I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 20
To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish a Capitol Visitor
Center under the East Plaza of the United States Capitol, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. MICA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure
A BILL
To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to establish a
Capitol Visitor Center under the East Plaza of the Unit-
ed States Capitol, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Capitol Visitor Center
Authorization Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Architect of the Capitol,
under the direction of the United States Capitol Preserva-
tion Commission, is authorized—
(1) to plan, construct, equip, administer, and
maintain a Capitol Visitor Center under the East
Plaza of the United States Capitol with associated
improvements to the Capitol to provide access there-
to; and
(2) to reconstruct the East Plaza of the United
States Capitol and its environs to enhance its
attractiveness, safety, and security.
(b) PURPOSE.—It shall be the purpose of the Capitol
Visitor Center to provide reception facilities, educational
exhibits, amenities, auditoriums, and other programs and
facilities for members of the public visiting the United
States Capitol.
(c) DESIGN.—The design of the Capitol Visitor Cen-
ter shall be substantially in accordance with the Final De-
sign Report dated November 10, 1995, submitted by the
Architect of the Capitol to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate,
and the United States Capitol Preservation Commission.
(d) PLANS FOR EXHIBITS.—Plans and specifications
for the exhibits and equipping of the Capitol Visitor Cen-
ter shall be completed by the Architect of the Capitol as
soon as practicable after the commencement of construc-
tion.
(e) PROJECT DEFINED.—The activities and purposes
set forth in subsections (a) through (d) are hereinafter
in this Act referred to as the ‘‘project’’.
SEC. 3. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—Notwithstanding any
other provision of law, the Architect of the Capitol is au-
thorized and directed to finance and develop the project
in accordance with this Act and in accordance with a plan
developed and approved in accordance with subsection (b).
(b) DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL OF PLAN.—The
Architect of the Capitol shall develop and submit to the
United States Capitol Preservation Commission for ap-
proval a plan that will enable the construction of the
project to be completed without the appropriation of funds
to the Legislative Branch for such purpose.
(c) PERFORMANCE OF ACTIVITIES.—The perform-
ance of any activity contemplated by a plan approved
under subsection (b) (or by any special purpose entity cre-
ated pursuant to this Act) of any activity is expressly au-
thorized. Such activities may include the following:
(1) The establishment of 1 or more special pur-
pose not-for-profit entities (corporations, partner-
ships, or otherwise) in connection with the project.
(2) One or more borrowings from the Federal
Financing Bank, for which purpose the Architect of