President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We are writing you regarding the announcement by your Administration suspending all White House tours for the American people effective Saturday, March 9, 2013. We urge you to reconsider this ill-conceived decision to restrict patriotic Americans’ access to one of the most popular public buildings in Washington, DC.
Although this notice from the White House claims the decision was made due to staffing reductions from your sequester, it is not clear that suspending these self-guided tours saves significant dollars. We are concerned that our constituents are being used to make a political point and will incur the pain of the sequester.
This action comes just before the Spring Break tour season when thousands of American families travel from across the country to learn more about the history of our nation’s capital. Families have waited several months before earning the promise of a White House tour. For many of these visitors, this opportunity will not present itself again.
It has been reported that access to the White House can be gained for a political donation of $500,000, according to the New York Times. Why are our constituents being denied that same access? Is it your intent to allow access only to wealthy contributors?
At a time when Americans are looking to the White House for leadership, they should not have the door slammed in their face.
Sincerely,
Steve Stivers
Tom Reed
Lynn Westmoreland
Steve King
John Culberson
David McKinley
Mick Mulvaney
Stephen Fincher
Don Young
Larry Bucshon
Jeff Duncan
Steve Womack
Candice Miller
Dennis Ross
Aaron Schock
Alan Nunnelee
Matt Salmon
Ralph Hall
Bill Johnson
Patrick J. Tiberi
Pete Olson
Sam Graves
Jim Bridenstine
Steve Scalise
Jaime Herrera Beutler
Walter Jones
John Fleming
Howard Coble
Rob Bishop
Brad Wenstrup
Bob Gibbs
Bill Flores
Jim Renacci
Phil Roe
Ted Yoho
Adam Kinzinger
Diane Black
Chris Stewart
David Schweikert
Roger Williams
Bill Cassidy
Joe Wilson
Kerry Bentivolio
Bill Posey
Sean Duffy
Jack Kingston
John Campbell
Richard Nugent
Tim Griffin
Joe Barton
Vicky Hartzler
Bob Goodlatte
Andy Barr
Bill Huizenga
Michael Burgess
Tom Price
