Floor SpeechNeutral2026-06-23

CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL

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Context

On 2026-06-23, Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9) delivered a floor speech titled "CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL" in the House.

Full Text

CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [House] [Page H4194] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool requires a civil engineering plan. First, replace the fractured subterranean pipes: Underground, the pool's 12-inch supply and return lines are deteriorated. They leak an estimated 16 million gallons of water every year. The Mall site actually sits in a floodplain related to drainage into the Potomac River. Water pressure pushes upward against the floor, forcing paint and sealant to blister, pop, and peel off. Second, stabilize the lateral soil movement. While the 2012 overhaul stopped the pool sinking downward, it did not solve the side-to-side shifting. The pool sits on the Potomac River mudflats that continuously ooze and shift laterally. Third, reengineer the expansion joints for shifting. A 2,000-foot concrete pad naturally expands and contracts like an accordion in freezing winter weather. Engineers have to install heavy, flexible water stops that seal gaps while letting slabs move without tearing. Finally, there is drainage. Proper drainage and soil stabilization are required to manage runoff and prevent groundwater from seeping through the basin and compromising the concrete. It isn't a vandalizing problem. It is an engineering problem. It can be solved. ____________________

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CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [House] [Page H4194] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CIVIL ENGINEERING PLAN FOR LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool requires a civil engineering plan. First, replace the fractured subterranean pipes: Underground, the pool's 12-inch supply and return lines are deteriorated. They leak an estimated 16 million gallons of water every year. The Mall site actually sits in a floodplain related to drainage into the Potomac River. Water pressure pushes upward against the floor, forcing paint and sealant to blister, pop, and peel off. Second, stabilize the lateral soil movement. While the 2012 overhaul stopped the pool sinking downward, it did not solve the side-to-side shifting. The pool sits on the Potomac River mudflats that continuously ooze and shift laterally. Third, reengineer the expansion joints for shifting. A 2,000-foot concrete pad naturally expands and contracts like an accordion in freezing winter weather. Engineers have to install heavy, flexible water stops that seal gaps while letting slabs move without tearing. Finally, there is drainage. Proper drainage and soil stabilization are required to manage runoff and prevent groundwater from seeping through the basin and compromising the concrete. It isn't a vandalizing problem. It is an engineering problem. It can be solved. ____________________