Washington, DC— Friday, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05), joined by 31 of his colleagues, sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting they again allow the public to access the Capitol complex unfettered by onerous COVID-19 restrictions that require visitors to be on a preapproved list. Before COVID-19 restrictions, House and Senate office buildings where open to the public and the American people could easily access their elected representatives.
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Congressman Brooks said, “The First Amendment to the Constitution establishes the people’s right to petition their government for redress of their grievances. Prior to Pelosi and Schumer’s draconian Capitol access restrictions, the American people could easily visit the Capitol offices of their senators and representatives. Now, to gain access to the House and Senate office buildings, citizens must be on preapproved lists kept by the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms.”
Brooks continued, “America has historically prided ourselves on transparency and easy citizens access to government institutions. It is shameful that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer persist in keeping the law-abiding American citizens out of their own Capitol, especially when states are lifting restrictions and the CDC is recommending fully-vaccinated Americans return to pre-COVID normalcy. Nancy Pelosi said ‘about 75%’ of House members are vaccinated. That exceeds herd immunity requirements.”[1]
Brooks concluded, “The American people demand a return to pre-COVID normalcy. They should never have been denied their First Amendment Freedom of Speech rights nor the First Amendment right to petition their government for redress of grievances. As is often the way with Socialists, they don’t give a twit about denying citizens their First Amendment rights to make their voices heard. I, and the signers of this letter, demand Pelosi and Schumer protect and defend First Amendment rights by lifting Capitol access restrictions.”
Letter cosigners: Congressman Ralph Norman, Congressman Andy Harris, Congressman Robert Aderholt, Congressman Barry Moore, Congressman Madison Cawthorn, Congressman W. Gregory Steube, Congressman Matt Rosendale, Congressman Brian Mast, Congressman Tracey Mann, Congressman Tom McClintock, Congressman Jody Hice, Congressman Andy Biggs, Congressman Chip Roy, Congressman Tom Tiffany, Congressman Debbie Lesko, Congressman Jeff Duncan, Congressman Warren Davis, Congressman Mike Gallagher, Congressman Bill Posey, Congressman Bob Good, Congressman Randy Weber, Congressman Dan Bishop, Congressman Paul Gosar, Congressman Jerry Carl, Congressman Ronny L. Jackson, Congressman Joe Wilson, Congressman Louie Gohmert, Congressman Brian Babin, Congressman Neal Dunn, Congressman Marjorie T. Greene, Congressman Michael Cloud.
Full text of the letter follows:
May 14, 2021
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
U.S. Capitol, H-232
Washington DC 20515
US House of Representatives
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Majority Leader United States Senate
U.S. Capitol, S-221
Washington DC 20515
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer:
We are writing to request that you lift COVID-19 restrictions limiting public access to the United States Capitol. With official business visits allowed at the U.S. Capitol as of April 26, 2021, and at the House Office Buildings on April 29, 2021, it seems only natural that the next step would be to open the Capitol. It is past time to return to pre-COVID normalcy and allow the public to enter the Capitol without being on a preapproved list.
We appreciate your consideration of this matter and urge you to reopen the Capitol soon.
Respectfully,
Mo Brooks
Member of Congress
See full list of signatories above and in the PDF below
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Reopen the Capitol Letter PDF
Reopen-the-Capitol-Letter-05.14.21