WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., is leading an effort to name a new visitor center at the U.S. Capitol after former Sen. Strom Thurmond, who died nearly two weeks ago.

Barrett introduced legislation Tuesday to name the center the J. Strom Thurmond Capitol Visitor Center. The 580,000 square-foot visitor center, scheduled for completion in 2005, will be located underground on the East Front of the Capitol.

"Sen. Thurmond's impact on South Carolina and the nation will be felt for at least as long as he was alive - his passion in life was to serve the people of his state and this nation," Barrett said.

Thurmond, the nation's longest serving senator, was elected to the U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate in 1954. He retired in January at the age of 100.

While in Washington, Thurmond served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Armed Services Committee, as well as President Pro Tempore.

Thurmond died on June 26 at a hospital in his hometown of Edgefield and was buried there after a funeral in Columbia last week.

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On the Net: Capitol Visitor Center Web site

http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/cvc_overview.htm