

202-224-9126

VISITORS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Individuals who are planning to attend a Committee hearing or meeting and require an auxiliary aid or service should contact the Committee at 202-224-9126.  So as to best enable staff to make arrangements, please call at least 3 business days in advance.  

• Among other things, staff can arrange for ASL interpreters, convert hearing testimony to Braille, and reserve seating for individuals who have service animals. 
  
• The Committee’s hearing room in Russell 418 has a hearing induction loop installed to assist visitors with hearing aids; and also individual wireless hearing amplifiers are available from any Committee staff member.
  
• The Committee routinely leaves space open at hearings to accommodate individuals in wheelchairs.

The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs holds most of its hearings in the Russell Building in room 418.  However, we occasionally schedule hearings in public hearing rooms in the Hart and Dirksen Buildings.

There is no parking available to the public on the Capitol grounds.  The best drop-off location for Russell Building access is the corner of Constitution and Delaware Avenues, NE.   The closest Metro stop is Union Station.

There are metal detectors at each entrance so be prepared to empty your pockets of electronic devices, change, keys and all other items that cause concern at metal detectors. There is also the option of being “wanded” manually rather than going through the metal detector at the door.

All of the public hearing rooms in the Senate are wheelchair accessible.  Please see the information on the following pages to assist you in finding the wheelchair accessible entrance(s) to the Russell, Dirksen, and Hart Buildings.

**In case of an emergency requiring you to evacuate during a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, the Committee staff has been trained to assist, and will help you reach the designated evacuation site.

The Russell Building

• The wheelchair accessible entrance to the Russell building is on Delaware Avenue, NE.  It is to the left of the staircase that is at the corner of Constitution and Delaware Avenues, NE. 

• The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is located in room 412 on the Constitution Avenue side of the building.  After entering Russell through the wheelchair accessible entrance, proceed to the fourth floor using the elevator bank to your right.  Upon exiting the elevator, proceed to the right.
  
• In the event of an emergency evacuation while you are in the Russell Building, proceed to Russell Freight Elevator 16 which is on the C Street side of the building.  The freight elevator has been designated as the primary evacuation site for employees and visitors with mobility impairments.  This elevator is marked with a blue sign that says “Primary Staging Area”.  The Capitol Police will operate the elevator and assist with the evacuation.  The likely instruction will be to take the elevator to the basement, and proceed through the Russell loading dock, exiting near the corner of First and C streets.

The Dirksen Building

• There is one wheelchair accessible entrance to the Dirksen building on C Street, NE, near the corner of First Street.  It is very close to the entrance to SDG-50, the Dirksen Auditorium.
   
  

  

• If you are attending a hearing in Dirksen 106, the closest wheelchair accessible entrance is in Hart, at Constitution and 2^nd Street.
  
• In the event of an emergency evacuation while you are in the Dirksen Building, proceed back to the C Street side of the building.  The freight elevator # 2 has been designated as the primary evacuation site.  This elevator is marked with blue signs that say “Primary Staging Area”.  Take the elevator to the Ground Floor and exit the building on C Street.  The Capitol Police will check these areas and provide assistance.

 The Hart Building

• There are two wheelchair accessible entrances to the Hart building:

1. Constitution Avenue, near the corner of Second Street, NE

This entrance is the closest wheelchair accessible entrance to the hearing room in106 Dirksen. 

2. Second Street, NE,  in what is called “the Hart Horseshoe”

Once you have entered the Hart Building through either wheelchair accessible entrance, proceed toward the large sculpture in the center of the Hart atrium.  There are elevator banks located at either side of the sculpture. This entrance is closest to the hearing room in Hart 216.

• In the event of an emergency evacuation while you are in the Hart Building, please proceed to the C Street side of the building.  Freight elevator #14 has been designated as the “Primary Staging Area”.  The Capitol Police will check these areas and provide assistance.

Updated June 2012