Committee of the Hole

From NBC's Wendy Jones Under the calm gaze of the Statue of Freedom (actually a replica of the statue which graces the dome of the Capitol), leaders of Congress presided over the dedication -- finally -- of the Capitol Visitors Center. The ceremony took place in the Center's Emancipation Hall -- as Nancy Pelosi remarked, "The Capitol was built by slaves ... it is appropriate this center is ready for 2009, which is the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln ." The Librarian of Congress, James Billington, noted that "Congress has always promoted citizen education...through land grant universities and the G.I. Bill ... Congress has sought to create for the U.S. a well-educated body politic." He described the new Center as "a splendidly presented civics lesson ... and an attempt to make the Capitol more accessible." ...( read more ) (link)