H.Res. 961: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House wing of the United States Capitol and House Office Buildings be open and accessible to the public.

Whereas the United States Capitol has been closed to the public since March 12, 2020;

Whereas the Capitol is a symbol of democracy that millions of people visit each year;

Whereas the Government of the United States derives its power from the consent of the governed, and the American people have a constitutional right to be heard;

Whereas the right of people to petition their Government is severely hindered by the closure of the Capitol and the people’s House;

Whereas the Capitol had only been closed briefly 3 times since the beginning of the 20th century: during the Spanish flu pandemic, after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and after the September 11 and anthrax attacks in 2001;

Whereas this is the longest closure of the Capitol in history, with no end in sight;

Whereas, while the public is still unable to use the Capitol Visitor Center, the vast majority of State capitols across the country are open to the public;

Whereas schools are operating in person safely around the country; and

Whereas sporting events are being widely attended safely around the country: Now, therefore, be it