Statement of J. Brett Blanton

Architect of the Capitol 

Architect of the Capitol | U.S. Capitol | Washington, DC 20515 | 202.228.1793 | www.aoc.gov

Making Congress Work Better for the American People: 

A Recommendation Status Report

Statement before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, 

United States House of Representatives

January 20, 2022
Statement before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress,

United States House of Representatives

Making Congress Work Better for the American People: 

A Recommendation Status Report - 1

Chairman Kilmer, Vice-Chair Timmons and Members of the Committee, thank you for the 

opportunity to testify today. I welcome the opportunity to share how the Architect of Capitol 

(AOC) is implementing the Committee’s recommendations as well as to highlight our ongoing 

work and initiatives. 

Through resilient and unwavering efforts, AOC staff ensure that Congress and the Supreme 

Court can function. The Capitol campus is home to 30,000 daily occupants with more than 2,200 

AOC employees serving around the clock in diverse roles to maintain and preserve the buildings 

and grounds. 

The size and scope of the AOC’s responsibility is more than the early architects could have ever 

imagined. Yet, we are committed to doing the difficult work that leads to transformational 

growth. Consistent with this Committee’s focus and recommendations, this testimony 

summarizes many of our current efforts to maintain and improve operations and facilities across 

the Capitol campus. 

I. Architectural Modernization

At the AOC, we are committed to a forward-looking vision of the Capitol campus that will serve 

Capitol Hill and the American people well into the future. To begin, I would like to update you 

on the AOC’s strategic planning, including an initiative called Vision 2100.

Vision 2100 and a new campus Master Plan will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to 

provide input on plans for the Capitol campus over the next century. Vision 2100 will 

incorporate a broad range of innovative ideas and best practices. As a starting point, our staff 

recently engaged in over 40 interviews with campus stakeholders, including this Committee’s 

staff, to gain a better understanding of future needs of Members of Congress, staff and visitors. 

As this process continues, we welcome further participation by Members and staff of this 

Committee.

Already, conversations with Members and staff highlighted the many roles the campus has for 

our capital city and the nation: as an office, a museum, a legislative forum, a civic stage, a 

neighborhood park and so much more. The conversations also highlighted many of the 

Committee’s recommendations, making it clear there is a desire to create a more connected and 

engaged campus for all who work at and visit this special place. Several of the themes we heard 

during our interviews are consistent with the Committee’s recommendations. 

They include: 

 Exploring how technology can better connect the campus to lawmakers, staff and 

constituents and support stronger collaboration as an in-person and virtual workplace

 Fostering a greater sense of well-being throughout the campus and for the people who 

work and visit here

 Considering new ways to preserve our nation’s historic buildings while making them 

more accessible, safe and engaging to everyone
Statement before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress,

United States House of Representatives

Making Congress Work Better for the American People: 

A Recommendation Status Report - 2

 Ensuring the U.S. Capitol is an enduring showcase for the innovation and ingenuity of 

Americans and democracy

As Vision 2100 and the Master Plan advance, the AOC will continue to engage this Committee 

and others across campus to ensure the vision and planning meet today’s needs while planning 

for the future. This effort reflects our commitment to serve, preserve and inspire all who visit and 

work here. Collectively, these two initiatives will provide a tool kit for the AOC to align 

resources and prioritize decisions that preserve and enhance the Capitol campus. 

II. Enterprise Asset Management

As resources permit, the AOC plans to launch a new initiative that will utilize technology in 

order to enhance our efficiency and operations. A new Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) 

system will provide a thorough asset management strategy to inform our work priorities and 

provide for data-driven fiscal decision-making and project prioritization. Specifically, EAM will 

establish a new tool to aid decision-making about operating, maintaining and renewing building 

and infrastructure assets such as buildings, machinery, vehicles and construction equipment. 

Should sufficient resources be provided for ongoing implementation, EAM will allow the AOC 

to proactively manage maintenance-based strategies, mitigate obsolescence, restore reliability, 

reduce long-term costs and forecast resource requirements. 

To be good stewards of our facilities, while managing a significant backlog of deferred 

maintenance requests, the AOC requires a comprehensive solution to track and monitor our 

assets, optimize performance and reduce operating costs. EAM will also maximize return on 

investment, while enhancing decision-making priorities. As we exercise a disciplined, consistent 

approach in response to annual inspections and key infrastructure lifecycles, we will mitigate 

costs associated with deferred maintenance requirements. We will continue to keep Congress 

updated on our efforts to launch and implement this new system.

III. Space Utilization Recommendations and Accessibility

Consistent with the Committee’s recommendations, the AOC is prepared to support the 

Committee on House Administration with evaluation of spaces and address identified needs. At 

the same time, the AOC is engaged in an ongoing review to determine any accessibility 

challenges for individuals with disabilities. 

The agency is committed to improving accessibility across campus. We are actively 

incorporating accessibility requirements into new projects, conducting accessibility surveys and 

inspections of the completed projects and the existing facilities for Americans with Disabilities 

Act (ADA) compliance, providing ADA training to AOC staff, and addressing the Office of 

Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) reports on the ADA. Working with the House 

Sergeant at Arms, the AOC was part of efforts to address the Committee’s recommendation in 

this area through the submission of a joint report submitted in November 2020. 
Statement before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress,

United States House of Representatives

Making Congress Work Better for the American People: 

A Recommendation Status Report - 3

In addition, we are currently undertaking two efforts that will improve our planning and result in 

a targeted and strategic approach to ensure compliance with the ADA. First, the agency is 

developing a Transportation and Mobility Study that seeks to identify the existing challenges and 

potential opportunities in key areas including accessibility as identified through the study’s 

stakeholder engagement process. 

For example, at the U.S. Botanic Garden, the AOC is planning to install automatic door openers 

on one of the monumental exterior doors into the lobby and one of the doors from the lobby to 

the Garden Court. 

A. House Office Buildings

As Members of the Committee may know, the Cannon Renewal Project incorporates many 

accessibility improvements within a historic building. As part of Phase 1 of the Cannon Renewal, 

the ADA-accessible building entrance located on New Jersey Avenue was relocated and the 

door widened to accommodate wheelchairs and electric scooters. The same increased doorway 

width will be applied to the new ADA-accessible entrance now under construction as part of 

Phase 3. 

For all entrances, the building lobbies have been designed to increase the amount of space for 

access and security needs. In addition, the reconfigured public restrooms within each wing of the 

Cannon Building’s first through fifth floors will include an accessible restroom stall, and both 

the second and fourth phase of the project will include the construction of a total of six family 

restrooms. The drinking fountains will also comply with accessibility requirements.

Furthermore, the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Budget Committee 

hearing rooms, located in the completed west wing, expanded accessibility at the dais for 

Members of Congress. Four additional elevators in the west and north wings now service the 

fifth floor, and accessibility upgrades to the remaining elevators and from the parking garage into 

the Cannon Building were also incorporated. As part of ongoing assessments and planning, the 

AOC will continue to implement similar measures across campus, as resources permit.

B. Making the Capitol Visitor Center More Accessible

The AOC worked closely with the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services (OCAS) to 

provide a range of services to visitors with disabilities, including:

 Accessibility of all public tours 

 Audio tours 

 Sign language interpretation 

 Family restrooms 

 Public teletype (TTY) large print, braille and HTML publications

 On-demand shuttle service for individuals who use manual wheelchairs or who need 

mobility assistance
Statement before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress,

United States House of Representatives

Making Congress Work Better for the American People: 

A Recommendation Status Report - 4

In addition, the AOC is in the process of implementing technological tools for blind and low 

vision individuals via the Artificial Intelligence Remote Assistance (AIRA) system. This service 

connects people who are blind or have low vision to highly trained, remotely located agents. 

Currently available at all Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., and the National Zoo, 

AIRA allows visitors to download an app to their smartphone at no cost to the user. Visitors then 

get connected to sighted live agents who can see what is near the user. The agent then helps the 

visitor navigate the area. This technology will provide blind and low vision visitors a way to get 

descriptions of the art and architecture on display at the Capitol Visitor Center, enhancing their 

experience and strengthening efforts to meet accessibility goals.

C. Development of Online Programming

During the pandemic, the agency pivoted to developing robust virtual programs that have 

engaged and captivated audiences around the world. The U.S. Botanic Garden utilized new 

technology that has increased engagement on virtual platforms. The Capitol Visitor Center 

successfully expanded virtual tours, programs, lectures, workshops and field trips. Through these 

efforts, people all over the world are now able to learn about the U.S. Capitol through these 

interactive and educational programs.

IV. Pandemic Response

As this Committee has taken into consideration the Congressional response to the pandemic, we 

wanted to update you on how the AOC has continued to support the pandemic response efforts of 

the legislative branch. Since March 2020, AOC has implemented pandemic protocols and 

procurement of bulk pandemic supplies across the Capitol Complex. 

As the Congress labors day and night to do its work, AOC employees are working nonstop to 

keep the campus clean and sanitized to enable Members of Congress and congressional staff to 

do their jobs safely. The AOC team continues to meet campus needs by serving as the legislative 

branch purchasing agent for personnel protective equipment (PPE), managing the specialized 

cleaning of spaces identified by our partners and assessed by the Office of Attending Physician, 

and ensuring the facilities and utilities are well maintained for ongoing and future congressional 

needs. In addition, AOC is now involved with the procurement of at-home test kits for the 

House, Senate, Capitol Police and AOC staff. As you know, these demands have only gone up 

over the past month as the entire country has experienced a tremendous surge in cases. 

As resources permit, AOC will continue to meet any needs as they arise. We know our efforts 

are critical to the safety of Members and the staff working on the Capitol campus and are proud 

of the role we play in ensuring the continuity of operations.

V. Conclusion

Looking ahead, we can succeed with these initiatives if adequate resources are available. Yet, as 

this Committee has recognized, significant investments are necessary to modernize the Capitol 

campus infrastructure in a manner that adheres to the requirements associated with historic 

preservation. 
Statement before the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress,

United States House of Representatives

Making Congress Work Better for the American People: 

A Recommendation Status Report - 5

The AOC’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget will illustrate a renewed emphasis to support the 

operational needs of Congress, the Supreme Court as well as the entire Capitol campus. Our 

request will also highlight the need to reimburse project funding that was reallocated to support 

urgent security needs and repairs. In addition, future budget submissions will reflect agency-wide 

efforts to transform the agency by adopting a more predictive approach to facilities maintenance. 

Taken together, these important, long-term initiatives will improve our efficiency and will also 

contribute toward a more secure and well-functioning environment across the Capitol campus.

As I have testified previously, delayed funding for projects has consequences, and we need 

adequate, consistent funding for ongoing improvements. Otherwise, we may face vulnerabilities 

associated with the deterioration and deferred improvements of these historic buildings and 

treasured grounds. 

We need to work together to adopt a multi-year approach for planning, design and execution of 

major projects. In doing so, we can continue to achieve and implement many of the 

recommendations by this Committee. Thank you for the invitation to testify, and I look forward 

to answering your questions.