Statuesque Request from Councilmember Evans
District Councilmember Jack Evans sent a letter this week to future Congressional leaders asking that the District's statues of Frederick Douglass and Pierre L’Enfant be placed in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol Building.
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Congressional leaders received a letter this week from Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans asking for "immediate" action on the DC Statue Bill. The bill, put forth by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, calls for the relocation of the District's statues to Statuary hall in the United States Capitol.
Each state has two statues of famous citizens on display in the halls of the Capitol building. Every state is included, but not the District. In a press release, Evans described the statues of Frederick Douglass and Pierre L'Enfant as being "quarantined." The statues have sat in waiting at the District's One Judiciary Square building since 2008.
Georgetowners had mixed reactions to the request. Stopped as she walked up 30th St., Lena Norman said "no way" should the placement of statues be a priority at the moment. A mother herself, Norman said in these tough economic times, leaders should focus on "taking care of children" by getting them food and healthcare, not worrying about statues.
As he was leaving the CVS on Wisconsin Ave. Wednesday afternoon, D.C. resident Kris Christopherson said, "I guess," when asked if he thought it was important for D.C. to have its statues in the Capitol. Christopherson added, "it would be nice" for D.C. to be represented, especially when all the other states are.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has advocated on behalf of the District for its statues to be included among the many others in Statuary Hall. "Displaying the two statues in the Capitol would honor the rich contributions District residents have made to our great city," said Norton.
As recently as this summer Norton introduced H.R. 5493 and pushed to have it placed onto a committee calendar and approved by the Committee on House Administration. A parallel bill in the Senate, introduced on Norton's behalf by Senator Joe Lieberman, was referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration where it still sits.
Evans in his letter called on Congressional leaders to act on the Statue Bill prior to the upcoming recess. "District school children should not have to ask where their statues are when visiting the Capitol," said Evans.
