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Today, U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and 92 of their House colleagues, including House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, and House Administration Ranking Member Rodney Davis, wrote a letter requesting Sergeant At Arms William J. Walker reopen the U.S. Capitol to the American public.

“Americans are able to attend concerts and major sporting events, yet they cannot visit their seat of government freely,” said Latta. “This is wrong. As Washington D.C. continues to peel back COVID related restrictions with the indoor vaccine mandate ending this week and the mask mandate ending March 1st, Congress should be reopening the U.S. Capitol to the American people. The People’s House’ is the hall of the legislative process and holds over 200 years of history. It is past time to welcome our neighbors back into their Capitol Building.”

"It's far past time to reopen the Capitol to the American people. Access to the People's House was never intended to be contingent on political whims, and the right for all Americans to petition their government is enshrined in the Constitution," Kelly said. "Public participation in our government is vital. Many lawmakers and I have already reopened our district offices to constituents. Those constituents deserve to be able to visit us in Washington and to see their government in action."

This letter is part of an ongoing effort led by Reps. Kelly and Latta to reopen the People’s House, and follows a similar letter sent last month to the Capitol Attending Physician Brian P. Monahan in which more than 60 House Republicans requested updated COVID-19 guidelines. The Capitol has been closed to the public since March 12, 2020.

“Congress is accountable to the American people, and the American people have a Constitutional right to be heard, to see their democracy in action, and to petition their leaders for redress of grievances. Unfortunately, Congress has lagged far behind the rest of America in reopening,” the Members wrote.

BACKGROUND
On Jan. 25, 2022, Reps. Kelly and Latta led a letter to Dr. Monahan calling for new COVID-19 physical distancing and safety guidance that would permit public tours and visitation to resume in the Capitol complex. The Senate Sergeant At Arms -- which the Attending Physician confirmed has received identical guidance to the House Sergeant At Arms throughout the pandemic -- has reopened the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol to the public.

Additionally, Washington D.C.’s vaccine mandate was terminated February 15, 2022, and its mask mandate is scheduled to end on March 1, 2022.

In recent months, Americans have safely attended entertainment venues and major sporting events -- including the Super Bowl. Several Democratic governors have also recently rescinded, or plan to rescind, mask mandates in public settings.

Read the complete letter HERE and below:

February 18, 2022

Dear Sergeant At Arms Walker,

We write to you today as part of our ongoing efforts to reopen the House side of the United States Capitol Building to the American public. With major sporting and entertainment gatherings occurring regularly around the country and companies across the nation reopening for business, now is the time to reopen the People’s House.

The Senate Sergeant At Arms, which the Attending Physician confirmed has received identical guidance to the House Sergeant At Arms throughout the pandemic,[1] has reopened the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol to the public[2].

The Attending Physician’s most recent February 4, 2022, guidance[3] notes that, “‘Breakthrough’ infections among Members and staff have not led to hospitalizations, serious complications, or death…”.

Additionally, Washington D.C.’s vaccine mandate was terminated on February 15, 2022, and its mask mandate is scheduled to end on March 1, 2022. These changes come as new data[4] demonstrates that lockdowns have had “little to no public health effects” and have “imposed enormous economic and social costs where they have been adopted.”

Given the facts outlined above, we respectfully request that you immediately rescind the Capitol closure order dated March 12, 2020,[5] and issue new guidance to House offices allowing for the resumption of public tours of the House side of the U.S. Capitol.

Congress is accountable to the American people, and the American people have a Constitutional right to be heard, to see their democracy in action, and to petition their leaders for redress of grievances. Unfortunately, Congress has lagged far behind the rest of America in reopening. Now more than ever, we must be proactive in building public trust and getting back to work.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter of national importance.

Sincerely,

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