The park service requested bids last month to study what it would take to safely open the Statue of Liberty's iconic headpiece to the public, according to documents released by Rep. Anthony Weiner, New York Democrat.

The statue's base, pedestal and lower observation deck reopened in August 2004, after a $20 million effort to enhance fire safety. But the crown and its interior observation deck, which soar about 265 feet above New York Harbor, remained closed because the Park Service said emergency evacuation was impossible.

Mr. Weiner, a member of the House Judiciary subcommittee on crime, terrorism and homeland security, said keeping the observation deck shuttered hurts the city's economy: Since the crown closed, the number of visitors to Lady Liberty has dropped 44 percent, from 3.6 million in 2000 to 2.5 million in 2006.

"The bureaucracy which had stubbornly refused to open the crown is finally moved in the right direction," Mr. Weiner said Friday. "Today's news means that America is one step closer to providing what everyone wants: safe access to the heights of Lady Liberty."

Washington Times