CVC Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony for the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, December 2, 2008.

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Opens to the Public: Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senate Minority Leader McConnell, House Minority Leader Boehner, and Acting Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers commemorated its opening on December 2, 2008, with a ceremony in Emancipation Hall.

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Visitors to the U.S. Capitol can also now find expanded information about visiting the Capitol at the new Capitol Visitor Center web site at: http://www.visitthecapitol.gov. Visit the web site now to learn about booking tours, amenities at the Visitor Center, the Exhibition Hall and tips for visiting the Capitol.

Note: The transcript portion of the CSPAN feed below will only work on the CSPAN web site. To continue on to the CPAN web site to search through the transcript of the CVC Opening Ceremony Video coverage, click here.

Show Transcript

Time	Speaker	Text
00:01:45	>>	A NUMBER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ARE'S WRITING FOR TO OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE CAPITAL VISITOR CENTER. THIS IS THE LEADER OF THE MAJORITY AND THE U.S. HOUSE -- IN THE U.S. HOUSE. WE EXPECT TO HEAR FROM SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI TODAY AS WELL AS FROM HARRY REID, ALSO ON JOHN BOEHNER AND FROM THE SENATE, MITCH MCCONNELL. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN EIGHT YEARS AGO FROM 2000 AND RAN $621 MILLION FOR THE RENOVATION. 9000 WORKERS MOVED SOME 400,000 PIECES OF STONE, TO 5000 TRUCKLOADS OF DIRT DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNDERGROUND CAPITOL VISITORS' CENTER. LIVE COVERAGE. THE EVENT SHOULD GET UNDER WAY IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. IN OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY, FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS TO GIVE CONGRESS THEIR PLAN TO KEEP FROM GOING UNDER IN EXCHANGE FOR $25 BILLION IN LOANS. CONGRESS DEMANDS THAT THEY PROVIDE SPECIFICS ON HOW THEY WILL GET ON THE ROAD TO ECONOMIC VIABILITY. IN A SEPARATE REPORTS, GM, FORD, AND CHRYSLER ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE DETAILED PLANS THAT COULD TOUCH ON CUTTING EXECUTIVE PAY, REFINANCING DEBT, GIVING CONCESSIONS FROM UNION WORKERS, AND POSSIBLY SELLING OFF SOME OF THEIR BRANDS. THE HEADS OF THE BIG THREE SAID THAT THERE WILL NOT USE CORPORATE JETS TO GET TO WASHINGTON FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING LATER THIS WEEK. ALSO FROM THE AP TODAY, THE NATION'S GOVERNORS ARE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA TO TALK ABOUT AT LEAST $40 BILLION TO HELP PAY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR THE POOR AND DISABLED AND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THE MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA COMES AS THE PRESIDENT ELECT AND DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED CONGRESS ARE LOOKING AT LEGISLATION THAT COULD COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. ED RENDELL SAYS THAT THEY ARE PRESSING FOR $136 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE LEGISLATION. THAT IS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TODAY. WE ARE WAITING FOR THE START OF THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW U.S. CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER OPENING TO THE PUBLIC TODAY. THIS DATE MARKS THE 145TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RAISING OF THE STATUE ON TOP OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING. [LIVE COVERAGE] [LIVE COVERAGE]
00:06:12	>>	[LAUGHTER]
00:06:45	>>	NANCY PELOSI, MITCH MCCONNELL, HARRY REID, AND JOHN BOEHNER JOIN US NOW.
00:07:15	>>	GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE CAPITOL VISITORS CENTER. PLEASE RISE TO THE OPENING CEREMONIES. THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BUT UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES COLOR GUARD AND OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM. (music) (music) [NATIONAL ANTHEM] [NATIONAL ANTHEM] (music) (music) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS WE GIVE THE INDICATION.
00:10:59	>>	LORD GOD, YOU ALONE OFFER PROMISE THAT NEVER DISAPPOINTS. AND YOU INSPIRE HOPE ALL IS. YOU ALONE BUILD FROM NOTHINGNESS SURPRISING LIFE. BLESS ALL HAVE WORKED TO BRING THIS MULTI-LAYERED BRING TO REALITY. GRANT JOY TO YOUR PEOPLE AS WE DEDICATE THE CONGRESSIONAL VISITORS CENTER. READ YOUR SPIRIT INTO THE SPACE THAT AMIDST THE BUSY LIFE OF THE GOVERNMENT VISITORS MAY ALWAYS FIND HERE A GRACIOUS WELCOME AND ABIDING PEACE WITH YOUR BREATH OF LIFE. PLANTED UNDER GROUND, MADE THIS SEED NOW CRACK OPEN AND BRING FORTH NEW LIFE TO CAPITOL HILL WHERE RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL TRADITIONS ARE ENSHRINED BY HISTORY, WHERE CRAFTED ARCHITECTURE OPENS EVER NEW DIMENSIONS TO THE MEANING OF FREEDOM IN YOUR PEOPLE. MADE THIS PLACE AND ARE COMING AND GOING HERE BRING GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE WORLD AND GIVE YOU A GLORY. NOW AND FOREVER, AMEN.
00:12:27	>>	PLEASE BE SEATED. LADIES AND A GENTLEMAN, THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, THE HON. JAMES.
00:12:44	>>	SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, MAJORITY LEADER KERRY REID, AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HISTORIC OPENING OF THIS MAGNIFICENT FACILITY. NOT ONLY WILL IT IMPROVE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO TORE THE CAPITOL EVERY YEAR, BUT IT WILL ALSO INSPIRE AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT CONGRESS' ROLE IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AND ITS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST TWO CENTURIES. CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS PROMOTED CITIZEN EDUCATION FROM THE LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785 WHICH SET ASIDE A SQUARE MILE FOR THE SUPPORT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN EACH NEWLY SURVEYED TOWNSHIP THROUGH THE MORAL ACTS WHICH CREATED OUR LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES ON TO THE G.I. BILL AFTER WORLD WAR II THROUGH SUBSEQUENT PROGRAMS, CONGRESS HAS SOUGHT TO CREATE A WELL- INFORMED BALI BODY POLITIC. THE GREAT PRETENDER WAS CALLED THE HALL OF THE PEOPLE BEFORE WAS BILL. THOMAS JEFFERSON DESCRIBED THE CAPITOL AS THE FIRST TEMPLE DEDICATED TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE. HE WORKED WITH HIS ARCHITECTS TO MAKE IT MORE INVITING TO THE PUBLIC BY ADDING A GRAND STAIRWAY TO ITS INSURANCE. NOW WITHIN THE CENTER THE CONGRESS OFFERS US ALL AN INSPIRATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PERMANENT EXHIBIT FILLED WITH THE CHOICEST DOCUMENTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, THE CONGRESS' OWN ARCHIVES, THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, AND OTHER CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. IT PROVIDES A SPLENDIDLY PRESENTED CIVICS LESSON WITHIN A GLORIOUS NEW STRUCTURE THAT WILL MAKE THE CAPITOL THE ICON OF OUR REPUBLIC MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THIS THAN EVER BEFORE. THIS NEW VISITORS' CENTER THAT WE DEDICATE TODAY REPRESENTS A MORE EXPENSIVE AND TO MAKE THE CAPITOL ACCESSIBLE TO ITS CITIZENRY AND TEACH US ALL ABOUT THE DEDICATION OF OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE OVER THE WE YEARS FOR THE WELFARE AND LIBERTY OF OUR PEOPLE. FOR ALMOST A CENTURY FROM 1800 UNTIL 1897, THE LIBRARY GREW INSIDE THE CAPITOL AND WILL NOW CAN HAVE A DIRECT, PHYSICAL CONNECTION TO THE CAPITOL THROUGH A HANDSOME NEW UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY LEADING THROUGH THIS CAPITOL VISITORS CENTER TO THE THOMAS JEFFERSON BUILDING WHERE HIS OWN LIBRARY IS NOW ON DISPLAY. CONGRESS PURCHASED JEFFERSON'S - RANGING COLLECTION FOR ITS OWN LIBRARY IN 1815 AND HAS COMMITTED TO A KNOWLEDGE-BASED DEMOCRACY INTO DEFENDING OUR FREEDOMS FOR ALMOST TWO CENTURIES. WHAT A SPECTACLE, READ TO JAMES MADISON, CAN BE MORE EDIFYING OR REASONABLE THAN THAT OF LIBERTY AND LEARNING, EACH WINNING ON THE OTHER FOR THEIR MUTUAL AND SUREST SUPPORT? IT IS EXACTLY THAT KIND OF SPECTACLE THAT WE ARE ALL PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS AND A SHARE IN ON THIS HISTORIC DAY. [APPLAUSE] THE TWO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REASON IS, THE HON. JOHN BOEHNER.
00:16:26	>>	GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. -- THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HON. JOHN BOEHNER.
00:16:33	>>	GOOD MORNING, AFTER THOMAS JEFFERSON IN THIS CAPITOL, AMERICA WAS IN ITS SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND. FIVE DOZEN BRITISH SOLDIERS MARCHED HERE TO DESTROY THE FEDERAL CITY AND THE BUILDINGS. THEY BURNED THE NAVY YARD AND THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE UNFINISHED HOUSE AND SENATE CHAMBERS. THE GOAL OF THE FIRE WAS SO -- THE GLOW SO INTENSE THAT THEY COULD SEE IT IN BALTIMORE. WE ALL KNOW THAT AMERICA'S DID NOT AND THAT NIGHT. WE DEFEATED BRITAIN, EXPANDED WESTWAD, AND FULFILL THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS. HERE THE CHAMBERS WILL BE BUILT AND WE WENT ON TO CONSTRUCT THE CAPITOL DOME, THE SYMBOL OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT NOT ONLY HERE BUT AROUND THE WORLD. THE LESSON OF AUGUST 14, AUGUST OF 1814, WAS CLEAR -- NOTHING GOOD COMES EASY. IT TOOK 38 YEARS AND TWO WARS TO REGAIN OUR INDEPENDENCE AND TOOK SEVERAL GENERATIONS AND A BLOODY CIVIL WAR TO END SLAVERY AND WIN FREEDOM FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, MILLIONS OF AFRICAN- AMERICANS. TODAY WE MARK THE OPENING OF THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST ADDITION TO THE U.S. CAPITOL THAT WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE, NOT JUST THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. NO LONGER WILL VISITORS HAVE TO ENDURE THE LONG LINES IN THE COLD AND RAIN AND THE HEAT TO TOUR CAPITOL. LOTUS ALSO TODAY ON OF THE MEMORY OF THE CAPITOL POLICE WHOSE TRAGIC LOSS OF 10 YEARS AGO SPARKED CONGRESS, TO ACT ON THIS LONG-DEBATED PROJECT. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL ON THE HUNDREDS -- AND THE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF WORKERS TO WORK TO MAKE THIS BUILDING POSSIBLE. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO NAME MY COLLEAGUES INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS BUILDING. THE FORMER HOUSE AND DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS, TOM FOLEY WHO BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN THE EARLY 1990'S, CONGRESSMAN MIKE FROM FLORIDA, WHO WHEN NO ONE TALKED ABOUT A HE WAS -- I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES, AZCH FROM TENNESSEE AND JESSE JACKSON, JR. FROM ILLINOIS, WHO WORKED IN THIS ROOM AS EMANCIPATION HALL. THIS HALL WILL MEMORIALIZE AMERICA'S UNRELENTING FIGHT TO ENSURE FREEDOM FOR ALL. I WANT TO THANK ZACH AND JESSE FOR THEIR INITIATIVE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK CONGRESSMAN RANDY FORBES FOR THEIR EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT THIS HISTORIC BUILDING INCLUDES A PREFERENCES TO OUR NATION'S SPIRITUAL HERITAGE, INCLUDING OUR MOTTO, IN GOD WE TRUST. I HAVE PLEDGED LIVES, SIGRID HONOR TO BUILD A NEW SOCIETY, ONE BASED ON THE NOT THE KINGS, BUT ON LAWS AND DIVIDED POWER. WHEN YOU READ THE DOCUMENT WHICH AMERICA USED TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN, THERE WERE CAREFUL TO NOTE THAT AMERICA WAS DOING SO WITH A FIRM RELIANCE ON THE PROTECTION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. AMERICA TODAY REMAINS ONE NATION UNDER GOD AS PRESIDENT LINCOLN ENVISIONED IN THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS. WE PROFESS IT IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE SINCE 1951, ALSO. THIS HISTORIC FACILITY WOULD BE INCOMPLETE WITHOUT SIMILAR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR SPIRITUAL HERITAGE. BEHIND ME STANDS THE ORIGINAL MOTTO FOR THE STATUE ON TOP OF THAT CAPITOL DOME. PRESIDENT LINCOLN CONTINUED THE DOME'S CONSTRUCTION . THE BUILDING OF IT BECAME A SYMBOL THAT THIS PROJECT THAT WE CALL AMERICA WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT THE DIFFICULTIES ARE THAT ARE THROWN OUR WAY. THE FINAL PIECES OF THE STATUE OF FREEDOM WERE PUT INTO PLACE ON DECEMBER 2, 1863. 15 MONTHS LATER ON MARCH 4, 1865, THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON GATHERED TO WITNESS THE PRESIDENT LINCOLN TAKING THE OATH OF HIS OFFICE FOR THE SECOND TERM AND HAVE BEEN JUST ABOVE US. 30,000 PEOPLE HEARD LINCOLN SAY WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE WITH CHARITY FOR ALL, WITH FIRMNESS IN THE RIGHT AS GOD GIVES US, LET US STRIVE TO FINISH THE WORK THAT WE ARE IN. TODAY, AND THE THE MIDST OF HISTORIC CHANGES FOR OUR REPUBLIC, WE BEGIN A NEW ERA IN THE LIFE OF THIS MAGNIFICENT CAPITOL BUILDING. MAKE IT EVER REMAINED A SYMBOL OF DEMOCRACY IN THE LIGHT OF FREEDOM THAT SHINES FROM HERE BURNED SO BRIGHTLY THAT THE GLOW IS VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WORLD. [APPLAUSE]
00:22:10	>>	LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, REPUBLICAN LEADER OF THE - STATES SENATE, THE HON. MITCH MCCONNELL.
00:22:27	>>	GOOD MORNING. YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WOULD BE A TOUGH EDITOR, YET WHEN HE SHOWED JEFFERSON AN EARLY DRAFT OF HIS PLAN FOR THE NEW FEDERAL CITY, JEFFERSON MADE ONLY MINOR EDITS. HIS MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE PROBABLY SEEMED MINOR AT THE TIME. IN THE SPACE RESERVED THE NEW LEGISLATIVE BUILDING, HE HAD INSCRIBED THE WORDS "CONGRESS HALL," AND JEFFERSON CROSSED OUT THE WORDS AND INSERTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ALTOGETHER. HE WROTE "CAPITOL." HISTORIANS TELL US THAT JEFFERSON'S FAME RESTS LARGELY ON HIS REMARKABLE ABILITY TO FIND THE RIGHT WORD AT THE RIGHT TIME. THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. FOR HIM AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN CARVING OUT A GRAND NEW CAPITOL CITY FROM THE WILDERNESS ALONG THE POTOMAC THE NEW BUILDING SHOULD BE NO LESS MEANINGFUL THAN THE DOCUMENT THAT ESTABLISHED IT. THE NEW CAPITAL AS JEFFERSON ENVISIONED IT WOULD NEVER BE JUST A PLACE WHERE LAWMAKERS GOT TOGETHER, BUT IT WOULD SYMBOLIZE TO THE ENTIRE NATION AND WORLD THE RADICAL EXPERIMENT IN DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNMENT WHICH HE AND HIS COMRADES HAD PLEDGED THEIR LIVES TO, THEIR FORTUNES TO COMMIT AND THEIR SACRED HONOR TO. BY EVOKING EVEN IN ITS NAME THE REPUBLICAN IDEALS OF ANTIQUITY AND THE DEMOCRATIC MODELS, JEFFERSON WAS MAKING CERTAIN THAT NO ONE MISSED THE POINT. BUT JUST IN CASE ANYONE DID MISS IT, GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD ALSO DO HIS PART TO UNDERSCORE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS BUILDING. TWO YEARS AFTER THE JEFFERSON GAVE THE CAPITOL ITS NAME, WASHINGTON SAW FIT TO CONSECRATE IT IN AN ELABORATE CORNERSTONE-LAYING CEREMONY. THE PRESIDENT ALONG WITH A GROUP OF SOLDIERS AND PATRIOTS OFFERED A SOLEMN PRAYER TO GOD FOR THE PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE INTO THE GROWTH OF THE CAPITAL AND THE NATION. TODAY, WE NOTE WITH WONDER AND AWE A REMARKABLE DEGREE TO WHICH THE FIRST PAIR OF OUR FIRST PRESIDENT AND THE CROWD GATHERED HERE ON 1793 ON THAT DAY HAS BEEN FULFILLED. WASHINGTON HAD PASSED AWAY BY THE TIME CONGRESS FIRST MET HERE IN NOVEMBER 1800. BUT TWIN UP QUORUM WAS FINALLY ACHIEVED, WASHINGTON'S SUCCESSOR MADE ANOTHER TRIP DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE TO MARK THE EVENT. IN REMARKS BEFORE CONGRESS, JOHN ADAMS OFFERED HIS CONGRATULATIONS AND OFFERED A PREDICTION. THE CONGRESS, HE SAID, HAD ASSUMED OUR RESIDENCE NOT TO BE CHANGED. IN ONE SENSE, JOHN ADAMS WAS RIGHT ON TARGET. THE PERMANENT HOME OF CONGRESS HAS NOT CHANGED. BUT IN ANOTHER SENSE HE WAS INCORRECT SINCE THE BUILDING ITSELF HAS UNDERGONE SOME MANY CHANGES OVER THE YEARS. TODAY WE UNVEIL THE LATEST. LIKE THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF, THE U.S. CAPITOL HAS BEEN IN MADISON'S WORDS, THE WORK OF MANY HEADS AND MANY'S . BY MAKING IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM IT WAS BILLED IT IS OUR HOPE THAT JEFFERSON'S VISION IS AGAIN FULFILLED AND WASHINGTON'S PER IS RENEWED. [APPLAUSE]
00:26:36	>>	AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAJORITY LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THE HON. HARRY REID.
00:26:47	>>	IN THE EARLY 1960'S I WAS AN CAPITOL POLICEMAN AND I WORKED AT THE SWING SHIFT FROM 3:00 P.M. UNTIL 11:00 P.M. WHEN I LOOK AT THIS SKYLIGHT, EVERY NIGHT DURING THE SUMMER OF WOULD GO ON ONE ASSIGNED DUTY AND WOULD WATCH THE MILITARY BANDS PLAYED FOR TOURISTS HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE PRESIDENT'S OWN A MARINE CORPS BAND WAS HERE AND THEY WOULD ALTERNATE WITH APPEARING IN THE CAPITOL, ON THE EAST FRONT. I HAVE MANY FOND MEMORIES OF THAT ASSIGNMENT. ONE I REMEMBER AS MUCH AS ANY WAS EVERY NIGHT WITH RARE EXCEPTION, CARL WOULD BE WHEELED IN IN HIS WHEELCHAIR AND HE WOULD SIT TO LISTEN TO THE PERFORMANCE. HE IS A LEGEND, HAVING SERVED IN THE CONGRESS FOR LONGER THAN ANY OTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. BACK THEN IN THE EARLY 1960'S, THE EAST FRONT OF THE CAPITOL WAS BASICALLY A PARKING LOT OF BLACK TOP AND CARS PARKED ALL OVER IT. WHEN I CAME FROM THE HOUSE TO THE SENATE IN 1986, AND SENATOR TOM DASCHLE YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS, SENATOR BUMPERS WAS A GREAT SENATOR, BUT HIS PERSONALITY COULD BE A LITTLE UNUSUAL. HE THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUBJECT COMMITTEE -- SUBCOMMITTEE, BUT SOMETHING WRONG AND HE DID NOT GET IT. HE WAS IN LINE TO BE THE CHAIRMAN AGAIN OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT TAKE IT AND HE HAD BEEN HERE TOO LONG AND HE WOULD GIVE IT TO ANYONE THAT WANTED IT. WELL, I GOT IT. I LOVED THAT SUBCOMMITTEE. I COULD DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR MEMBERS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD IN MY MIND SINCE EARLY 1960'S WAS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS UGLY EAST FRONT OF THE CAPITOL. THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING COULD BE DAMAGED BY HAVING THIS UGLY FACADES. SO, WE WORKED TO GET THE CARS FROM THE PARKING LOT OFF AND THAT WAS TOUGH BECAUSE IT WAS A PRIME PARKING LOCATION. WE WERE ABLE TO WORK AND FINALLY GET ALL OF THE CARS OFF. WELL, ALSO, IT WAS THERE THAT THE IDEA CAME THAT WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING LONG TERM WITH THE VISITORS CENTER. DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD IT BE IN KEEPING WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL. THAT IS THE SHORT VERSION OF THE VISITORS' CENTER BEGAN TO CAME COME TO FRUITION. THERE WAS A COMMITTEE APPOINTED AND WE WORKED ON THAT. IT WOULD INITIALLY ALL BE DONE BY PRIVATE MONEYS WHICH DID NOT GO TOO WELL. WE WORKED ON IT. IT WENT VERY SLOWLY. AS JOHN BOEHNER MENTIONED, IT WAS NOT UNTIL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO THAT TWO CAPITOL POLICEMEN WERE MURDERED. SPECIAL AGENT JOHN GIBSON DID TAKE UP CHESTNUT WERE KILLED WHEN A MAD MAN CAME INTO THE HOUSE SIDE OF THE CAPITOL -- AND THEY SAVED THE LIVES OF A NUMBER OF CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL. BUT IN DOING SO THEY BECAME MARTYRS FOR THE CAPITALOF CAPITAL. WE CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. WITH TERRORISM EVERYWHERE AND PEOPLE TRYING TO REACH THIS BUILDING EVERY DAY -- THE SECURITY PARAMETERS WERE NOT SUFFICIENT. THAT IS WHEN WE GOT VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS CONSTRUCTION. BUT THE 9/11 CAME ALONG IN. THAT CHANGED THINGS ALTOGETHER. HOW WOULD WE MAINTAIN THE SECURITY OF THIS BUILDING WITH THIS HUGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT HERE? SOME GREAT ENGINEERING FEATS TO PLACE WITH A TUNNEL DUG, VERY LONG WHERE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT WAS BROUGHT INTO THIS IS SILLY SO IT COULD BE CHECKED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT IT WAS SECURE, AND IN THE PROCESS THEY HOLD OUT -- THEY HAULED OUT 65,000 TRUCK LOADS OF DIRT. THIS FACILITY HERE IS REALLY TERRIFIC FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT. MY STAFF HAS ALWAYS SAID DO NOT SAY THIS, BUT I WILL SAY AGAIN, BECAUSE IT IS A DESCRIPTIVE AND TRUE, LEADER JOHN BOEHNER MENTIONED THAT TOURISTS LINED UP IN THE SUMMER AND WINTER, LONG LINES COMING INTO THE CAPITOL. IN THE SUMMERTIME, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH HUMIDITY AND HOW HOT IT GETS HERE, YOU COULD LITERALLY SMELL THE TOURISTS COMING INTO THE CAPITOL. THAT MAY BE DESCRIPTIVE, BUT IT IS TRUE. WELL, THAT WILL NO LONGER BE NECESSARY. PEOPLE COMING TO THIS CAPITOL NOW WILL SEE ON THIS FIGHT ACRES THE HUGE FACILITY, ALMOST 2000 SQUARE FEET, LARGER THAN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CAPITOL ITSELF, AND AS MANY AS 20,000 PEOPLE PER DAY WILL COME INTO THIS FACILITY TO LOOK TO THE CAPITOL -- PEOPLE COMING IN PREVIOUSLY TO TAKE THE TOUR HAD TO DEPEND UPON THE TOUR GUIDES AND THEY'RE VERY GOOD, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IS IN IT AND NOW WE HAVE THE 13-MINUTE LONG FILM THAT IS VERY GOOD AND GIVES PEOPLE THE IDEA OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IN THIS HISTORIC BUILDING. IT IS A FACILITY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, THERE MANY HERE, AND WE HAVE RESTAURANTS FOR PEOPLE CAN TAKE IT EASY AND DID NOT HAVE TO RUSH THROUGH AS THEY DID IN THE PAST. SOUVENIRS' ARE AVAILABLE. THIS WILL BE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. AND FOR THE THOUSANDS WHO WORK IN THE CAPITOL AND FOR THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IT WILL MAKE IT SAFE BECAUSE SECURITY IS THE BEST POSSIBLE ANYPLACE IN THE WORLD. I REALIZE HOW FORTUNATE I AM TO BE ONE OF 648 MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE. IT IS A TERRIFIC HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BUT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, A RUFUS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HAS HIS WORDS ADORNED ON THIS FACILITY, THE ENTRANCE OF EXHIBITION HALL JUST DIRECTLY BEHIND ME -- WE BUILT A TEMPLE HE SAID, BUT THE CAPITOL, WHICH CANCELLED NO COMMON ORACLE BUT THE CONSTITUTION. TODAY, THE PEOPLE'S AMPLE SHUNS BRIGHTER THAN EVER BEFORE. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 10,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO WORK LONG, HARD HOURS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO CONTRIBUTED -- YOU HAVE EARNED A SPECIAL REWORD, TO KNOW THAT THE NEXT GENERATIONS WILL BE THOSE WHO WON DATE WALKED THE FLOORS ON WHICH WE NOW STAND AND GAZE UPON THE STATUES AND EXHIBITS. THAT INCLUDES NEVADA'S SARAH WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN, YOU WILL SEE HER DOOR AND HERE IN HER INDIAN COST THEM -- SHE IS THE FIRST NATIVE-AMERICAN WOMAN TO HAVE A BOOK PUBLISHED. HER FATHER WAS CHIEF TRUCKEE, AND ARE RIVER IN NEVADA IS NAMED FOR HER GRANDFATHER. SHE WAS AN EDUCATOR AND A DARING DEFENDER OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE FOR HER TO BE BANNED IN EMANCIPATION HALL. WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN EMANCIPATING PEOPLES OF OUR COUNTRY, BUT NATIVE-AMERICAN STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. SARAH FOR ME IS WHAT THIS INTO PIGEONHOLES ALL ABOUT. -- IS WHAT THIS EMANCIPATION HALL IS ALL ABOUT. SO AS THE NEXT GENERATION'S VIEW THIS BUILDING, THEY SHOULD FEEL SPECIAL CONNECTION AS IT WAS BUILT STONE-BY-DONE. YEARS FROM NOW THE CAPITOL VISITORS' CENTER WILL BECOME A HOME TO STATUES OF PEOPLE NOT YET BORN WHO LIKE THOSE ENSHRINED ALL AROUND US AND WILL BE SHIPPING ARE STILL-YOUNG COUNTRY IN WAYS NOT YET IMAGINED. [APPLAUSE]
00:36:51	>>	LADIES AND GERMAN, THE SPEAKER OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE HON. NANCY PELOSI. -- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
00:37:05	>>	IN THIS GRAND EMANCIPATION HALL, WE COME TOGETHER TO REFLECT UPON OUR HISTORY, THAT OF OUR NATION AND THIS REMARKABLE UNITED STATES CAPITOL. AS OUR ACTING ARCHITECT, STEPHEN, CAN TESTIFY, WORK ON THE OF CAPITAL HAS NOT SEIZED FROM THE MOMENT GEORGE WASHINGTON LAID THE CORNERSTONE IN 1793 UNTIL THIS DAY. A MORE MODEST BUILDING SAID TO A FLEDGLING REPUBLIC GREW INTO THE GRAND CAPITOL THAT IS AMONG THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD. IT IS THE SYMBOL OF A SMALL NATION THAT STRUGGLED TO BREAK FREE OF THE OUTMODED IDEAS AND REPRESSION AND BECAME BOTH A GLOBAL TOWER OF LIBERTY. I AM PARTICULARLY EXCITED THAT THIS GRAND HALL IS CALLED EMANCIPATION HALL AND I JOINED JOHN BOEHNER TO COMMAND JESSE JACKSON AND ZACH WAMP FOR THEIR LEGISLATION. WE TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE CAPITOL WAS BUILT BY SLAVES IN TODAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT IS SO APPROPRIATE THAT THE LONG OVERDUE, AND THIS CAPITOL VISITORS CENTER IS READY FOR 2009, WHICH IS THAT 200 ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE GREAT AND INTO PETER. AGAIN, ABOVE THIS YEAR, IT TOOK PLACE. IT WAS INSIDE BECAUSE IT WAS VERY RAINY PRECEDING HIS SECOND INAUGURATION. THE STREETS WERE MUD BECAUSE THEY WERE DIRT TO BEGIN WITH. ALL THE PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE INAUGURATION TO REST FOR THE MUDDY WEATHER, THAT IS ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE WHO CAME. THE BLACK FOLKS WHO CAME WERE COMING TO THEIR FIRST INAUGURATION AS FREE PEOPLE. IMAGINE THE EXCITEMENTTHEY THEN AS NOW CAME IN THERE SUNDAY FINERY. IT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION FOR THEM. AND BECAUSE IT WAS RAINY THE SECOND IN A GARAGE AND WAS MOVED INDOORS. AT THAT TIME LINCOLN MADE THE SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS AND SOME CALLED IT HIS PRACTICE SPEECH. WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE AND CHARITY TOWARD ALL. IT IS OFTEN QUOTED ON VETERANS DAY AS JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AS LINCOLN RECALLED OUR OBLIGATION TO WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. WE ALSO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE SACRIFICE THROUGHOUT HISTORY. I THINK THAT THE SPIRIT OF THOSE PEOPLE STILL LIVES IN THESE HALLS AND THAT IS WHY I AM SO PLEASED THAT THIS GRAND HALL IS CALLED IT EMANCIPATION HALT. FOR THIS NEWEST ADDITION TO THE CAPITAL AND WE APPRECIATE THE VISION OF PAST LEADERS, SOME ARE HERE AND SOME HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED, AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE TOM DASCHLE WHO HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ALL THIS, AND THEIR MEMBERS, SENATE LEADERS TO ACKNOWLEDGE, BYRON, AND SENATOR LUGER SENATOR LEVINS WHO ARE WITH US -- HAVE I SEEN EVERYONE? AND ON THE HOUSE SIDE, OUR LEADER, SANDY, DICK, A FORMER LEADER BUT WHO ALSO HAD A MAJOR ROLE IN ALL OF THIS, AND THE MOST RECENT YEAR OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, JERRY LEWIS, MR. MICA, BUTLER, AND I NAME ALL OF THESE PEOPLE -- OH,, OUR FELLOW FROM TEXAS. SPEAK UP. NORTH CAROLINA, AND THE OTHERS? MR. LATHAM FROM IOWA IS ALSO WITH US. I NAMED THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HERE AND WE'RE NOT IN SESSION. THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THEM AND THAT THEY CAME TO WASHINGTON FOR THIS OCCASION. BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL ONE, INDEED. I THINK THAT ALL OF OUR COLLEAGUE SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE ROLES THEY PLAYED IN BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM, THE OVER 9000 WORKERS AND HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE ARCHITECT'S FIST, AS WELL AS MANY DONORS WHO MADE THIS DAY POSSIBLE. THANKS ALSO TO THE MANY WORK HARD TO MAKE THE INTERPRETATION HERE AT THE -- THAT WAS BOTH EDUCATIONAL AND IN MINING. WE WILL HAND THE KEYS OVER TO TERRY WHO WILL OVERSEE FACILITIES' DAILY OPERATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. HE WILL OVERSEE THE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MEASURES TO KEEP OUR SCREENING OF THE CAPITOL INITIATIVE GOING. THESE EFFORTS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THIS BUILDING'S STREET. AS FAR BACK AS THE WINTER OF 1797, CARPENTERS WORKING ON THE CAPITOL WERE INSTRUCTED TO SAVE THEIR CHIPS FROM WOOD-WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE HOMES OF WORKERS ON THE GROUND. DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OVER 50% OF THE WASTE WAS RECYCLED AND IS CAPITOL GROUNDS WILL BE EVEN GREENER THAN BEFORE WITH 85 NEW TREES PLANTED TO PROVIDE THE VISION OF THE MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPE PLAN. THIS NEW ADDITION TO OUR MAJESTIC CAPITOL EMBODIES OUR NATION'S ABILITY TO ADAPT WHILE PRESERVING OUR ESSENTIAL AMERICAN CHARACTER. AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND A VISITOR'S PASS THROUGH THESE HALLS, WE PASSED THROUGH THE STEPS OF GIANTS, JAMES MADISON, HENRY CLAY, TIP O'NEILL, SO MANY OTHERS AND WE LEARN FROM THEIR LEADERSHIP. AS BOTH MEMBERS AND VISITORS ENJOY THE EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND WILL BE INSPIRED FOR NEW PATHS TO WRITE NEW CHAPTERS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, FOR THAT IS THE AMERICAN WAY. MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE ASPIRATIONS OF OUR FOUNDERS, BOTH IN DECLARING INDEPENDENCE, AND BY THE WAY, THOMAS JEFFERSON WHILE HE WAS A MODESTLY EDITED THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS -- HE WAS NOT, HE DID NOT LIKE TO BE EDITED HIMSELF. HE DID NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL. IN HIS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, OTHERS SUGGESTED OTHER WORDS AND A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED AT THAT TIME. BUT WHEN JOHN ADAMS WAS SPOKEN ABOUT -- I WILL TELL YOU THE STORY. HE WAS UNHAPPY ABOUT BEING EDITED SO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAID, DO NOT BE UNHAPPY ABOUT THAT, EVERYONE GETS EDITED. I AM A PRINTER AND I AT IT EVERY ONE'WORKEDS . HE SAID A MAN CAME TO ME AND HE WANTED ME TO MAKE HIM A SIGN FOR THE FRONT OF HIS SHOP WHICH IS ABOUT HATS. HE WANTED TO SAY THE MAN'S FIRST NAME, WE SOLD HATS FOR FAIR PRICE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WITH MORE WORDS -- AND A GERMAN FRANKLIN MADE THE SIGN AND IT SAID JOHNSON, WITH A PICTURE OF HAT AND THAT WAS HIS WAY OF SAYING THAT EVEN THOUGH A PERSON WHO ORIGINATED THE IDEA IN THE MERCHANDISING NEEDED TO BE EDITED. WE WERE BLESSED WITH OUR FOUNDERS. IMAGINE THEM AND THEIR COURAGE. THEY'VE WRECKED THIS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, EDITED IT, CO- EDITED IT, AND ESTABLISHING INDEPENDENCE FROM THE STRONGEST NATION IN THE WORLD -- THE WROTE THIS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND EDITED IT. IT WAS SO NEW, THE QUALITY OF EACH AND EVERY PERSON THEN. WHEN DAVE WON THEY WROTE A CONSTITUTION MAKING US THE FREEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THANK HEAVENS THEY MADE IT A AMENDABLE. THEN, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY DESIGNED A GREAT FIELDS OF THE 19 STATES AND ON THAT GREAT SEAL IT SAYS IN LATIN, A NEW ORDER FOR THE CENTURY. CENTURY, OR AGES. THERE WERE SO COMPETENT IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING THAT THEY SAID IT WOULD BE FOR THE AGES. THEIR OPTIMISM ABOUT DECLARING INDEPENDENCE AND IS SACRIFICING EVERYTHING, THEIR CONFIDENCE, THERE FAITH AND THE GOD AND IN THEMSELVES AND IN THE FUTURE AND IN THIS COUNTRY WAS SOMETHING UNKNOWN BEFORE. THEY PREDICATED IT ALL ON AFFECTED EACH GENERATION HAD A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE FUTURE BETTER FOR THE NEXT, THAT IS WHAT WOULD PERPETUATE THIS GREAT DEMOCRACY. OVER TIME IT BECAME KNOWN AS THE AMERICAN DREAM AND PEOPLE FLOCKED TO OUR SHORES AND WITH THEIR OPTIMISM, DETERMINATION, AND CONFIDENCE, AND THEIR INSISTENCE TO MAKE THE FUTURE BETTER FOR THEIR FAMILIES, THEY MADE AMERICA A MORE AMERICAN. THEY STILL DO. THAT IS BECAUSE OF THAT CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE. HONORING THAT TRADITION OF OUR FOUNDERS, HONORING THEIR VISION AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AS WELL AS HONORING THE SACRIFICE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AS WE GO FORWARD. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN POLICE OFFICERS. PLEASE LET US ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. [APPLAUSE] WITH THAT REVERENCE TO HISTORY AND DEDICATION TO PROGRESS, MADE THIS TEMPLE OF DEMOCRACY CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND OPINIONS CAN FIND COMMON GROUND FOR THE COMMON GOOD. AND TO QUOTE JOHN F. KENNEDY IN HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, AS WE GO FORWARD, LET US MAKE SURE THAT GOD'S WORK WILL TRULY BE OUR OWN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
00:49:00	>>	LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME A,RITA DOVE.
00:49:09	>>	GOOD MORNING, 16 YEARS AGO I STOOD IN THE POETRY OFFICE OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND LOOKED ACROSS THE WAY AT THE CAPITOL BUILDING. I WAS NEW TO WASHINGTON AND SAW NOT ONLY THAT MAGNIFICENT BUILDING, BUT I SAW THOSE SELF- SAME TOURISTS WANDERING BY IT. IN THE PARKING LOT THERE WAS A STATUE, A BEAUTIFUL, BUT DIRTY STATUE OF A LADY FREEDOM OF WHICH WE SEE A REPLICA HERE BEHIND US. SHE WAS DUE FOR AN OVERHAUL. I THOUGHT IT WAS SO BRIT THAT FREEDOM GET AN OCCASIONAL SPRUCING UP -- THAT FREEDOM GET AN OCCASIONAL SPEECH NOW. I THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE. IN 1993 IN THE FALL A FIRST READ THIS POEM ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING. THE OCCASION WAS THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LANE OF THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CAPITOL AND THE WEAK REINSTALLATION OF THE STATUTE LADY FREEDOM TO HER PLACE ATOP THE CAPITOL THEM. LADY FREEDOM AMONG US. DON'T LOWER YOUR EYES OR STAIR STRAIGHT AHEAD TO WHERE YOU THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE GOING, DO NOT MUDDER OH, NO, NOT ANOTHER ONE, GET A JOB, FLY A KITE, GO BARRY THE BONE -- NOT ANOTHER ONE. WITH HER OLD-FASHIONED SANDALS, WITH HER SKIRT, HER STAINED SHEIKHS, WHISKERS, AND HEAPED UP TRINKET'S SHE HAS RISEN AMONG US IN A BLUNT APPROACH. SHE HAS FITTED HER HAIR AMONG HAND-ME-DOWN CAP AND SPRUCE IT UP WITH THE OTHERS. OVER ONE SHOULDER SHE BEARS THE RAINBOWED LAYERS OF CHARITY AND MURMUROUS TO ALL OF YOU, EVEN THE LEAST OF YOU. DO NOT CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, DO NOT THINK ANOTHER ITEM TO FIT ON A TOURIST'S AGENDA, CONSIDER HER GAZE, HER SHINING BROW, SHE WHO HAS BROUGHT MERCY BACK TO THE STREETS AND NOT RETIRE POLITELY TO BE POTTERS' FIELDS, RETURNING TO THE SOUND WITH ITS SUN- SCORCHED, SHE RESTS IN HER WEATHERED PLUMAGE, BIG-BONED, RESOLUTE. DO NOT THINK YOU CAN EVER FORGET HER. DO NOT EVEN TRY. SHE IS NOT GOING TO BUDGE. NO CHOICE BUT TO GRANT HER SPACE, CROWN HER WITH SKY, FOR SHE IS ONE OF THE MANY AND SHE IS EACH OF US. [APPLAUSE]
00:52:29	>>	LADIES AND A GENTLEMAN, PLEASE WELCOME THE AMERICAN YOUTH CHORUS AS THEY SAY "THE CAPITOL." (music)
00:53:08	>>	WORDS CANNOT CRY THE FEELINGS OF THE SPECIAL FEELING THAT COMES OVER ME EACH TIME I SEE IT UP THERE ON THE HILL, SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING, FOR ITS SPIRIT HAS NOT AGED, IT IS THE THEATER FOR THE DRAMA OF DEMOCRACY IS STAGED, (music) THE SYMBOL OF OUR NATION, MORE BEAUTIFUL WITH EACH SUCCEEDING GENERATION (music) WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO HELP IT RISE, KEEP THE PROMISE TO RISE IN THE HEARTS OF EVERY YOUNG AMERICAN WOMAN AND MAN.
00:54:28	>>	AS I WALK ALONG THE CORRIDORS TIME IT BEGINS TO MELT AWAY, YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR THE VOICES DANIEL WEBSTER, HENRY CLAY. VOICES AND RESOLUTE WITH REASON, THE SUPPORT AND PASSION -- OR IMPASSION, SHOUTING LOUD, AND KEEP IT STANDING PROUD.
00:55:03	>>	THE CAPITOL, THE SYMBOL OF OUR NATION. MORE BEAUTIFUL WITH HIM EACH PROCEEDING GENERATION, TIME IS IN OUR HANDS, WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO HELP IT THRIVE, KEEP THE PROMISE ALIVE, KEEP THE PROMISE ALIVE, THE CAPITOL, THE SYMBOL OF OUR NATION, (music), THE VOICE OF INSPIRATION, TIME IS IN OUR HANDS, WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO KEEP IT ALIVE, TO KEEP A BURNING BRIGHT, THE CAPITOL WITH EVERY GENERATION (music) OF VOICE OF INSPIRATION, AS LONG AS TIME IS IN OUR HANDS WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO HELP IT THRIVE, KEEP IT THE PROMISE ALIVE, KEEP IT BURNING BRIGHT IN THE HEART OF MANY AMERICANS. (music) [APPLAUSE]
00:57:17	>>	LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE AS OR REV. BARRY BLACK WILL DELIVER THE BENEDICTION.
00:57:27	>>	LET US PRAY. ETERNAL LORD GOD, THE FOUNTAIN OF EVERY BLESSING, WEEK THANK YOU FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT DAY. LORD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THIS BEAUTIFUL VISITORS' CENTER. AND FOR THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE, THE LOVE AND LABOR THAT MADE THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE. WE REJOICE AT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THOUSANDS WILL HAVE TO BECOME BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH THIS MONUMENT OF FREEDOM, UNITED STATES CAPITOL. LORD, IT MAY OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE AND THIS HOUR PRODUCE IN US A COMMITMENT TO RAIN FREEDOM -- TO RING FREEDOM'S BELL UNTIL IT IS HEARD AROUND THE WORLD. LET OUR THANKSGIVING ALSO DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, THE SOURCE OF ALL TRUE FREEDOM, WE PRAY IN YOUR SOVRAN NAME, AMEN.
00:59:05	>>	LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED. PLEASE WELCOME THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITAL, STEVEN. [APPLAUSE]
00:59:26	>>	THANK YOU, AND A GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM HONORED TODAY TO CONCLUDE TODAY'S CEREMONY BY FIRST AND BANKING SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, MAJORITY HARRY REID, MITCH MCCONNELL, AND CONGRESSMAN JOHN BOEHNER FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO MARK THIS HISTORIC OCCASION. VISITORS NOW HAVE A RESPECTFUL AND DIGNIFIED WAY TO ENTER THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND I INVITE EVERYONE HERE TODAY AND ALL AMERICANS TO COME AND EXPLORE ALL THE VISITORS CENTER AND UNITED STATES CAPITOL HAVE TO OFFER. A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE REQUIRED THE SKILLS AND TALENTS OF THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND AS I STAND HERE TODAY BY THANK YOU AND AM VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF SUCH A WONDERFUL TEAM. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, TALENT, AND PERSISTENCE IN THE GETTING THIS JOB DONE. EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT KNOWS THAT WE BUILT AN CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER FOR WHICH ALL AMERICANS CAN BE PROUD. . (music) (music) (music) (music) (music) (music) (music) (music)
01:03:53	>>	THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE U.S. CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER. OFFICIALLY OPENING TO THE PUBLIC TODAY. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN SOME EIGHT YEARS AGO AT THE COST OF $620 MILLION. BUILT OVER THE EIGHT-YEAR PERIOD. 9,000 WORKERS CRIB UTE TOGETHER EFFORT. MOVING SOME 65,000 TRUCK LOADS OF DIRT TO BUILD THE UNDERGROUND CAPITOL VISITOR'S CENTER. MORE LIVE COVERAGE TODAY. WE ARE COVERING TIME MAGAZINES FOR TUR 500 FORUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT 12 CHN 25 P.M. EASTERN. THESTED $3 TRILLION THAT CITIES AND STATES NEED FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. THAT COMING UP AT 12:25 EASTERN ON C-SPAN. THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT STARTS A NEW SESSION TOMORROW. THE QUEEN WILL TRAVEL FROM THE PALACE TO WESTMINSTER. LIVE COVERAGE OF THAT STARTING TOMORROW MORNING AT 5:30 A.M. ON C-SPAN.

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