U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) and Robert Bennett (R-Utah) say they are "deeply concerned" about emergency legislation passed by Washington, D.C., city council to extend bar and nightclub hours during the week of Barack Obama's inauguration next month, the Washington Post reported Dec. 10.

Feinstein, who is chairing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and Bennett, a committee member, oppose the council's decision to allow bars to serve alcohol until 5 a.m. and remain open 24 hours a day from January 17-21.

"The plan … could seriously strain law-enforcement resources that need to be focused on the large crowds and security requirements of the Inaugural," the senators wrote in a letter to city officials. "There is great cause for celebration at this historic event. But we believe that the benefits of this emergency legislation, passed with little public notice, are far outweighed by its possible consequences."

Backers of the legislation, proposed by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, disagreed. "The prediction of dire consequences is a little over the top," said city council member Mary Cheh, who pointed out that the city of Minneapolis extended alcohol-service hours by two extra hours during the Republican National Convention.

"We're the site of lots of demonstrations, celebrations," Cheh said. "We know how to do this. I respect [the senators'] view, but we should be the best judge of what happens locally."

The city expects between one and four million people to travel to the capital for the inauguration, accompanied by as many as 4,000 police officers from around the country to help handle security.