Wamp Helps Steer Legislative Bill Through
June 22, 2007

Congressman Zach Wamp, who serves as the ranking member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, helped in the passage of a legislative branch spending bill on Friday. It was Congressman Wamp's first bill as the lead Republican on the subcommittee.

"I have said from early in the process that working together in a bipartisan manner is critical to this bill," said Congressman Wamp. "I believe the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is a good, fiscally responsible piece of legislation. It is one of only four Appropriations bills whose allocation is actually below the budget request."

The bill includes funding for the House of Representatives, Library of Congress, Government Accountability Office and other offices that make up the Legislative Branch. Additionally, the bill funds essential police priorities, including the Capitol Police Chief's number one priority for the radio modernization program.

Early in the appropriations process this year, it came to the Subcommittee's attention that the architect of the Capitol and others were calling the large 20,000-square-foot room where visitors will gather as they enter the Capitol the "Great Hall." This is the same name of the space in the century old Library of Congress Jefferson Building, which will be connected to the space with the same name in the Capitol Visitors Center by a tunnel. Having two Great Halls on either side of the same tunnel will cause confusion for the nearly three million visitors who come to the Capitol each year, it was stated.

"It is common sense that you cannot have two competing Great Halls on either side of a tunnel," said Congressman Wamp. "The space needs a name that recognizes the importance and history of the Capitol."

Wamp and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. from Illinois offered an amendment that was adopted by the Appropriations Committee to name the "Great Hall" space located in the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) "Emancipation Hall." This provision remained in the final version of the bill.

Rep. Wamp said, "This grand hall is going to be the most prominent gathering space, outside of the rotunda, on the Capitol grounds. The space needs a name that recognizes the importance and history of the Capitol. Many people do not know that slave labor built the Capitol, a symbol of freedom.

"By naming this space Emancipation Hall we will finally honor those who have gone unrecognized for far too long."

The U.S. Senate version of the bill was approved Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee and will move to the floor for a vote. Once the Senate version is approved, a House-Senate Conference Committee will meet to negotiate the final version of the bill. In his role as ranking member, Wamp will be part of this Conference Committee.