{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"DC\" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-asks-fta-to-help-give-wmata-a-fresh-start-with-a-new-financial", "Norton Asks FTA to Help Give WMATA a Fresh Start with a New Financial Monitoring Regime That Relieves Agencys Short-Term Borrowing", "2015-12-30", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee and one of the Big Four leaders who wrote the recently signed surface transportation legislation, today released her letter to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator Therese McMillan inquiring whether the new year should bring changes in the current form of FTA monitoring of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to help relieve the transit agency from dependence on short-term borrowing. Norton asked FTA to look into whether a new infusion of federal funding for WMATA, WMATAs new leadership and its new budget and financial controls could lead FTA to use a form of financial monitoring that does not cause WMATA to seek short-term borrowing for its daily operations in the new year. For the past 21 months, FTA has required WMATA to submit all requested federal reimbursements through paper  rather than the electronic methods typically used  after FTA found serious weaknesses in WMATAs budget and financial controls. In her letter, Norton detailed the material weaknesses FTA found and the extensive changes WMATA has made, but said that she believed WMATA must continue to be under a FTA monitoring regime for now.\nNorton wrote, As one of the four bipartisan House leaders of the recently enacted FAST Act, I was able to get a 25 percent increase in federal transit funding for the District of Columbia, most of which will go to WMATA for state of good repair capital projects. In addition, working with regional Members, we got the full $150 million capital spending restored. WMATA must take full advantage of this unusual increase....[T]his fundingshould be used as a springboard, not a back-fill. Now would be a good time to encourage a new start, considering whether changes at WMATA, including new leadership, should lead to some changes in the nature of the monitoring process other than paper procedures that have contributed to short term borrowing for operations. I believe that it is too early to relieve WMATA of strict monitoring, but even with the new funding and the changesWMATA may lose any headway effect and continue to tread water, with its riders continuing to pay the price.\nNortons full letter is below.\nTherese McMillan  \n\tActing Administrator  \n\tFederal Transit Administration  \n\t1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE  \n\tWashington, DC 20590\nDear Acting Administrator McMillan:\nI very much appreciate the Federal Transit Administrations (FTA) oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The need for oversight over WMATA remains clear. To reinforce your oversight, as the lead Highways and Transit Subcommittee Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, my bill, the Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation (PROMPT) Act, was included in the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and broadened to include other jurisdictions as well, and just approved by Congress.\nI write now concerning the FTA action that placed WMATA on drawdown restrictions for its federal reimbursements after the FTAs regularly scheduled Financial Management Overview (FMO) found a number of material weaknesses in WMATAs budget controls and significant weaknesses in its management of FTA funded assets. FTAs FMO found material weaknesses in WMATAs budget controls, controls over reporting of federal expenditures, and controls over procurement. FTA found significant deficiencies in WMATA audit committee oversight of compliance and internal controls, cash and grant management controls, management and disposition of FTA funded assets, access controls over the financial management system, controls over job order contracts, and implementation of the federal financial reporting process and procedures. FTA also issued advisory comments with regard to improving documented procedures for payroll and human resources, organizational structure, an entity-wide risk assessment, and risk assessment of WMATAs financial management system. I have been pleased to read often of FTAs work to change the safety regime at WMATA.\nWMATA has concurred with all of the FTA findings and has steadfastly undertaken corrective actions. To address the FMO, WMATA has done the following: hired Deloitte to conduct an internal controls analysis of the asset management and financial accounting life cycle processes, created and implemented a Standard Operating Procedures document, revised procurement manuals, and restructured management so that the Chief Procurement Officer is elevated to the Executive Leadership Team. FTA has approved WMATAs corrective action plan.\nAs you know, for the past 21 months, WMATA has been subject to drawdown restrictions requiring every requested reimbursement to be filed and reviewed by the FTA through a paper method, rather than the electronic, automatic method that other transit agencies use. While the FTA has placed similar drawdown restrictions on other large transit agencies with similar financial management issues, the reimbursement process faced by WMATA is lengthy, adding days if not weeks to what would take one day electronically. What concerns me most now is that because of the delay in reimbursements, WMATA has had to go to the marketplace to obtain short-term credit on three occasions simply to sustain its operations, adding costs to a transit system that is already in need of funding.\nAs I have indicated, I understand and am grateful for FTAs FMO which has led to a new set of budget and financial controls. Through its work with the FTA, WMATA has brought in a new financial team and has worked with apparent success to address every finding and recommendation of the FTA. Further, I understand that the new Chief Financial Officer has been responsive and cooperative to FTAs requests. WMATA submitted its 2014 audit this August and will be submitting its 2015 audit in the near future. On November 30, 2015, WMATA brought on board an entirely new financial team and now a new general manager.\nI have not heard complaints from WMATA about its drawdown procedures, which were plainly necessary when they were imposed, and I believe close monitoring of WMATAs financial procedures remains necessary. WMATAs problems are comprehensive  from management and operations to finances. That is why as one of the four bipartisan House leaders of the recently enacted FAST Act, I was able to get a 25 percent increase in federal transit funding for the District of Columbia, most of which will go to WMATA for state of good repair capital projects. In addition, working with regional Members, we got the full $150 million capital spending restored.\nWMATA must take full advantage of this unusual increase in funding to build upon as the agency moves forward. I believe that this funding, to the greatest extent possible, should be used as a springboard, not a back-fill. Now would be a good time to encourage a new start considering whether changes at WMATA, including new leadership, should lead to some changes in the nature of the monitoring process other than paper procedures that have contributed to short term borrowing for operations. I believe that it is too early to relieve WMATA of strict monitoring, but even with the new funding and the changes outlined above, WMATA may lose any headway effect and continue to tread water, with its riders continuing to pay the price. Does FTA believe that contributing to WMATAs borrowing is still necessary whatever its progress and should continue until there is no need of monitoring whatsoever? Is there any form of monitoring other than the current paper method that would do the job and might reduce the need for borrowing for current operations? I am pleased that WMATA is not raising fares but instead is contemplating unprecedented relief for riders, to allow WMATA to recover from a 5 percent decrease in ridership over the last five years. This is probably a smart strategy considering the current estrangement of riders, but in the short term, such relief for riders will likely mean further losses.\nI am not in a position, as you are, to know whether changes in monitoring are advisable or, if so, what form the process should take. I write only to suggest a fresh look by FTA as to whether or not paper drawdown procedures are the only way FTA can monitor WMATA.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-getting-capitol-opened-for-sledding-norton-pushes-for-more-public", "After Getting Capitol Opened for Sledding, Norton Pushes for More Public Access with Bill to Allow Commercial Filming on Capitol Grounds When Congress is Out of Session", "2015-12-29", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that when Congress returns from recess she will introduce a bill to permit commercial filming and photography on the U.S. Capitol Grounds beyond Union Square, the single area where it is currently permitted when both chambers of Congress are out of session. The expanded filming would be subject to the same terms and conditions as filming in Union Square (the area just below the west side of the Capitol, near the Botanic Gardens), which Norton got codified in the fiscal year 2014 omnibus appropriations bill. Filming could be permitted when Congress is not in session and subject to the usual police and security restrictions.\nNorton has consistently sought expanded public access to public space, particularly around the Capitol, and this month got language included in the omnibus bill for non-enforcement of a law that prohibits sledding on Capitol Grounds. This Norton bill would allow commercial film and photography crews to apply for permits for exterior shots of the Capitol and its grounds. Norton said permitting commercial filming would meet a hunger in the industry for authentic shots of our Capitol can also provide a boost to the Districts economy.\nHollywood and other commercial filmmakers should not have to go to fake capitols for movies and films about the capital of the United States, Norton said. The current policy permitting filming near the Botanic Gardens shows that the Capitol police can handle filmmaking on the grounds when Congress is not in session. However, filming from that vantage point shows the least familiar view of the Capitol. At a time when the reputation of Congress is particularly low, filming the Capitol could bolster the image Congress prefers of a building that represents American democracy. It is neither business-friendly nor true to the nations democratic traditions to arbitrarily exclude filming of the Capitol. Encouraging commercial photography and filming at the Capitol would help spread the story of our national legislature around the world. The current policy may be unconstitutional. No policy or security reason exists to justify current limits on commercial filming and photography of the Capitol complex to only one location, Union Square, particularly considering that permits are necessary.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/norton-makes-2016-predictions", "Norton Makes 2016 Predictions", "2015-12-27", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Norton Makes 2016 Predictions \n*Pages in Parentheses Correspond to Nortons End of the Year Newsletter\nRepresenting the District of Columbia, I can afford only conservative assumptions when predicting the unknown  2016. So, here goes.\nPaul Ryan, the new House Speaker, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have both been anxious to show that they can govern, and, by 2017, would like to control the executive as well. In 2015, we established good relationships with Senate Republican appropriators and authorizers, whose voting records were the opposite of the prior Democratic-controlled Senate, and also got assistance working closely with Democratic leaders and Members in both chambers. Yet, D.C.s results were not different under Republican control than under Democratic control, except for significant increases in funding in the 2015 Republican-controlled Congress (pg. 2).\nNo New Anti-Home-Rule Riders\nWith so much at stake in 2016 for the Republican Senate, I am assuming that it will not be the year Republican senators, who represent entire states, score with their home states by bringing home D.C. riders (we are well known to be strike back with both local and social media outreach), or buy into Republican House extremism by adopting House riders as the Senates own. However, Republican House Members have serially attacked D.C.s gun safety laws and will likely do so again. Only Senate Republican Senate presidential candidates tried this year, and may again, but the Republican Senate, like this year, will probably not be seeking to favor one Senate presidential candidate by adopting a particular senators rider (pg. 3). We will need a Democratic Senate and House to get the rider that bars D.C. from spending local funds to provide abortion services to low-income women removed, as we did in 2009. The marijuana commercialization rider will be tough to remove as well, but the absurdity of legal possession in D.C. that drives residents to the illegal market for purchases will be acknowledged as more states embrace regulated commercialization.\nThe Department of Homeland Security Consolidation in Ward 8 Will Be Completed\nWe got the full requested funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Ward 8 campus in 2015 (pg. 2). This amount is enough for design funding for a new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) building on the St. Elizabeths West Campus and completion of the Center Building, now under construction, for the DHS Secretary and his top 700 staff members. Many thought the DHS project would be a lost cause, but getting a little pregnant at a time worked. I predict that, considering FEMA is the last building to be constructed, the DHS consolidated headquarters will be completed.\nStatehood Will Be Strengthened\nThis year, instead of adding cosponsors after I introduced our statehood bill, I asked Democrats to become original cosponsors with me  and 93 Democrats agreed, which set a new record. Now, a record total of 128 cosponsors have signed on to the bill (pg. 3). In the Senate, a record 17 Democrats introduced our statehood bill as original cosponsors with Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), the ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction, including the top four Democratic leaders. I will keep adding to that record in 2016. Building on this increased interest in Congress for statehood, I will be working with residents on new strategies, among them finding creative ways to use HBOs Last Week Tonight D.C. statehood segment lampooning Congress for denying D.C. residents equal rights.\nMore Economic Development\nIn 2015, we got an unprecedented increase in federal economic development funding for D.C. because of my role as one of the Big Four House transportation and infrastructure leaders, who wrote the first long-term surface transportation bill in 10 years (pg. 2). Although our federal funding will not be as great in 2016, I expect increased economic development because of private sector funding at development sites I have gotten for the District  The Wharf (SW Waterfront), The Yards (SE Waterfront), and the old Walter Reed Hospital site (pg. 2).\nMore National Legislation to Help D.C.\nWe should be able to get bills through the House on airplane noise and synthetic drugs. In 2015, I searched and found Republican and Democratic allies troubled by these same issues (pgs. 5, 6). In 2016, I will collaborate with them to pass bills on airplane noise and synthetic drugs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-federal-law-enforcement-nominating-commission-accepting-4", "Norton Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission Accepting Applications for Upcoming Vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that her Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission is accepting applications for an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Reggie B. Walton will take senior status on December 31, 2015, creating a vacancy.\nApplications are due before 5:00 p.m. on January 11, 2015. The Commission, chaired by Pauline Schneider, a past president of the D.C. Bar and consisting of 17 D.C. residents, will vet and interview applicants for the vacancy and will send several applicants to the Congresswoman, who will then make her recommendation to President Obama.\nApplications are available online on Nortons website at: https://norton.house.gov/sites/norton.house.gov/files/US%20District%20Court%20Judge%20Questionnaire%20and%20Waiver.doc. Applicants must submit two completed hard-copies of the application and one USB flash drive (thumb drive) containing the application to: Leslie Freeman, Ballard Spahr LLP, 1909 K Street NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20006-1157. Applicants who have submitted an application within the past 12 months may simply provide a cumulative update of relevant information since the date of their last application. If there is no update, applicants must so indicate to the Commission.\nPresident Obama, like President Clinton, granted Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend candidates for federal district court judges and other important federal law enforcement officials in the District. President Obama has nominated and the Senate has confirmed all ten of Nortons recommendations for district court judgesAmit Mehta, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Amy Berman Jackson, James E. Boasberg, Rudolph Contreras, Beryl A. Howell, Casey Cooper, Tanya Chutkan, Randolph Moss, and Robert Wilkins, who was the first of Nortons recommendations to President Obama for a vacancy on the district court and who has since been elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-tonight-with-edgewood-civic-association-to", "Norton in Your Neighborhood Tonight with Edgewood Civic Association to Focus on Historic D.C. Wins in Omnibus", "2015-12-21", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Norton in Your Neighborhood community conversation with the Edgewood Civic Association tonight, Monday, December 21, 2015, from 7:00 p.m.  9:00 p.m., at Inspired Teaching School (200 Douglas St. NW). Norton will engage Edgewood-area and other District of Columbia residents in a discussion of the major funding and legislative victories for the District in the omnibus spending bill, among them record level funding from an all-Republican Congress, her success in defending D.C.s gun safety laws from elimination by Senate Republicans running for president, the highest number ever of House and Senate original cosponsors for her statehood bill, and other congressional issues of interest to the community.\nAs we get ready to wrap up 2015, I want to give my constituents an overview of our accomplishments for D.C. and hear from them on what I need to be working on next year, Norton said.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gratified-by-confirmation-of-two-dc-superior-court-judges-and", "Norton Gratified by Confirmation of Two D.C. Superior Court Judges and Will Seek Quick Action on Four Pending Local Court Nominations", "2015-12-19", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she was particularly grateful that her work to get District of Columbia local judges appointed had culminated with the Senate confirming two Superior Court judges, Darlene Soltys and Robert Salerno, the day before it adjourned for the year. Norton said the confirmations would not have happened without the leadership of Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Tom Carper (D-DE), the chair and ranking member, respectively, of the committee of jurisdiction, as well as Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), who helped push the Senate to confirm the two judges. Norton said that she hoped the momentum would continue, and that the Senate would quickly take up four pending D.C. judicial nominations, one for the Court of Appeals and three for the Superior Court. Norton said that as Article I judges, the Senate has given D.C. judges little priority, regardless of the party in power. On December 3, Norton made a special plea for Soltys and Salerno at their confirmation hearing. The D.C. Courts also sent a letter to Senate leaders stating that continued vacancies are causing an increase in the time cases are pending. Nortons statement asking for more rapid confirmations of pending D.C. judges was unusual. At the time, she was grateful for Senate confirmations of two Superior Court judges in November, who were the first D.C. court judges confirmed by the Senate since May 2013.\nNorton emphasized that the D.C. judges are the Districts only trial and appellate judges, and as Article I judges, they have to be confirmed by the Senate. Before the Revitalization Act of 1997, the District paid for the D.C. Courts, even though the judges were nominated by the president. When the District had to decide which state functions to give up during the control board period, D.C. gave up the courts, whose judges it could not appoint, but still had to pay for. For home-rule and statehood purposes, Norton said the District should have the authority to appoint its own judges, as the states do, but that would likely require D.C. to pay for its courts. \nAt a time when crime has spiked here and across the nation, D.C.s courts must be able to act quickly on pending cases, Norton. Our local D.C. courts are still suffering judicial vacancies and case backlogs. By moving before adjourning, the Senate has shown it understands the importance of reducing the backlog. I will press this momentum forward for the remaining judges when the Senate returns.\nThe D.C. courts, which consist of the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals, adjudicate local criminal and civil matters. The Home Rule Act of 1973 established the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC), whose members are appointed by D.C. and federal government officials. The JNC makes three recommendations to the president for each vacancy on the D.C. courts, and the president appoints, with the advice and consent of the Senate, one of the three.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-her-bill-in-tax-extenders-bill-erasing-tax-break-preference", "Norton Says Her Bill in Tax Extenders Bill Erasing Tax Break Preference for Parking over Transit Commuter Benefits is a Major Victory for Public Transit Users and Metro", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, today said that the tax extenders bill, which passed the House yesterday and the Senate today, contains her bill to permanently restore parity between pre-tax commuter transit and parking benefits, both of which will be $255 per month. Nortons bill should help alleviate the dramatic reduction in transit system ridership here and across the country, including a 5% decrease in Metrorail commuters in the national capital region, which occurred after commuter transit benefits decreased by nearly 50% at the end of 2013.\nPermanently closing this indefensible gap between tax benefits for parking and for riding transit could be something of a lifeline for Metro against a massive drop in transit ridership, Norton said. Increasing ridership, not fares, is the ultimate solution for Metrorails financial woes. I look forward to seeing more of our regions riders taking advantage of the increased pre-tax commuter transit benefits and once again riding Metro.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-works-to-get-expanded-identity-coverage-for-federal-employees", "Norton Works to Get Expanded Identity Coverage for Federal Employees Impacted By OPM Data in Omnibus Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, worked to get expanded identity theft coverage for current, former and prospective federal employees whose personal information was compromised by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breaches. Nortons bill, the RECOVER Act, which she sponsored with Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), seeks free lifetime coverage for credit monitoring and identity theft protection. OPM had originally offered only 18 months of free credit monitoring and $1 million in identity theft coverage to individuals whose sensitive data and personnel records were compromised. Norton has not gotten lifetime coverage yet, but she got appropriators to expand the identity theft protection coverage for 10 years and increase identity theft insurance from $1 million to $5 million.\nIts gratifying that we are getting closer to the lifetime identity theft protection coverage that federal employees deserve, but we arent there yet, Norton said. It pays for the OPM hackers to bide their time and simply outwait the proposed 10-year period before making their move. Much of the OPM data that was stolen is permanent personal information that cannot be changed easily or at alllike birthdates, fingerprints, and social security numbers. Worse, the hackers also have information on spouses, children, and other relatives of affected federal employees. By pressing OPM, we have improved coverage for those affected, but we do not intend to stop short of full protection.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/as-climate-change-increases-frequency-and-strength-of-natural-disasters", "As Climate Change Increases Frequency and Strength of Natural Disasters, Norton Introduces Bill to Create FEMA-Led Team to Help States and Localities Utilize Full Range of Federal Disaster Recovery Resources", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. In the wake of the historic Paris climate accord reached this past weekend, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that, since climate change is already underway, fueling unprecedented weather patterns and rising waters, the federal government must do more to help states and localities prepare for and cope with natural disasters. Therefore, Norton today introduced the FEMA Help and Education for Local Partners Act (FEMA HELP Act) to create a federal multi-agency team, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to provide coordinated disaster assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. She wrote her bill as a result of her experience on the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management and FEMAs experience with the states following Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Today, the federal government offers states and localities a wide range of federal funding across many agencies and programs that can be used during and in the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. However, Norton said that, currently, there is no comprehensive information available to states and local governments about the various federal disaster assistance programs. Nortons bill requires FEMA to convene and manage multi-agency federal teams to work with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to implement more immediate and comprehensive approaches to recovery, make information rapidly available about the full range of federal funding resources across agencies and programs, and require FEMAs coordinating officers be trained in the range of applicable funding programs. Norton said her bill is increasingly necessary as the number and costs of federal disasters have dramatically increased over the past three decades. For example, total damages from 1972s Hurricane Agnes were $2.1 billion, 1999s Hurricane Floyd caused $6 billion in damage, while 2012s Hurricane Sandy resulted in more than $65 billion in total damage and 2005s Hurricane Katrina caused more than $108 billion in total damage.\nWe cannot continue to ignore the escalating frequency and costs of natural disasters to human life and to the budget, Norton said. The consolidated federal disaster assistance information afforded by my bill is dictated by actual experience. In the midst of disasters, states and localities should not have to do a search of government websites to find critical information. My bill would centralize information about federal disaster assistance programs and direct FEMA to preemptively coordinate with states and local governments before disasters occur.\nNortons full introductory statement is below.\nStatement of the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton on\n\tIntroduction of the FEMA Help and Education for Local Partners Act\nDecember 17, 2015\nMs. Norton. Mr. Speaker,\nI rise to introduce the FEMA Help and Education for Local Partners Act (FEMA HELP Act). The bill addresses concerns raised by states and local governments about the lack of comprehensive information about the various federal assistance programs available during and in the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. The bill creates a federal multi-agency team, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to provide coordinated assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders in implementing a comprehensive approach to recovery and utilizing the full range of federal resources across agencies and programs.\nThe number and costs of federally declared disasters has been on the rise over the last 30 years. For example, total damages from 1972s Hurricane Agnes were $2.1 billion, 1999s Hurricane Floyd caused $6 billion in damage, while Hurricane Sandy resulted in $65 billion in total damage. With the multiple disaster assistance programs offered by federal agencies in the aftermath of a disaster, the federal government needs to work together with state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders to provide the right types of aid on time to meet critical needs. At a recent Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management roundtable, a state representative suggested that the federal government provide a menu or resources so that state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders and their residents can look for government resources in one place.\nTo address the current lack of coordination, the FEMA HELP Act is designed to require federal agencies to work together in a collaborative manner with state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders and provide them with guidance on federal assistance programs. To accomplish this aim, the bill directs FEMA to convene and manage multi-agency federal teams to work with and provide coordinated assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders in implementing a comprehensive approach to recovery and utilizing the full range of federal funding resources across agencies and programs. The bill also requires FEMAs coordinating officers be trained in the range of applicable funding programs. The multi-agency federal team would include FEMA, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The bill also directs FEMA to create a clear and consistent set of guidelines and criteria for making and communicating decisions on funding eligibility and requirements. To retain institutional knowledge, the bill requires federal teams to minimize staff transitions and ensure there is adequate information transfer when staff transitions occur.\nI urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dc-children-at-capitol-for-united-planning-organization-s-annual-holiday", "D.C. Children at Capitol for United Planning Organizations Annual Holiday Event, Today", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will attend the United Planning Organization Annual Capitol Hill Holiday event for underprivileged children at the Capitol today, Thursday, December 17, 2015, from 11:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m., in 345 Cannon House Office Building. At this festive event, Norton will talk to the children about their special relationship to Congress and the efforts to win equal rights for District of Columbia residents by becoming the 51st State. Norton will also greet Santa and Mrs. Claus, who have come to this event bearing gifts for the children ever since Norton has served in Congress.\nWe often welcome our residents, particularly our children, to the Capitol, where our work has a uniquely direct impact on their daily lives, because all of D.C.s local business passes through Congress, Norton said. We look forward to joining other Members of Congress today who have helped us with our work for equal rights for D.C., to welcome our children, enrich their experience, and answer questions.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-legislation-condemning-ant-muslim-bigotry", "House Democrats Introduce Legislation Condemning Anti-Muslim Bigotry", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Following weeks of anti-Muslim bigotry and acts of hatred, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) joined Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Mike Honda (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Andr Carson (D-IN), along with 63 original cosponsors, to introduce legislation condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslim-Americans.\nAs we see many Americans expressing their fears, their leaders at every level have a special obligation to lead, Congresswoman Norton said. The concerns of the American people about terrorism in civil society after Paris and San Bernardino are understandable, but embracing Islamophobia as a way to cope with those fears is not only unacceptable, but dangerous. The main purpose of terrorism is to provoke division. Terrorists lose when, instead, we embrace our Muslim brothers and sisters.\nWe must show that we will not tolerate this anti-Muslim discrimination and that those who propagate it do not represent the melting-pot America that we celebrate, said Rep. Don Beyer. These harmful words eventually lead to the very acts of violence many came to our country to escape in the first place. Its time Congress stood up to condemn these attacks which run contrary to American values.\nAmericas highest ideals include our protections for religious liberty and the celebration of our differences. It is a mistake to lump millions of peaceful, liberty-loving Muslim Americans together with the brutal zealots who are working continuously to hijack their faith, said Rep. Marcy Kaptur. Anti-Muslim speeches and statements only serve to divide us and pit Americans against one another. Bigotry and the violence it perpetrates are not worthy of the legacy of generations who have fought and sacrificed to make America the nation that it is today.\n\"The despicable rhetoric and violence on American Muslims is reprehensible and goes against everything this country stands for. Whether its a bomb threat on a mosque, a child bullied on a bus, or a slur painted on a building, hate is hate. And, each and every one of us has a duty as an American to speak out against discrimination and intolerance,\" said Rep. Joe Crowley, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus. \"I'm proud to join Congressman Beyer and my colleagues in introducing this resolution that sends a powerful message that the Congress stands behind our Muslim American communities and firmly against hate and intolerance.\"\nMuslim Americans are our friends, neighbors and colleagues. Anti-Muslim rhetoric from our nations political candidates has damaging consequences for the lives of Muslim Americans, said Rep. Betty McCollum. As elected officials, we must work to foster respect, civility and dignity towards all Americans and ensure that no citizen of our nation is persecuted or targeted because of their religious beliefs.\nWe must do everything we can to fight terrorism on all fronts, but we must take care not to give into bigotry, hate speech or tolerate hate crimes. Hateful rhetoric has real consequences. Every day, Muslim students, leaders and community members are threatened with violenceand some have been the victims of hate crimes, said Rep. Mike Honda. Our country is better than this; we are a multiethnic, multi-religious, multicultural nation. Our diversity is what gives us strengthtogether with our respect for the Constitution, rule of law and the ideals of freedom that unites us. It is the responsibility of all to reject discrimination. I urge my colleagues in the House to support this resolution.\nThe United States was built by the belief in liberty, freedom, and equality for every person. These are the values we hold most dear  the truths we hold to be self-evident. When elected officials and political leaders build their platforms on hatred and bigotry, they do so at our countrys expense, said Rep. Keith Ellison. Their rhetoric is not merely ignorant  its dangerous. And it is fundamentally un-American. Scapegoating a religious community shouldnt be part of a candidates stump speech. Not in this country. This bill is a reminder to Americans of all faiths: the demagogues do not speak for everyone. That is not who we are.\nThe First Amendment safeguards our freedom to practice our faiths freely, but it does not give any person the right to cite religion in order to justify intolerance toward their fellow Americans, said Rep. Andr Carson. This holds true whether the victim of such intolerance is gay or straight, black or white, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or the member of any group. Discrimination in any form is never acceptable anywhere in our country, which is why I am proud to help introduce this resolution which will help bring more attention to the harmful and ignorant acts that have been directed at Muslim Americans for far too long.\nThe text of the House Resolution denouncing hate speech and hate crimes against Muslim-Americans follows:\nCondemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States.\nWhereas the victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes and rhetoric have faced physical, verbal, and emotional abuse because they were Muslim or believed to be Muslim;\nWhereas the constitutional right to freedom of religious practice is a cherished American value and violence or hate speech towards any American community based on their faith is in contravention of our founding principles;\nWhereas there are millions of Muslims in the United States, a community made up of many diverse beliefs and cultures, and both immigrants and native-born Americans;\nWhereas this Muslim community is recognized as having made innumerable contributions to the cultural and economic fabric and well-being of American society;\nWhereas hateful and intolerant acts against Muslims are contrary to the American values of acceptance, welcoming, and fellowship with those of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures;\nWhereas these acts affect not only the individual victims but also their families, communities, and the entire group whose faith or beliefs were the motivation for the act;\nWhereas Muslim women who wear hijabs, headscarves, or other religious articles of clothing have been disproportionately targeted because of their religious clothing, articles, or observances;\nWhereas the rise of hateful and anti-Muslim speech, violence, and cultural ignorance plays into the false narrative spread by terrorist groups of Western hatred of Islam, and can encourage certain individuals to react in extreme and violent ways;\nResolved, That the House of Representatives\n(1) Expresses its condolences for the victims of anti-Muslim hate crimes;\n(2) Steadfastly confirms its dedication to the rights and dignity of all its citizens of all faiths, beliefs, and cultures;\n(3) Denounces in the strongest terms the increase of intimidation, violence, vandalism, arson, and other hate crimes targeted against mosques, Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim;\n(4) Recognizes that the Muslim community in the United States has made countless positive contributions to our society;\n(5) Declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of all United States citizens, including Muslims in the United States, should be protected and preserved;\n(6) Urges local and Federal law enforcement authorities to work to prevent hate crimes; and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those perpetrators of hate crimes; and\n(7) Reaffirms the inalienable right of every citizen to live without fear and intimidation, and to practice their freedom of faith.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-record-funding-for-dctag-and-other-dc-priorities-prevents", "Norton Gets Record Funding for DCTAG and Other D.C. Priorities, Prevents New Social Riders, Despite First Republican-Controlled Congress in Eight Years", "2015-12-16", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the fiscal year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill, released today, is a major victory for the District of Columbia, containing a record $40 million for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG), which is an increase of $10 million from last years level, has no new anti-home-rule riders, exempts D.C. from a shutdown in fiscal year 2017, provides the full $150 million for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) capital improvements, gives full funding to the Congresswomans major economic development project: the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) complex at St. Elizabeths in Ward 8, addresses airplane noise, contains her amendment to combat racial profiling, permits sledding on Capitol Hill, and provides other critical funding for the District that she requested.\nRecord Funding for DCTAG\nThe most gratifying result for Norton was securing $40 million for her major education initiative, DCTAG, $10 million more than the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, $10 million more than the Senate had proposed, and $20 million more than the House had proposed. The only disappointment for Norton was that the bill imposes new means testing for DCTAG. The new level is $750,000, although she negotiated that up from the $450,000 means testing that had been proposed by the President and the Senate. For students who begin college in or after school year 2016-2017, those in families with taxable annual income of less than $750,000 would be eligible for DCTAG.\nD.C. Exempt from Shutdown\nNorton got appropriators to include her provision to prevent the District government from shutting down if the federal government shuts down in fiscal year 2017. This is the third straight year Norton has gotten D.C. exempt from shutdowns for a full fiscal year. The consistency of this provision encourages Norton to believe that she should keep trying to achieve her permanent shutdown exemption bill.\nD.C. Budget Autonomy Referendum Preserved\nNorton was successful again for the second straight year in keeping the omnibus from overturning D.C.s budget autonomy referendum, which was approved by D.C. voters in 2013.\nNo New D.C. Social Riders; RHNDA Rider Kept Out\nNorton kept any new D.C. social riders from being included in the omnibus bill, but the omnibus does include the same riders that were enacted in fiscal year 2015, and prohibits D.C. from spending its local funds on abortions for low-income women and on commercializing marijuana. She successfully fought to keep out the rider that was included in the House D.C. appropriations bill that would have prohibited D.C. from using its local funds to enforce the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA), which the House voted to overturn through a disapproval resolution earlier this year, the first such vote to overturn a D.C. law in almost 25 years. RHNDA bars discrimination against employees, their spouses and dependents based on their reproductive health decisions.\nFull Funding for WMATA Capital Improvements\nThe omnibus provides the full $150 million in annual federal funding to WMATA, the seventh straight installment of full funding for WMATA of the $1.5 billion over 10 years for capital improvements authorized in the 2008 Rail Safety Improvement Act. Norton, the ranking member of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over transit, fought to get the funding restored after the House proposed cutting WMATAs annual funding by $50 million.\nThe Department of Homeland Security Complex at St. Elizabeths in Ward 8\nNorton secured $556.7 million for DHS consolidation at St. Elizabeths in Ward 8, which ensures that the project is on its way to completion after years of delay. The funding directs $341 million for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and $215,679,000 for DHS. Norton was able to get the full requested amount despite the Senates proposal to fund only the DHS portion, and the House proposal to fund neither. This funding ensures the completion of structures around the Center building complex, which will house the DHS secretary and top DHS officials.\nOther D.C. Priorities\nNorton got an extra $5 million to combat HIV/AIDS in D.C., equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, equal to the amounts proposed in the House and Senate, and the same amount as and the presidents fiscal year 2016 budget request. D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) is funded at $14 million for ongoing work to control flooding in the city and clean up the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek, equal to the fiscal year 2015 enacted level and the Senate proposed amount, and $10 million below the presidents fiscal year 2016 request, but is still a major victory considering the proposed House bill did not provide any funding for DC Water. The bill provides $435,000 for the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program for tuition for D.C. National Guard soldiers, which is the same amount as the fiscal year 2015 enacted level, the Senate and House proposed amounts, and the presidents budget request.\nAirplane Noise\nNorton got language included in the omnibus to help address airplane noise that is hurting D.C. neighborhoods. The bill contains language to address the ongoing airplane noise issues being experienced by communities across the country. The bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take a more proactive role in engaging communities that are impacted by the new departure and arrival procedures that have been made to accommodate FAAs NextGen initiative, and the bill requires the FAA to update its community involvement manual and implementation plan and submit it to Congress.\nRacial Profiling\nThe omnibus includes Nortons House-passed amendment prohibiting the use of federal transportation funds to engage in unconstitutional profiling based on physical characteristics, such as race, in violation of the Fifth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Norton got the same amendment included in the fiscal year 2015 omnibus appropriations bill and intends to keep getting it included in annual appropriations bills. This amendment gives states a new mandate in federal law, or they risk losing federal funds to take action against racial profiling, which has been a major issue throughout the nation.\nCapitol Hill Sledding\nNorton got a win for D.C. families by successfully including language for non-enforcement of a law that prohibits sledding on Capitol Grounds. The provision was included in the report accompanying the omnibus bill.\nCareFirst Rider\nNorton expressed her disappointment that the bill includes an anti-home-rule rider (known as the CareFirst rider) that effectively blocks D.C. from enforcing a 2009 law that requires non-profit health insurance companies in D.C. (CareFirsts wholly owned subsidiary Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. (GHMSI) is the only one) to reinvest excessive surplus attributable to the District for public health or for the benefit of subscribers in D.C. The rider amends GHMSIs congressional charter to require the agreement of D.C., Maryland and Virginia before any of the jurisdictions may order GHMSI to dispose of surplus. Norton had been able to block the rider for years in the hope that the three jurisdictions would reach agreement among themselves. Norton did succeed in allowing any of the jurisdictions to order such disposition without the consent of the other jurisdictions for any surplus before 2012, thereby allowing D.C. to enforce, if it so chooses, the D.C. Insurance Commissioners order that GHMSI reinvest $56 million from its 2011 surplus.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-us-court-of-appeals-ruling-on-dc-concealed-carry-law-should", "Norton Says U.S. Court of Appeals Ruling on D.C. Concealed Carry Law Should Send Signal to Rand Paul to Stop Trying to Overturn D.C. Gun Safety Laws", "2015-12-15", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she was relieved, candidly, as expected, that a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated Judge Frederick J. Scullin Jr.s decisionthat D.C.s good reason requirement for issuing a concealed carry permit was unconstitutionalbecause the decision was outside his jurisdiction as a visiting judge. D.C.s carry requirements are similar to those that have been upheld by other federal circuit courts. Norton said todays decision once again demonstrates that D.C. gun safety laws should be left to the city and courts, not Congress, and should send a strong signal to Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to withdraw his extreme bill to overturn all of D.C.s gun safety laws.\nJudge Scullin is a federal district court judge from the Northern District of New York, but in 2011 was assigned to fill in as a visiting judge for the District Court for D.C. The Court of Appeals ruled that he did not have the authority to decide this particular case. Norton said the Court of Appeals decision demonstrates the need for federal district judges who serve D.C. to live within the city limits. Norton, who has senatorial courtesy to recommend federal district judges for D.C., has been able to get the President to nominate federal judges who reside here. However, they are not required to be D.C. residents under federal law. In contrast, judges in every other jurisdiction in the United Stateswith the exception of New York City, which is the only jurisdiction divided between two federal districtsare required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointed. Norton introduced a bill last month to require those federal officials serving D.C. to live in the city.\nTodays decision once again demonstrates that D.C.s gun safety laws should be left to D.C. or, if necessary, to the courts, not politically-motivated politicians running for President in need of raising their national profiles, Norton said. Rand Paul has not succeeded to overturn our gun safety laws in the Senate this year. However, his two desperate attempts to do so are another argument for D.C. statehood.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/as-search-for-new-librarian-of-congress-continues-norton-introduces-bill", "As Search for New Librarian of Congress Continues, Norton Introduces Bill to Place D.C. Seal with State Seals in the Library of Congress Main Reading Room", "2015-12-14", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.As the Library of Congress searches for a permanent Librarian of Congress, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) put equality for the District of Columbia on the new Librarians agenda by introducing a bill to require the Library of Congress to install the Districts seal in the stained-glass windows of the Thomas Jefferson Buildings Main Reading Room, which contains the seals of all states and territories that existed when the building was constructed, except for the District seal. Norton was first informed about the District seals omission by Luis Landau, a D.C. resident and former docent at the Library of Congress. Landau reported that the seals of the states, including some states that were territories at the time when the building was constructed, are depicted, except for the District. The only states currently unrepresented in the stained glass display are Hawaii and Alaska, but their state seals may eventually be added as part of a larger stained-glass restoration project. Norton said that the planned restoration should include the Districts seal, which should have been included in the Library from the beginning.\nIn her introductory statement for the bill, Norton said, There is existing evidence that the seal of the District should have been depicted. The Members of Congress room in the Jefferson Building, which is not open to the public, has a painted depiction of the D.C. seal, along with state seals, on its ceiling. This precedent reinforces our request to be represented among the stained-glass windows in the Main Reading Room, which is open to the public. There is no reason why the D.C. seal cannot be added with the planned restoration of the stained-glass. The right time to add the seal of the District would be during the planned restoration.\nNorton has successfully fought to correct many instances where D.C. residents were denied representation in fundamental symbols of American citizenship. In 2013, after a nearly 13-year legislative fight led by Norton, the Districts first-ever statue, depicting Frederick Douglass, was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol. In January 2013, the President signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which contained a provision Norton sought requiring the armed services to display the District of Columbia flag whenever the flags of the 50 states are displayed. In addition, Norton has succeeded in getting legislation enacted to give D.C. a coin after it was omitted from legislation creating coins for the 50 states. D.C.s Duke Ellington coin is in circulation today. Norton also successfully worked with the U.S. Postal Service to create a D.C. stamp, like the stamps for the 50 states. She also got the National Park Service to fly the D.C. flag alongside the state flags at Union Station.\nNortons full introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of a Bill to Require the Library of Congress to Install the D.C. Seal in the Main Reading Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building\nMs. Norton. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce a bill to require the Library of Congress to install the District of Columbia seal in the Main Reading Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. The Library is one of the few buildings in the District that remains open to the public on most holidays. It provides not only D.C. residents but visitors and researchers from across the nation with access to incomparable resources. The bill requires the Library to depict the Districts seal on the stained-glass windows in the Main Reading Room, where the seals of all the states and territories that existed when the building was constructed, except for the District, are depicted. D.C.s seal was readily available at that time and should have been included. The seals of Hawaii and Alaska are not included in the display because they were not states or territories when the building was constructed. The fact that these two states were not part of the Union at the time of the creation of the stained-glass windows argues for the inclusion of the District, which, after all, was in fact the nations capital at the time. We are asking that omission of D.C. be corrected immediately. This omission was brought to my attention by a District resident, Luis Landau, a former docent at the Library.\nThe residents of the District have always had all the obligations of American citizenship, including paying federal taxes and serving in all the nations wars, including the War of 1812, during which the Capitol building, which then housed the Library of Congress, was burned, prompting construction of the current Library of Congress building with the state and territory seals. It is, therefore, without question that the District and its residents should receive equal treatment among the stained-glass windows that portray the history of the United States. D.C. residents deserve to have their history and American citizenship recognized.\nThere is existing evidence that the seal of the District should have been depicted. The Members of Congress room in the Jefferson Building, which is not open to the public, has a painted depiction of the D.C. seal, along with state seals, on its ceiling. This precedent reinforces our request to be represented among the stained-glass windows in the Main Reading Room, which is open to the public. There is no reason why the D.C. seal cannot be added with the planned restoration of the stained-glass. The right time to add the seal of the District would be during the planned restoration.\nCongress already includes the District of Columbia, or has corrected the omission of the District, when honoring the states. For example, the District of Columbia War Memorial honors District residents who served in World War I, the World War II Memorial includes a column representing the District, the flag of the District is displayed among the flags of the fifty states in the tunnel connecting the House office buildings to the Capitol, and D.C.s Frederick Douglass statue now sits in the Capitol alongside statues from the 50 states. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 requires the armed services to display the District flag whenever the flags of the states are displayed. Legislation was also enacted to give D.C. a coin after it was omitted from legislation creating coins for the 50 states. We also successfully worked with the U.S. Postal Service to create a D.C. stamp, like the stamps for the 50 states, and worked with the National Park Service to add the D.C. flag alongside the state flags across from Union Station. It is long overdue to display the D.C. seal, along with the seals of the states, in the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress.\nI urge support of this legislation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-criticizes-national-zoo-leadership-for-changing-morning-hours", "Norton Criticizes National Zoo Leadership for Changing Morning Hours Before Residents Had Chance to Weigh In", "2015-12-11", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter she sent yesterday to National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly criticizing the zoos decision to change its morning hours, from opening the grounds at 6:00 a.m. to opening them at 8:00 a.m., without holding a public meeting beforehand. Norton said she has heard from many constituents who use the zoo grounds to exercise in the morning and who are outraged that a public meeting with the Woodley Park Community Association was held only after the decision to change the morning hours had been made.\nIn her letter, Norton wrote, Making decisions that affect the daily lives of District residents requires you to include them in that process, not simply make a unilateral decision and then attend a community meeting as an afterthought. The long experience of democracy is that such public participation before decisions are made yields better and less contentious outcomes. I ask that you respond to the residents pleas for a compromise and that you keep community input at the forefront of your decision-making process in the future.\nNortons full letter is below.\nDennis W. Kelly  \n\tDirector, National Zoo  \n\tSmithsonian Institution  \n\tP.O. Box 37012, MRC019  \n\tWashington, DC 20013\nDear Director Kelly:\nI write regarding the National Zoos decision to open its grounds to guests later in the morning. As you very well know, many zoo neighbors use the grounds in the early morning to walk, jog, or exercise. I understand that the Woodley Park Community Association recently held a public meeting with you to discuss these changes. That meeting should have been held by the National Zoo before it changed its hours. My staff was in attendance at the meeting, and I am told that many neighbors from Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant, Columbia Heights, and other areas of the District were dismayed to learn that the zoo was adjusting its hours and disrupting their early morning activities on zoo grounds. The zoo may have legitimate safety concerns as articulated at the meeting, but I will not have my constituents offered the opportunity to provide input only after the zoo has already made its decision. Informing residents of what you intend to do after the fact is autocratic, antidemocratic, and personally offensive to me as the congresswoman who represents the District.\nMaking decisions that affect the daily lives of District residents requires you to include them in that process, not simply make a unilateral decision and then attend a community meeting as an afterthought. The long experience of democracy is that such public participation before decisions are made yields better and less contentious outcomes. I ask that you respond to the residents pleas for a compromise and that you keep community input at the forefront of your decision-making process in the future.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\nCc: David Skorton, Secretary of the Smithsonian\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-cosponsors-silent-sky-act-to-help-reduce-airplane-noise-hurting", "Norton Cosponsors Silent Skies Act to Help Reduce Airplane Noise Hurting D.C. Neighborhoods", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.As part of her continued efforts to address debilitating airplane noise in District of Columbia neighborhoods, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today cosponsored the Silent Skies Act (H.R. 4171), introduced by Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Joseph Crowley (D-NY), which seeks to reduce airplane noise pollution by requiring airlines to begin stocking fleets with newer, quieter aircraft.\nI am heartened to see an increasing critical mass of jurisdictions joining the District of Columbia in insisting on mitigation of airplane noise, Norton said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has an obligation to take far greater steps to provide relief to communities across the country, like those here in the District, that are suffering from airplane noise pollution. Replacing old, noisy airplane engines with newer, quieter ones is a very important step.\nNorton has requested a congressional hearing to explore airplane noise and its impacts on residential communities in the District and across the nation. She also wrote to House and Senate appropriators to include in the upcoming Omnibus appropriations bill an amendment requiring the FAA to review and address community concerns about recent flight path changes that were made by the FAA without any public involvement. In May, Norton held a community meeting on airplane noise with residents in the Palisades, Foxhall, Georgetown, Hillandale and other impacted neighborhoods in the District and summoned representatives of the FAA and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to explain action it had taken or planned to take as residents expressed great frustration at an increase in air traffic activity during late nighttime and early morning hours.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-larsen-and-defazio-continue-push-for-pedestrian-and-bicyclist", "Norton, Larsen, and DeFazio Continue Push For Pedestrian And Bicyclist Safety", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC),CongressmanRick Larsen (D-WA)and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-DC) todaycalled for continued focus on improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety in response to the troubling increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities in recent years.\nThe Members released a report today from the Government Accountability Office, which they requested to investigate the trends and causes of accidents involving pedestrians and bicycles and to make recommendations about improving safety. Among its findings, the report indicates that modernizing road design could help improve safety for all road users. It also finds that state and local safety efforts for pedestrians and bicyclists are inconsistent and could benefit from a federal initiative to unify safety projects.\nMy city, the District of Columbia, has been a leader in designing and implementing transportation plans that encourage more pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Because D.C. has led in building bike lanes and trails, we are particularly appreciative of this GAO report, which recommends necessary steps to ensure safety for our pedestrians and cyclists. I was pleased we got increased funding for pedestrian and bicycle safety projects in our surface transportation reauthorization, but more needs to be done to reduce the unacceptable increase in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, Norton said.\nSidewalks, trails and bike lanes are critical to our transportation network, and the people who use them should be able to count on staying safe. I want to see rules from the Federal Highway Administration to encourage road design that improves safety for everyone, including the most vulnerable road users. The Obama administration recognizes the importance of this issue, with efforts like DOT's Safer People, Safer Streets initiative, but I want to see to more action that protects and encourages walkers and bikers, Larsen said.\nThis report will help local and state governments identify ways to reverse the increase in cyclist and pedestrian fatalities in recent years. It cites challenges to addressing pedestrian and cyclist safety, including insufficient funding and roadway design standards that are skewed towards motorists. Communities across the country are adopting policies to reduce the number of traffic deaths and injuries on city streets. Much more must be done in order to truly move toward zero deaths, but through the FAST Act Congress has provided a strong signal that cyclist and pedestrian safety is a priority, DeFazio said.\nA link to the full GAO report is available here.\nCongress recently passed the FAST Act, a five-year transportation authorization bill that increases funding for sidewalks, bike lanes and trails from $819 million per year to $850 million by 2020. Larsen pushed successfully to maintain this funding.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-tells-dc-s-abolition-story-at-capitol-commemoration-of-150th", "Norton Tells D.C.s Abolition Story at Capitol Commemoration of 150th Anniversary of 13th Amendments Ratification", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today was one of the six House Members, along with House and Senate leadership, selected to offer readings at the Capitol Visitor Centers Emancipation Hall to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery in the United States. In her reading, Norton told the story of the District of Columbias own journey to emancipation. Norton did not miss the opportunity to alter the prepared transcript ever so slightly to highlight the Districts struggle for statehood.\nA transcript of Nortons remarks is below. Nortons remarks can be viewed here.\nWhile the District of Columbia was not a stateand still is not the state it strives to beand therefore was not involved in the ratification process, the District has its own story of abolition.\nDuring the Civil War, President Lincoln encouraged southern states to abolish slavery and offered monetary reimbursement to slaveholders if they complied. None agreed.\nDuring the Civil War, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, a vocal abolitionist, asked President Lincoln: Do you know who is, at this moment, the largest slaveholder in the United States? Sumner informed Lincoln that he was the largest slaveholder because the President holds all the slaves in the District of Columbia.\nIn December 1861, Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson introduced a bill to end slavery in the District of Columbia. Despite considerable opposition from slaveholding Congressmen, the bill passed. President Lincoln signed the legislation on April 16, 1862, almost a year before the Emancipation Proclamation, thus ending slavery in the District of Columbia.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-blasts-house-republicans-for-propping-up-coal-industry-which-is", "Norton Blasts House Republicans for Propping up Coal Industry, Which is Poisoning Americans While Losing Competition to Other Forms of Energy", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today, at an Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) hearing, criticized Republicans for putting all of their energy into protecting a dying coal mining industry unable to survive in todays energy competition, even in the face of devastating statistics on harmful health effects and water contamination caused by coal mining. During the hearing, Republicans unanimously opposed the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcements proposed Stream Protection Rule, which would better protect the environment, as well as humans, from the harmful impacts of coal mining. Norton cited recent peer reviewed studies that indicate that people living near the sites of mountaintop removal coal mining are 50 percent more likely to die of cancer and are 42 percent more likely to be born with defects. Norton said that Republican Members who represent these Americans are defending the very industry that is harming them, while doing nothing to help these communities build new economic sectors.\nEven if the health impacts of coal mining were not so devastating, it is incomprehensible that Republican Members would protect the coal industry as it is becoming noncompetitive, and certainly not because of regulations that protect streams, fish, wildlife, and related environmental values, Norton said. The free market that Republicans revere has led to competition from other sources of energy, which have made coal mining an obsolete industry of the 19th and 20th centuries. These communities are desperately in need of jobs. However, trying to save jobs from a fading industry that is sickening their constituents and poisoning their water wastes energy that should be directed toward creating jobs in new areas, such as other energy industries, for the communities that are most impacted.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-dedication-of-medstar-georgetown-university-hospital", "Norton to Speak at Dedication of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, Today", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will help cut the ribbon of the newest MedStar Georgetown University Hospital KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile today, Tuesday, December 7, 2015, at 12:00 p.m., at King Greenleaf Recreation Center (201 N St. SW). The dedication of the new mobile clinic will be followed by a toy drive. Since 1992, the KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic has provided underserved children and adolescents in the District of Columbia with quality pediatric health care services.\nI am grateful to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for working with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C. to deliver critical pediatric health care services to children that need them most, Norton said. Every child, regardless of income or circumstance, deserves quality health care. I look forward to seeing this newest KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic setting up shop in neighborhoods across the District.\nNorton announced that on Thursday, December 17, her office, in conjunction with the United Planning Organization, will welcome a group of students for a Capitol Hill tour.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-tonight-with-lamond-riggs-citizens", "Norton in Your Neighborhood Tonight with Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association to Focus on President Obamas Address on Terrorism, D.C. Priorities in Transportation Bill, Defending D.C.s Gun Safety Laws, Synthetic Drugs, and Statehood", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Norton in Your Neighborhood community conversation with the Lamond-Riggs Citizens Association tonight, December 7, 2015, from 8:00 p.m.  9:00 p.m., at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus (501 Riggs Rd. NE). Norton will engage Lamond-Riggs-area and other District of Columbia residents in a discussion on President Obamas national address on keeping the American people safe, her role in getting increased funding and other priorities for D.C. in the recently passed surface transportation bill, defending D.C.s gun safety laws from being overturned, strengthening federal law to combat synthetic drugs, the record number of House and Senate original cosponsors for her statehood bill, and other congressional issues of interest to the community. Mayor Muriel Bowser will also be present at this evenings community meeting.\nThese neighborhood meetings allow me the best opportunity hear directly from my constituents about the issues that matter most to them in a free-flowing discussion, Norton said. I look forward to seeing residents turn out this evening and make their voices heard.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-supreme-court-decision-not-to-take-up-challenge-to-chicago", "Norton Says Supreme Court Decision Not to Take Up Challenge to Chicago Suburbs Assault Weapons Ban Will Help Her Defend D.C.s Assault Weapons Ban as Rand Paul Bill to Eliminate D.C. Gun Safety Laws Gets Placed on Senate Calendar", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the Supreme Courts refusal today to consider a challenge to a Chicago suburbs ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines will help her defend the District of Columbias similar ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines, particularly in light of Senator Rand Pauls (R-KY) bill to eliminate D.C.s gun safety laws today being placed on the Senate calendar, which can be scheduled for floor time at any time by the Majority Leader. Last week, Norton was able to work with her Senate Democratic allies, who resoundingly rejected Senator Pauls first attempt to overturn the Districts gun laws as an amendment to the Republican budget reconciliation bill. Norton said she is working with her Democratic Senate allies to again defeat this latest assault on the Districts right to self-government. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has previously upheld the Districts ban on assault weapons and on large capacity magazines. The D.C. Council today sent a letter, signed by all 13 councilmembers, to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opposing any further consideration of Pauls bill.\nThe San Bernardino terrorist killings shows what lifting the citys ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines could do in the nations capital, Norton said. American citizens were sprayed with ammunition from guns used in the theater of war. So soon after the San Bernardino massacre, you would think Senator Paul would hesitate before introducing this extreme bill to overturn our citys gun laws. Our residents, high-ranking officials, and the 20 million annual visitors to the District deserve better.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-urges-appropriators-to-include-senate-passed-provision-expanded", "Norton Urges Appropriators to Include Senate-Passed Provision, Expanded to Include D.C. and Other Areas, to Strengthen Protections Against Airplane Noise in Final Spending Bill", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior Member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today released a letter she wrote to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriation Subcommittees with jurisdiction over aviation in a renewed effort to address late night and early morning airplane noise in the Palisades, Foxhall, other District of Columbia neighborhoods, and communities across the country. Norton urged them to include in the upcoming Omnibus appropriations bill an amendment introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to the fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill and passed unanimously in the Senate last month. The McCain-Flake amendment would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review and address community concerns about recent flight path changes that were made by the FAA without any public involvement. Based on town meetings and other evidence from D.C.s Wards 2 and 3, Norton requested that the McCain-Flake amendment be expanded to include reviews of Environmental Assessment Findings of No Significant Impacts, made by the FAA administrator over the last few years, because they too did not adequately evaluate human impacts like the airplane noise effects from the new flight paths at Reagan National Airport.\nIn conversations with colleagues, I have learned that airplane noise is not a D.C.-only issue, Norton said. Many communities across the country, like those here in the District, are suffering from new and outrageous airplane noise during sleeping hours as a result of the FAAs new NextGen flight paths. The amendment introduced by my Republican colleagues is only the latest of several different ways I am trying to close in on airplane noise. New NextGen flight paths have been touted for upgrading the speed and safety of air travel. FAA has been in the air while ignoring communities on the ground. With more attention about the effects on communities on the ground, FAA also can ensure that airplane noise for communities across the U.S. is not the tradeoff. Airplane noise has harmful environmental and human impacts. If the FAA starts giving the requisite attention to the increasing evidence of unacceptable airplane noise when developing new flight paths, FAA will be successful. The agency should review all NextGen flight paths that were developed without a full environmental review.\nNorton also has requested a congressional hearing to explore airplane noise and its impacts on residential communities in the District and across the nation. In May, Norton held a community meeting on airplane noise with residents in the Palisades, Foxhall, Georgetown, Hillandale and other impacted neighborhoods in the District and summoned representatives of the FAA and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to explain action it had taken or planned to take as residents expressed great frustration at an increase in air traffic activity during late nighttime and early morning hours.\nNortons full letter is below.\nHonorable Susan Collins  \n\tChairman  \n\tSenate Appropriations Committee  \n\tTransportation, Housing and Urban    \n\t Development Subcommittee  \n\tRoom S-128, The Capitol  \n\tWashington, DC 20510\nHonorable Jack Reed  \n\tRanking Member  \n\tSenate Appropriations Committee  \n\tTransportation, Housing and Urban  \n\t Development Subcommittee  \n\tRoom S-128, The Capitol  \n\tWashington, DC 20510\nHonorable Mario Diaz-Balart  \n\tChairman  \n\tHouse Appropriations Committee  \n\tTransportation, Housing and Urban  \n\t Development Subcommittee  \n\t2358-A Rayburn House Office Building  \n\tWashington, DC 20515\nHonorable David Price  \n\tRanking Member  \n\tHouse Appropriations Committee  \n\tTransportation, Housing and Urban  \n\t Development Subcommittee  \n\t1016 Longworth House Office Building  \n\tWashington, DC 20515\nDear Chairmen Collins and Diaz-Balart and Ranking Members Reed and Price:\nAs you develop the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, I write in support of the McCain/Flake amendment that was unanimously agreed to in the Senate to the fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill, which was unanimously agreed to last month on the floor, requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to review Categorical Exclusions, and I am requesting that the language be expanded to also include Environmental Assessment Findings of No Significant Impact.\nCommunities across the country have been suffering from unprecedented of concentrations of noise caused by flight paths that have been changed to accommodate NextGen. The consequences felt by residents in Phoenix, which the McCain/Flake amendment addresses, are mirrored throughout the country in cities like San Jose and the District of Columbia. However, for many new flight paths, the FAA claimed a Categorical Exclusion to avoid environmental review or pursued an Environmental Assessment and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact that did not adequately take into account the harmful environmental and human impacts of these flight paths.\nIt is my understanding that the FAA has used Categorical Exclusions for single airports and Environmental Assessments for Metroplexes. However, the McCain/Flake Amendment deals solely with Categorical Exclusions. Therefore, I am requesting that the McCain/Flake amendment be included in the omnibus and that it be expanded to include reviews of Environmental Assessment Findings of No Significant Impacts made by the FAA administrator. Draft language is enclosed.\nThank you for your consideration. I look forward to working with you on this critical issue.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-attending-friday-prayer-services-norton-calls-for-americans-to", "After Attending Friday Prayer Services, Norton Calls for Americans to Stand in Solidarity with Muslim Americans", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today gave remarks at a press conference after attending prayer services at Dar Al-Hijrah, a local Northern Virginia Mosque, to show her support for Muslim Americans in the wake of rising Islamophobia and attacks against Muslim communities and mosques.\nNortons full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.\nOne might ask what a small band of Members of Congress can do to counter indiscriminate bigotry against Muslim Americans. After all, 31 governors  more than half in the governors in the United States  have declared Syrian refugees to be persona non grata, even though those who survive the grueling, exhaustive federal vetting process are mostly children and women, and others with family members already here.\nWhat can we do when the loudest voices preaching Islamophobia are amplified daily? The three of us would have to concede not much, although we know of many more Members who would have joined us today had Congress not adjourned yesterday, and many are attending services at mosques in their home districts.\nStill, the question remains what can we do about the irrationally negative views of Islam and Muslims that have grown since 9/11 until today, when Americans with negative opinions about Islam have doubled in number.\nI am not at all sure, but I know what it means to belong to a minority group, and I know we must not leave Muslims, who are only about 3% of the American population, alone. We in the Congress represent millions of Americans, who would join us in saying Muslim Americans and refugees are not alone. Moreover, there is evidence in recently passed law that speaks for the American people to show that Muslims in our country are not alone.\nI have gotten two profiling provisions through the Congress that I believe speak for the American people. Just yesterday, my provision was included in the Surface Transportation reauthorization providing annual grant funding for states to collect profiling data. A prior provision that was more comprehensive resulted in grants for half of the states. Today, 30 states have anti-profiling laws. In June, my anti profiling amendment barring the use of federal funds by police to stop people on federally funded highways based on physical attributes was passed unanimously on the House floor as part of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriation. I also got this same amendment included in last years appropriation. Because appropriation bills and language last for only one year, I have had to introduce this profiling language annually. Now, to make the provision permanent, I have written to the Department of Transportation asking the agency to draft permanent regulations based on the congressionally passed profiling amendment.\nThe police may know of these profiling laws, but most Americans today know more about anti-Muslim rhetoric. It will take more than laws to stem the bigotry that brings us to this mosque today. American anti-Muslim rhetoric is marketed here and worldwide as a central ingredient of ISILs recruiting efforts. Showing solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters is the best defense for all of us.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/in-solidarity-with-american-muslims-norton-to-attend-prayer-services-at", "In Solidarity with American Muslims, Norton to Attend Prayer Services at Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, Today", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Nearly two weeks after a local Northern Virginia Mosque, Dar Al-Hijrah, was attacked with Molotov cocktails and a hoax bomb, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will show her solidarity and support for the American Muslim community by joining Members of Congress in participating in prayer services today, Friday, December 4, 2015, at Dar Al-Hijrah (159 Row Street, Falls Church, VA), at 12:15 p.m.\nThe rising tide of Islamophobia in our nation is deeply disturbing and must be taken on, Norton said. Americans of every religion and background have a moral obligation to find their own way to support our Muslim brothers and sisters here in this region and across the country. Today, this is our way.\nMembers of Congress will join Imam Johari Abdul-Malik to speak with reporters and the public after the service at 1:00 p.m.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-blasts-senator-paul-for-doubling-down-against-his-own-principles", "Norton Blasts Senator Paul for Doubling Down Against His Own Principles in Another Effort to Eliminate D.C.s Gun Safety Laws", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that after Senator Rand Pauls (R-KY) attempt to eliminate the District of Columbias gun safety laws was resoundingly defeated last night by a vote of 54-45, Paul is now shamefully resorting to procedural gimmicks to try to expedite consideration of his extreme D.C. gun bill. After his amendment failed last night, he began the Rule XIV process of placing his bill directly on the Senate calendar, allowing it to skip committee consideration and be brought directly to the floor by the Majority Leader. Norton said it will be lost on no one that Pauls desperation to keep treading on the Districts local democratic rights is tied directly to his flagging presidential campaign. Norton said Paul has tried to grab even more attention by adding several national provisions to allow guns on secure locations, such as military installations and some federal property.\nSenator Rand Pauls hypocrisy apparently knows no bounds as he uses every trick in the book to have the federal government trample on the Districts local rights, Norton said. Pauls bill not only turns its back on his local control principles, but it would effectively turn the nations capital into the Wild West at a time when mass shootings are occurring across the country. Senator Pauls desperate actions show he has turned to using his senatorial powers as an extension of his presidential campaign. I am confident that our Democratic allies in the Senate will once again reject this latest assault on the Districts right to self-government.\nPauls bill contains the following provisions overturning D.C.s gun safety laws: allows assault weapons; allows large capacity magazines; makes D.C. a shall issue concealed carry jurisdiction that must recognize out-of-state carry licenses; allows private sales and transfers without background checks; contains no waiting period to purchase; does not limit the number of guns that may be purchased; eliminates registration requirements; the only prohibited possessors would be those prohibited under federal law or by court order; a D.C. or out-of-state licensee may carry anywhere in D.C. except where a commercial or residential property owner prohibits possession or in a D.C. government building with certain security features, but no property owner may prohibit a lessee from possessing on the property; creates an exception to the federal Gun Free School Zones Act to permit an out-of-state licensee to carry in D.C. schools; and D.C. may not pass gun laws in the future beyond those in federal law.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-asks-officials-about-federal-efforts-on-synthetic-drugs-and", "Norton Asks Officials About Federal Efforts on Synthetic Drugs and Increased Funding for Drug Prevention and Treatment", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sought answers on synthetic drugs at an Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing yesterday from Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Michael Botticelli and other federal officials and about available drug treatment and prevention programs, following her roundtable on Tuesday night featuring federal inmates returning to the District of Columbia after the U.S. Sentencing Commission reduced drug trafficking mandatory minimum sentences. Most of the returning D.C. citizens who testified explained how their drug trafficking activities were preceded by drug addiction. Director Botticelli said ONDCP had been limited in its drug prevention efforts due to a 5% funding cap for those programs included in ONDCPs last reauthorization, and ONDCP was barred from using any resources for treatment programs. In ONDCPs proposed reauthorization, officials have asked for that cap to be increased to 10% for prevention efforts and to have a 10% cap created for treatment efforts. Norton stressed that reaching people before their drug addiction leads to drug trafficking could reduce the need for ONDCPs major law enforcements mission.\nNorton also asked Director Botticelli about his agencys efforts to combat synthetic drugs, particularly in the District, where synthetic drug use has quickly risen and posed significant public safety and health problems. The Office of the D.C. Attorney General recently released a report indicating that, in October alone, emergency services were called 580 timesmore than 18 times a dayto respond to cases involving synthetic drugs. In September, D.C. and federal law enforcement conducted its largest ever synthetic drug bust, seizing 250 pounds of drugs worth more than $2.3 million. Director Botticelli said ONDCPs main challenge in combating synthetic drugs, unlike traditional drugs such as crack and heroin, is that manufacturers deliberately and regularly change the chemical composition of synthetic drugs. Director Botticelli said stronger legislation is needed from Congress. This year, Norton cosponsored two bipartisan bills to combat synthetic drugs as part of her efforts to address a spike in synthetic drug use in the District and the nation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-blasts-senator-paul-for-latest-failed-attempt-to-wipe-out-dc-s", "Norton Blasts Senator Paul for Latest Failed Attempt to Wipe Out D.C.s Gun Safety Laws", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today blasted Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) for introducing his bill to eliminate the District of Columbias gun safety laws as an amendment to the Senates budget reconciliation bill, particularly the day after the San Bernardino shooting massacre that left 14 Americans dead. The amendment failed, however, as Senate Democrats rallied to defeat it, with all but one Democratic Senator voting against it. Norton said Paul once again shamefully threw his libertarian principles out the window by interfering with the Districts right to self-government in a last-ditch effort to raise his national profile as he runs for president. Norton said she was not surprised that the amendment failed, particularly because the amendment showcased Pauls extremism by not only wiping out D.C.s gun safety laws, but also containing several national gun provisions: concealed carry reciprocity; permitting guns on military installations; carry by military personnel; carry on non-sensitive federal property; and permitting interstate handgun purchases.\nSenator Rand Paul has sacrificed his federalism principles and the democratic rights of 650,000 D.C. residents for political and personal gain, Norton said. By bullying a local jurisdiction with the big foot of the federal government, Senator Paul demonstrated he is anything but presidential. His amendment would have endangered D.C. residents, millions of visitors to the nations capital, high-ranking government officials, and foreign dignitaries from all over the world that frequent our streets. After yet another mass shooting yesterday left the nation in mourning, the last thing we should be doing is eliminating gun safety laws. I thank my Democratic allies in the Senate for defeating Pauls amendment.\nThe Republican budget reconciliation bill, which the Senate is expected to pass, also defunds the Affordable Care Act and Planned Parenthood, and President Obama has said he will veto this legislation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-extra-transit-road-and-bridge-funds-for-dc-and-the-nation-in", "Norton Gets Extra Transit, Road, and Bridge Funds for D.C. and the Nation in New Surface Transportation Bill Passed By House, Today", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, today spoke on the House floor before passage of the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill. The FAST Act provides the District of Columbia with an additional $193.5 million in transit formula funding and an additional $75 million in highway formula funding over current funding.\nIn her floor remarks, Norton used D.C.s H Street Bridge as a symbol of what the FAST Act will do for D.C. and other jurisdictions across the country, not only for transportation and infrastructure, but also for economic development. Norton got funds in the FAST Act that can be used for the H Street Bridge, which leads to every form of transportation. The DC Streetcar, both intercity and WMATA buses, cars, bikes, and pedestrians all use H Street Bridge. The bridge also leads to Metrorail, Amtrak, MARC, VRE, and freight, as well as to federal highways I-395 and Route 50. For the first time, the FAST Act provides major funding for freight, and also includes new funds for improvements in the Northeast corridor for passenger rail and freight nationwide. Norton said this long-term bill will allow for planning of the major expansion of Union Station to proceed, including for major economic development above the track.\nThe FAST Act had bipartisan and bicameral support and was the product of months of negotiation by Norton and other leaders of the Conference Committee. At $281 billion from the Highway Trust Fund, the bill provides nearly $13 billion more than the original House-passed bill. The bill also includes $24 billion from the General Fund for Transit New Starts, Amtrak, and intercity passenger rail grants. The increase resulted from a request by Norton and several other Conferees to reduce the authorizations duration from six years to five years. Norton said that tradeoff was unfortunate considering that the FAST Act is the first long-term surface transportation authorization in 10 years. However, Norton said that reducing the duration of the authorization was the only way to get increased funding for states and D.C., which are starving for new funds, from the Republican-controlled House and Senate.\nI thank my partners in this bill, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Schuster (R-PA), Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), and Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) for engaging in a truly bipartisan process, said Norton. Because of a willingness of all concerned to compromise, the FAST Act got over the finish line. The FAST Act maintains my priorities, as well as those of my colleagues. However, the use of gimmicks to pay for the bill, such as selling oil from our Strategic Oil Reserve at an estimated rate that is double the current market value for oil, only points up the urgent necessity of developing new mechanisms for funding the Highway Trust Fund. The Highway Trust Fund has become a funding source for this bill in name only. I was glad to see my priority for $20 million to promote experimental pilots for funding the Highway Trust Fund, such as the use of vehicle miles to replace the gas tax, is included in the FAST Act. I am also very pleased that our Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program is reauthorized and that there is $7.5 million in grants for the states to gather data on racial profiling.\nBelow are some of Nortons priorities included in the FAST Act:\nFive Years of Increased Funding\nDuring Conference negotiations, Norton asked for a five-year authorization instead of the House-passed six-year authorization in order to boost the authorized funding out of the Highway Trust Fund by $12.8 billion annually. While this increased funding will not meet all infrastructure needs, every state and congressional district will benefit from an increase in funding.\nTransit Safety\nNorton added to her Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation (PROMPT) Act, which provides direct federal safety oversight over the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail, and was previously included, by clarifying that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary has authority to assume direct federal safety oversight in place of any State Safety Oversight Agency. Norton hopes this provision will help stem the loss of riders to Metro while D.C., Maryland, and Virginia develop a regional safety committee. The bill also clarifies that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) can set minimum safety standards for transit systems, requires a safety review on emergency preparedness, design, maintenance and inspections of critical systems, and includes certification requirements for train and bus operators. The bill requires FTA to study the issue of restroom breaks for transit rail and bus drivers and, based on the studys results, to draft rules to address the issue.\nAmtrak Funding\nThe FAST Act authorizes $8 billion over five years for Amtrak, which is $2 billion more than the House had previously included. The bill also dedicates $3 billion of these Amtrak funds to the Northeast Corridor.\nRacial Profiling\nThe FAST Act provides $7.5 million in annual grant funding for states to collect data on racial profiling.\nDisadvantaged Businesses Enterprise Program\nThe bill provides a clean reauthorization of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. The program ensures minority-owned and women-owned businesses are able to fairly compete for DOT contracts.\nBuy America\nThe bill increases the Buy America requirements to 70 percent for transit projects and maintains 100 percent Buy America requirements for rail projects.\nTIFIA Eligibility Expansion\nThe bill makes transit-oriented development (TOD) eligible for Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans and loan guarantees.\nFederal Lands Transportation Program\nThe FAST Act provides $375 million annually by fiscal year 2020 for the Federal Lands Transportation Program, which includes the National Park Service (NPS), of importance to D.C. because so many roads here go through federal park land. The bill also authorizes $100 million per year for a Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal projects grant program. The Arlington Memorial Bridge, which is owned by the NPS and must be rebuilt, would qualify for this new program.\nFreight\nThe bill creates a new $6.3 billion freight formula program for states and D.C. and a new $4.5 billion Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects competitive grant program.\nBicycle/Pedestrian Projects and Safety\nThe bill increases funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects and creates a new non-motorized safety grant to assist and incentivize states to reduce pedestrian and bicycle deaths.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-help-unveil-megabus-double-decker-bus-named-in-honor-of-dc", "Norton to Help Unveil Megabus Double-Decker Bus Named in Honor of D.C. Residents, Today", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will help unveil Megabus newest Capital City double-decker bus, named in honor of District of Columbia residents today, Thursday, December 3, 2015, at Union Station (2 West Massachusetts Ave. NE), at 11:00 a.m. The Capitol City bus is part of Megabus Name the Bus campaign in each of the states they serve.\nBy naming a bus Capital City, Megabus has recognized the District of Columbia, its residents, and our civic franchise as a major national and international tourist destination, Norton said. Megabus discount bus service has encouraged thousands of people from across the nation to visit D.C., and has allowed our residents to journey to a wide variety of cities. Our work to make Union Station a hub for Megabus and other buses has been vindicated by the increase in bus riders who now wait in comfort to board buses. I appreciate that Megabus has included the District in its Name the Bus campaign.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-assured-of-continued-public-access-to-white-house-and-security-of", "Norton Assured of Continued Public Access to White House and Security of Perimeter Fence After Meeting with Secret Service Director Clancy", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she was assured by U.S. Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy in a meeting today that the public has returned to and would retain access to the front of the White House fence after being sent back across Pennsylvania Avenue for a short period after a jumper successfully scaled the fence last week. Norton said that although there may be adjustments to the temporary spikes on the top of the fence, she continues to support the use of the temporary spikes because of the time it takes to develop a permanent change to improve security of the historic White House fence and because the temporary spikes have enabled the public to remain close to the fence. The Secret Service is working with the National Park Service, whose representatives were at Nortons meeting, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts on designs for a permanent change to the White House fence. Norton had been concerned that a jumper made it over the spiked fence, but urged officials to take their time in developing the permanent fence design to ensure it will deter future jumpers, while maintaining the historic and authentic look. Norton said she also understands the reason for the secondary security barrier of temporary bike racks in front of the fence, but requested that the agencies develop more historically-pleasing replacements for the bike racks, which have a makeshift quality to them.\nNorton questioned Director Clancy about the Secret Services ability to gather human intelligence on the ground in the form of agents and uniformed officers, considering that the sequester severely reduced the ranks of both agents and uniformed officers. Although last years appropriations allowed the Secret Service add 150 uniformed officers, there was no net increase because of significant losses in prior years and ordinary retirements and departures. Norton was pleased, though, that the Secret Service plans to hire 12 classes of agents and 12 classes of officers in fiscal year 2016, which should begin to produce net gains in both, but it will take a number of years to get the agency back to full speed.\nI asked the Secret Service to regard the success of this skilled jumper as a test case to learn from and Director Clancy assured me that they are studying it closely in their after-action review, Norton said. It was disheartening to see another jumper scale the fence, but, like the Secret Service, I am focused on the permanent fence in the process of being developed. We should ensure that final fence is tested by highly skilled athletes, such as those with advanced high jumping and climbing abilities.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-she-will-testify-if-dc-resident-is-retried-for-arrest-at", "Norton Says She Will Testify if D.C. Resident is Retried for Arrest at Congressional Hearing", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said Norton will testify if there is a retrial for the arrest of District of Columbia resident Adam Eidinger, who was arrested for unlawful entry at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee markup of a bill to overturn a D.C. anti-discrimination law. Eidingers first trial resulted in a hung jury. Norton, who was at the markup, said she witnessed Eidinger peacefully sitting in his seat while several other individuals stood up to protest the committees action to overturn a D.C. law. However, after those individuals left the room, a committee staff member asked Eidinger to leave. Eidinger was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police after he refused to leave. Norton, a constitutional lawyer, said that the U.S. House of Representatives is the Peoples House and is required to conduct its business in public. She said she believes that there must be a justifiable reason to ask members of the public to leave a committee meeting.\nAs part of our democratic system, members of the public are encouraged to witness the the legislative process, particularly when that business directly impacts them, Norton said. Candidly, I do not believe the government will be able to find a jury of 12 D.C. residents willing to convict a fellow resident for peacefully sitting in a committee meeting about overturning a local D.C. law. Congressional business of course must not be interrupted, but the notion that congressional staff, even if authorized by a Member of Congress, can determine who can stay or go during a committee meeting is a very dangerous precedent, and may be unconstitutional as applied in this case.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-succeeds-in-getting-five-year-transportation-conference-report-to", "Norton Succeeds in Getting Five-Year Transportation Conference Report to Provide Increased Funding", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Norton Says Congress Must Face Necessity to Rebuild Nations Highways, Bridges, and Transit Systems\nWASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee and one of the Big Four transportation leaders in the House, yesterday signed the Conference Report for a five-year surface transportation authorization, which includes her major priorities for the District of Columbia and the nation. During the Conference Committee meeting, Norton asked for a five-year authorization instead of the House-passed six-year authorization in order to boost the authorized funding by $12.8 billion annually.\nWhile this bill does not have the funding levels that have become necessary for rebuilding our transportation and infrastructure, our last-minute reduction of the authorization to five years instead of six at least allows an increase in the funding that Congress was otherwise unwilling to permit by increasing the gas tax, Norton said. Of course, the trade-off in a shorter term reauthorization only points up congressional denial of its obligation to pay for one of its most basic national responsibilities. Still, I commend Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Schuster (R-PA) for his willingness to do what he could with the hand he was dealt, and I am grateful for the many agreements the Big Four made together that produced a bill I am pleased to support.\nThe Conference Report includes most of Nortons priorities, including her language for direct federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority Metrorail; more funding for Amtrak than in the House version and $3 billion total for Northeast Corridor infrastructure; $7.5 million in annual grant funding for states to collect data on racial profiling; up to $375 million in annual funding for the Federal Lands Transportation Program, including considerable federal roads and bridges in the District, and $100 million for federal lands projects of national significance, such as Memorial Bridge; reauthorization of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises program; funding for workforce development; up to $20 million per year to allow states to experiment with alternative user-fee based funding mechanisms to help maintain solvency of the Highway Trust Fund; protections for bus and rail operators from assault; and a study on restroom breaks for transit bus and rail operators.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-meet-with-secret-service-director-clancy-about-white-house", "Norton to Meet with Secret Service Director Clancy About White House Fence Security, Tomorrow", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will meet with U.S. Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy tomorrow, Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., to discuss corrective actions the agency is taking to secure the White House in the wake of another jumper successfully scaling the White House perimeter fence on Thanksgiving Day. Norton said she wants to know why the temporary spikes that were added at the top of the fence did not prevent the jumper, Joseph Caputo, from scaling the fence. Norton also wants to ensure any improvements and enhancements do not necessitate moving the public back further from the White House fence.\nI appreciate that the Secret Service put temporary extensions on the fence until a permanent extension could be developed. The front of the White House is one of the most important First Amendment areas in the city, so public access to the front of the fence is necessary. Federal prosecutors have released Caputo from custody, and a judge ordered him to be monitored electronically, indicating that he apparently was not considered dangerous. However, we cannot afford to believe that future jumpers will continue to engage in stunts, rather than attempting terrorism. I want to know what the Secret Service has learned from this latest jump to ensure it accomplishes its primary mission of security for the White House while guaranteeing access to the public.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-yesterday-s-fence-jumper-norton-today-visits-white-house-and-says", "After Yesterdays Fence Jumper, Norton Today Visits White House and Says Public Access Must Not Be Sacrificed", "2015-11-27", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today visited the front of the White House with a television reporter after a man she called the Thanksgiving Jumper made it over temporary spikes installed to prevent jumping over the White House perimeter fence. Norton will ask U.S. Secret Service leadership to come to her office next week to discuss the timing for a permanent fix to the White House fence, which is in the works.\nI am flabbergasted that yesterdays jumper, Joseph Caputo, was able to make a remarkable jump, apparently first over bike racks and then the White House fence itself, with an American flag wrapped around him and carrying something that looked like a thin book in his mouth, Norton said. The Secret Service acted quickly to apprehend Caputo, but his jump shows that the current fence fix does not work. The Secret Service must use this experience to help them learn what will work. I fully recognize that the challenge is formidable to ensure a fence that prevents a team of trained high-jump terrorists from scaling the fence, maintains its historic authenticity, and allows the public as close to the White House and this important First Amendment area of our city as before. The public was kept far from the White House of the opposite side of Pennsylvania Avenue today, perhaps understandable after yesterdays jumper. However, if the public is not allowed to return across the street to the front of the White House, where they were before, the Secret Service will concede that they lack the professionalism to maintain the security of the White House without blocking the American people. I recognize that the Secret Service has a formidable task, particularly in an era of terrorism, but it must meet its first mission of ensuring security for the First Family without neglecting its responsibility to help our country maintain an open society. I have no doubt that the Secret Service can do both.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-roundtable-to-feature-personal-testimony-from-three-federal-and", "Norton Roundtable to Feature Personal Testimony from Three Federal and Two D.C. Code Returning Citizens, Tuesday", "2015-11-27", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.With the historic early release of the first 6,000 low-level federal inmates nationwide this month, the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that three federal returning citizens and two D.C. Code returning citizens will testify at a roundtable chaired by Norton on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at the Old City Council Chambers (441 Judiciary Sq. NW), from 6:30  8:30 p.m. Both federal and D.C. code offenders are housed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The witnesses will testify before a panel of federal officials to examine ways to ensure assistance for returning citizens and their resistance to returning to prison. Also testifying will be Jeffrey Varone, Director and CEO of Hope Village, a halfway house in Southeast D.C., and Dr. Edith Westfall, Dean of Workforce Development & Lifelong Learning at the University of the District of Columbia, who will testify about services they provide to help returning citizens transition back to society.\nAt the roundtable, Norton will chair a panel of the federal officials with responsibility for D.C. returning citizens: BOP Assistant Director of Reentry Services Linda McGrew, U.S. Probation Office Deputy Chief Shari McCoy, and Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) Director Nancy Ware.\nThe roundtable panel will hear directly from citizens returning to D.C., who will share their personal experiences, including what services and programs are available and effective, what improvements they recommend, and what they are doing to reduce the possibility of recidivism. The returning citizens have served sentences ranging from one month to 33 years, and most have served multiple sentences. Norton said the roundtable will seek remedies to reduce recidivism, particularly in light of the recent early mass release of federal inmates as a result of the reduction of sentences by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, as affirmed by federal judges, for certain federal drug offenders, including 45 from the District.\nEach returning citizen has a unique story that residents and officials need to hear in the ongoing national bipartisan discussion about the effects of mass incarceration, Norton said. Our roundtable will allow federal officials and D.C. residents a rare opportunity to hear directly from federal and D.C. code citizens very recently returned from prison. We are looking for the combination of assistance from federal and D.C. government agencies, service providers, D.C. residents, and responsibility by returning citizens themselves that can help our citizens remain returnedpermanently.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-give-thanks-to-dc-military-and-their-families-at-arena-stage", "Norton to Give Thanks to D.C. Military and Their Families at Arena Stage Thanksgiving Dinner and Show, Tonight", "2015-11-27", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will offer her gratitude at the Arena Stages Fifth Annual Military Thanksgiving to more than 200 District of Columbia-area wounded warriors, service men and women, and their families, who will enjoy dinner and a performance of Oliver! tonight, Friday, November 27, 2015, at 5:30 p.m., at Arena Stage (1101 Sixth Street SW). Norton thanked Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Arena Stage for sharing first rate live theater with members of the military and their families in D.C. and the region.\nMany often thank our military women and men when they see them in uniform, but tonight we show them our gratitude with dinner and a show, courtesy of the Arena Stage, Norton said. Our communitys wounded warriors, servicemembers, and military families alike sacrifice so much for our nation while the rest of us go about our daily lives. Thanksgiving is a special time to be thankful for all we have received, particularly we who live in the nations capital and this region, where there are so many military bases and so much protection for all of us.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-wants-meeting-with-secret-service-officials-after-latest-jumper", "Norton Wants Meeting with Secret Service Officials After Latest Jumper Breaches White House Fence", "2015-11-26", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today said she was astonished that a man successfully jumped over the White House fence on Thanksgiving afternoon while the President and the first family were inside, and said that she will ask U.S. Secret Service leadership to meet with her early next week to discuss quick corrective action. Norton and other Members of Congress were briefed on the recently enhanced White House perimeter fence, shown samples of spikes that were to be added at the top of the taller fence and were assured the enhanced fence would stop a jumper. Moreover, the new design did not appear to altar the important authenticity of the historic fence.\nNorton said in successfully scaling the latest version of the fence and holding up an American flag that he was able to carry with him, the jumper appeared to make a calculated jump to show up the Secret Service. Norton is particularly alert to fence jumpers and other disturbances near national monuments because nearly 20 million tourists visit the nations capital each year. After 9/11, Norton saw many amateur and ineffective measures taken by the federal government to enhance security at major tourist sites, she believes, because it was the first attack on U.S. soil in recent memory. The Congresswoman has insisted that appropriate security can be developed without blocking the public. Norton said the jumper, Joseph Caputo, may have been harmless, although we do not yet know that, but todays action showed that a terrorist could have made the same jump.\nEven though it was a national holiday, the Secret Service showed it could move quickly to apprehend a fence jumper, Norton said. However, the failure of the new White House perimeter fence, despite its recent modifications with spikes, is both baffling and discouraging. Unlike some measures necessary to ensure security, raising the height of the fence and fitting it with spikes seemed gratifyingly old school, obvious, and simple. Apparently it was not. Now, we need to get to the bottom of the problem once and for all. The place to start is learning who was consulted, why the current design was thought to be effective, what the flaws are, and what it will take to enhance the historic fence so that even a champion high jumper cannot scale it.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-washington-post-poll-shows-dc-residents-united-in-uphill", "Norton Says Washington Post Poll Shows D.C. Residents United in Uphill Fight for Statehood", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) responded today to a new Washington Post poll showing 71% of registered voters in the District of Columbia support statehood. Norton announced that she will hold a congressional briefing on D.C. statehood, which had to be postponed last week, at the beginning of next year to keep momentum for statehood going into 2016. Nortons statehood briefing will feature a screening of the hilarious segment on D.C. statehood that aired on HBOs Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, followed by a question and answer segment with constitutional expert Viet Dinh, the former U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy under President George W. Bush, who will lay out the constitutional basis for D.C. statehood.\nIt is gratifying, but perhaps not unexpected, to see residents overwhelmingly in support of making the District of Columbia the 51st state, Norton said. The Washington Post poll shows new and long-time residents alike share a common understanding of what we are entitled to. Apparently, it does not take residents long after moving to the nations capital to learn they have lost some of their most important rights. Residents also understand that statehood is not a mere trophy issue. According to the poll, residents connected the absence of statehood to the rights that statehood brings. They clearly recognize the continued denial of their rights as bizarrely at odds with the rights other Americans enjoy.\nThis poll should be good news for the statehood movement and others who are directly involved in trying to get statehood for the District. There is clearly a ripe field of residents who are disturbed enough to participate in the statehood movement. Moreover, most residents appear to understand that statehood is an uphill climb that we will need to keep fighting to achieve, rather than a priority they should expect this Congress to deliver next year.\nThe historic support for statehood in D.C. matches the historic support Norton has gotten for statehood in Congress. In January, Norton introduced her D.C. statehood bill with a historic number of original cosponsors (93), and the bill now has a total of 128 cosponsors. Senator Tom Carper introduced the companion bill in the Senate with a record 17 original cosponsors, including the top four Senate Democratic leaders.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-host-roundtable-on-returning-citizens-next-week", "Norton to Host Roundtable on Returning Citizens, Next Week", "2015-11-23", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a roundtable to examine ways to ensure assistance for returning citizens to the District of Columbia as they transition back to society, including federal inmates from D.C. whose sentences were retroactively reduced last year by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at the Old City Council Chambers (441 Judiciary Sq. NW), from 6:30  8:30 p.m. Norton, who is also co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Men and Boys, will chair a panel of federal officials, which will hear testimony from federal and D.C. Code returning citizens, officials from halfway houses, and service providers. Sitting with Norton on the panel will be officials from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the U.S. Probation Office for the District of Columbia, and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA). Norton is sponsoring the roundtable in light of the recent early release of the first 6,000 federal inmates as a result of the U.S. Sentencing Commissions reduced sentences for certain federal drug offenders, including 45 from the District. However, the D.C. roundtable will focus on two groups of citizens returning to D.C.: inmates whose drug sentences were recently reduced, and the much larger number of D.C. Code offenders, also housed by BOP, as a result of the Revitalization Act, which required the federal government to pick up the cost of certain state costs from the city.\nThere is great interest in this months early release of the first 6,000 low-level federal drug offenders in the U.S., with another 8,500 more to be released next year, Norton said. We are bringing together federal and D.C. agencies, service providers, D.C. residents, and returning citizens to learn and discuss how to be more helpful to our returning citizens. Since BOP houses both D.C. Code and federal offenders, the roundtable will focus on both. We want to hear directly from returning citizens, but also from all of the responsible agencies and service providers. We will be particularly concerned to learn how responsible agencies can help our citizens avoid returning to prison.\nNorton delivered this weeks Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Message to America, focusing on the CBCs work that led to the fight against mandatory minimums and reducing non-violent drug sentences.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/new-african-american-museum-will-one-day-record-dc-as-last-to-be-free", "New African American Museum Will One Day Record D.C. as Last to be Free", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nThe Smithsonian Museum of African American History, not yet opened to the public, was introduced to the District this week. Ever the visionary, Director Lonnie Bunch engineered a mixture of history and music with the sites as a background with D.C. citizens the first to be there, even before the grand opening with the President in 2016. This introduction was not just because the Museum is located in the city. The District of Columbia is one of the nations oldest cities, created deliberately by the framers as a southern city where slaves could be bought and sold. My great grandfather, Richard Holmes, came here as a runaway slave from a Virginia plantation. The framers did not foresee that slaves in the District would make history when Congress passed legislation to free them almost a year before the Emancipation Proclamation. In 2003, when Congress authorized the National African American History and Culture Act, we did not foresee that this museum would actually open during the 150th commemoration of the Civil War.\nAs a museum of both African American history and culture, this museum is destined to celebrate history in the process of being made. Not yet recorded as a historical fact, but as inevitable as were the Civil War freedom amendments, is our pending bill to make the District of Columbia the 51st state. We must resolve to meet here to commemorate the day we in the District no longer will be first to be liberated, last to be free.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-calls-another-try-by-senator-paul-to-overturn-dc-s-gun-safety", "Norton Calls Another Try by Senator Paul to Overturn D.C.s Gun Safety Laws a Transparent Attempt to Breathe Life into Flagging Presidential Candidacy and a Violation of His Professed Libertarian Principles", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today blasted Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) after he announced plans to introduce a bill to eliminate the District of Columbias gun safety laws. Norton said Paul is a repeat offender when it comes to introducing bills to eliminate D.C.s gun laws, but this time he has added a provision that would go even further by allowing firearms on public, non-sensitive areas of federal property. Norton said that all of areas of federal property are considered sensitive. Norton noted that if Paul had the courage of his conviction, he would introduce a bill allowing firearms on federal properties in his own state, where his jurisdiction and the right to legislate are clear. Norton said that according to a recent survey, a majority of D.C. residents support banning guns in the city entirely, but that the Districts gun safety laws have been carefully revised in keeping with the Second Amendment, and have been tested and mostly upheld by federal courts.\nThe Congresswoman said Pauls most recent foray into interfering with the local business of a jurisdiction not his own follows the shameless trend of Republican presidential candidates interfering with the Districts right to self-government to raise their national profiles. Earlier this year, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) similarly introduced a bill to wipe out D.C.s local gun safety laws, and, not coincidentally, the National Rifle Association almost immediately upgraded his rating from a B-plus to an A. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), shortly before announcing his presidential bid, also looked around for D.C. legislation to target in order to help his presidential candidacy, and introduced bills to overturn two D.C. anti-discrimination laws.\nNorton said Paul has gone to the D.C. well on other occasions as well. Last year, Paul introduced an amendment to eliminate D.C.s gun safety laws as part of an unrelated hunting bill. In 2012, Paul torpedoed a bipartisan bill to grant D.C. autonomy over its own local funds by attaching a poison pill amendment to eliminate some D.C. gun safety laws. Norton said Pauls sabotage of D.C.s local control over its local funds was perhaps his most hypocritical deviation from his libertarian principles. Libertarians often do not want funds spent for long-recognized federal matters, and almost certainly would draw the line on federal interference with local funds, which the federal government has no role in raising. Last year, Norton was quick to praise Paul in a press release when he said in response to a reporters question that the District should be able to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana through a local referendum, although he took no position on marijuana legalization itself. Norton said she had hoped Paul had turned a corner when it came to interfering with D.C.s local affairs, but his latest stunt to overturn the citys gun safety laws seems to have proved otherwise.\nSenator Rand Paul should right now decide whether he is a true libertarian or not, Norton said. Last year, I issued a statement thanking and commending Senator Paul when he supported the local democratic rights of District residents to pass a referendum legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana. Paul at the time said, Im not for having the federal government get involved. I really havent taken a stand onthe actual legalizationbut Im against the federal government telling them they cant. That was a classic case of principled libertarianism. Senator Paul took no stand on the underlying local issue of marijuana possession legalization, but he stood on the principle of keeping the federal government out of local affairs. The opportunism of now taking a cheap shot at a local jurisdiction, which cannot easily fight back, is shamelessly and patently aimed at boosting his languishing presidential campaign. When a member repeatedly contradicts his self-professed principles of local control over local affairs, on which he has stood upon his entire life, no one will see him as presidential.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-delivers-cbc-message-to-america-on-helping-reduce-recidivism-for", "Norton Delivers CBC Message to America on Helping Reduce Recidivism for Returning Citizens", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) delivered this weeks Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Message to America. Norton focused on the CBCs work that led to the fight against mandatory minimumswhich is now bearing fruit with the early release this month of about 6,000 federal prisoners, who had their drug sentences reduced.\nNow that we are achieving some success in the fight against mandatory minimums, we must cut the rate of recidivism so that this first victory for thousands of African Americans who were unfairly sentenced will not be our last, Norton said.\nThe script of Nortons full video message is below.\nHello, Im District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, delighted to offer this weeks Congressional Black Caucus Message to America.\nWith the largest mass release of federal inmates in our history underway, the Congressional Black Caucuss leadership against mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenses is beginning to bear fruit. A lot more needs to be done, though, to ensure these first to be released succeed. More than two thirds are Black and Hispanic, from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Six percent are women. All had to be approved by a judge. The first 6,000 are already mostly in halfway houses in our communities, except for the 25 percent who are non-citizens and are being deported. 8,500 more will be released over the next year.\nThis is a breakthrough, but with bipartisan support, we are still trying to repeal the mandatory minimums that resulted in the incarceration of so many African Americans in the first place. Equally important is the new policy that U.S. attorneys in court reserve mandatory minimums sentences for high-level drug trafficking. Mandatory Minimums have punished the African American community too and left thousands of Black children to be raised by a single parent.\nBoth risk and hope lie ahead. The national spike in crime that began before these inmates were released is already being blamed by some on returning citizens. True, historically 40 percent return to prison. The baton now passes to all who have worked to release these first returning citizens. More than 70 House Members have urged President Obama to require that federal agencies and contractors make no inquiry about an applicants convictions beyond background checks until after the initial stage of hiring. Im calling service providers and halfway house personnel in my district to a roundtable to help these returning citizens stay on the outside. Now that we are achieving some success in the fight against mandatory minimums, we must cut the rate of recidivism so that this first victory for thousands of African Americans who were unfairly sentenced will not be our last.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-calls-for-a-five-not-six-year-bill-to-ease-the-funding-shortfall", "Norton Calls for a Five, Not Six, Year Bill to Ease the Funding Shortfall in Surface Transportation Bill and Calls on Committee to Find New Ways to Fund the Highway Trust Fund", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee and one of the Big Four transportation leaders that got the House to pass a six-year surface transportation bill, today spoke out about urgent priorities for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the first Conference Committee meeting to reconcile the Senate and House transportation reauthorization bills. Norton praised Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) for working so closely together to achieve one of the few bipartisan bills to come from the 114th Congress.\nNotwithstanding a bill with almost no increase in funding in 10 years, every state, every local government, every construction worker, every transit rider, everyone in the construction industry, every commuter stuck in traffic, and every business that uses our roads and bridges to move goods will be relieved that we have finally broken through our own gridlock to achieve a long-term surface transportation bill, Norton said. I am particularly pleased that most of my priorities made it into the bill. To name just a few of my local and national priorities, the bill includes my language to implement direct federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) Metrorail, $7.5 million in annual grant funding for states to collect data on racial profiling, reauthorization of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprises program, funding for workforce development, continued funding for bike and pedestrian programs, and a new $750 million program for freight and projects of national significance.\nBut, this bill must mark more than the priorities of individual members. I pressed especially for a new way to fund the now obsolete Highway Trust Fund, and the $20 million I got for states to experiment with new ways to raise revenue for the nations infrastructure is a start. However, Congress has an obligation to take leadership of the Highway Trust Fund, which has fallen victim, ironically, to fuel efficient vehicles, the abundance of cheap natural gas, and falling oil prices. Instead of taking advantage of this windfall to fund this authorization, this is the first surface transportation bill ever to resort to more than a dozen gimmicks to fund transportation and infrastructure projects, such as decreasing the fixed dividend rate paid by the Federal Reserve, increasing aviation passengers Customs and Border Protection (CBP) fees that will be diverted from CBP, and changing the filing dates of certain tax and information returns. These gimmicks have already attracted a boat load of criticism of our bill and have distracted from its good points. Surely, this sleight of hand, some of them needed for other matters, are not better than finding ways to raise the necessary revenue. Red and blue states are doing exactly that and polls show the majority of Americans favor tax increases to save our nations transportation and infrastructure.\nTherefore, I offer two suggestions. The nation needs $400 billion over the next six years to maintain our infrastructures status quo. The House bill authorizes $325 billion. By making this a five-year, not a six-year, bill, we could at least make up for the status quo shortfall. Although a shorter bill is not ideal, it is better than allowing our infrastructure to fall into further disrepair and being forced to later make up for the shortfall to the Highway Trust Fund through general revenue.\nSecond, I am requesting that our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hold a meeting, preferably a joint House and Senate Committee meeting, to hear ideas from the private sector and the public on new ways to fund the Highway Trust Fund. Until now, no discussions in the Congress that I know of to consider new Highway Trust Fund ideas have occurred. However, in my own discussions, I have heard a number of promising ideas. I believe that airing new ideas in a formal hearing would help reassure stakeholders and would generate even more ideas. After speaking on this idea during the Conference Committee, I am pleased that I was able to have a good conversation with Chairman Shuster.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-answers-on-dc-security-at-briefing-with-dhs-and-fbi-leaders", "Norton Gets Answers on D.C. Security at Briefing with DHS and FBI Leaders Following Paris Attacks", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) last night at a classified national security briefing for Members of the House with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson, Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, and officials from Departments of Defense and State asked several questions regarding security in the District of Columbia in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Norton verified that the District has been named as a target city by ISIL since the Paris attacks.\nAlthough there still is no credible threat against the District, all necessary precautions are being taken by security agencies, Norton said. The District has been a target since 9/11, and we were not hit even then. This capital city has the full array of federal protections and more federal police forces than any city in our country. It would be a mistake to succumb to the threats and change our ordinary routines, which would give ISIL the satisfaction of terrorism by threat.\nOn further questioning by Norton, officials responded that ISIL is less likely to try and send foreign fighters to the United States to conduct terrorist attacks, as al-Qaeda did on 9/11. Instead, ISILs strategy has been to galvanize support with sympathizers already in a country with propaganda and to incite violence through lone wolf attacks. However, Norton said security officials added that Syrian refugees arriving in the U.S. have overwhelmingly been women and children, with only 2% men, and almost all have relatives living in the U.S. Any new refugees from Syria or elsewhere in the Middle East are subject to a comprehensive vetting process that can take up to two years.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-improvements-to-spirit-of-justice-park-near-capitol", "Norton Gets Improvements to Spirit of Justice Park Near Capitol", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) has agreed to work with Norton to improve the Spirit of Justice Park, located within the Capitol Hill community and the publicly accessible Capitol complex between C and D streets SE. The AOC has agreed to plant trees to provide shady areas for residents and visitors to sit and eat lunch and to post signs with the name of the park. Concerned that Spirit of Justice Park was underutilized, Norton met with AOC officials over the summer to discuss improvements to the park. AOC has since begun planting holly trees in the middle of the park. AOC also plans to start building structures next spring to provide even more shade during the summer. Norton is also pushing for more tables and chairs.\nThe Spirit of Justice Park is a beautiful space above a congressional parking garage that AOC has made into an attractive park, but it is hardly used by congressional employees and the community because it lacks sufficient shady areas and tables and chairs to allow residents and visitors to enjoy the park during good weather, Norton said. I look forward to working with the Architect of the Capitol as he implements these improvements. I hope he will seek feedback from congressional employees and the surrounding neighborhood.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-reassured-of-security-for-dc-residents-and-visitors-after", "Norton Reassured of Security for D.C. Residents and Visitors after Briefing with Heads of FBI Washington Field Office and U.S. Capitol Police", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she was reassured about security in the District of Columbia after a personal briefing with the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Field Office, Paul Abbate, and U.S. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine in her Capitol Hill office.\nDecisions just reported by a few schools to postpone their trips to the nations capital are misguided, Norton said. The briefing today showed that the District not only remains secure, but with police attached to every federal building and the full security forces of the federal government and local police riveted on the District, this city is the most secure city in the United States.\nNorton had been concerned that at last nights classified congressional briefing, security officials confirmed that the District had been specifically identified by ISIL as a target city, but learned at todays briefing that ISIL videos calling out different countries or specific places are not uncommon, including a video released today that calls out New York City. Norton said she was further reassured by comprehensive radio interoperability that now links the law enforcement agencies throughout the District, including those attached to entities from Union Station to the Navy Yard.\nDirector Abbatte said that the security operations in the District always operate at the highest level of readiness, but even those levels have been ramped up since the Paris attacks. Norton plans to visit the FBIs Washington Field Office to see how the Washington Field Office Joint Terrorism Task Force, which involves all law enforcement agencies in the National Capital Region, operates.\nNorton said nevertheless Congress has work to do because ISIL has taken to communicating using encrypted messages that are impossible for law enforcement to crack, and it would take congressional action to require telecommunications firms to create backend keys to provide law enforcement the authority consistent with the Fourth Amendment and the right to privacy in order to open encrypted messages.\nNorton said that ISIL, unlike al-Qaeda, tends not to import terrorists as much as it uses people that are already on the ground. The United States has far fewer such individuals than Europe. For example, Syrian refugees accepted into the U.S. have overwhelmingly been women and children, with only 2% men, and almost all have relatives living in the U.S. Any new refugees from Syria and other parts of the Middle East must go through a vetting process that can take up to two years.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-first-walter-reed-groundbreaking-of-new-fire-station", "Norton Says First Walter Reed Groundbreaking of New Fire Station Achieved Through Her Congressional Work is Only the Beginning", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that she was delighted to see the $12 million groundbreaking today of D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Engine 22, the first building to rise on the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), federal land that Norton got transferred to the District of Columbia last year. Norton was instrumental in ensuring that at least 67 acres of the 110 acre WRAMC site would go to the District. Initially, D.C. got a smaller portion following the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, but Norton got the General Service Administration (GSA), in 2010, to declare a larger portion as surplus property that could be used by the District. She also fought successfully to get 13 additional acres transferred for a public health purpose for an organization such as Children's National Medical Center, which can utilize the state-of-the art lab space for children's health research.\nTodays groundbreaking begins a fertile period for much-needed new development in Ward 4 on Georgia Avenue, Norton said. However, we are beginning where the need is greatest with a fire station, which will help reduce wait times for emergency response, a public safety problem that has long been neglected. There is much more to come that will enhance Ward 4 and our city.\nIn 2006, Norton got GSA to agree to consider plans to develop the WRAMC campus that would allow commercial development on Georgia Avenue, NW. Under the agreement, GSA would work with D.C. officials in deciding the type of development, including retail that the uptown Georgia Avenue community has long desired.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-speaks-in-opposition-to-bill-that-would-weaken-cfpb-s-ability-to", "Norton Speaks in Opposition to Bill that Would Weaken CFPBs Ability to Combat Discriminatory Lending Practices", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today opposed H.R. 1737, the Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act, which would greatly diminish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPB) ability to address racially discriminatory lending practices in the auto industry. In 2013, the CFPB issued guidance aimed at curbing additional charges and fees that dealers add to loan costs known as markups. According to the CFPB, markups were used by some dealers in a racially discriminatory manner, causing people of color to be charged higher interest rates and fees than their white counterparts. Norton joined a number of major civil rights groups, as well as the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, in opposing the bill.\nNortons full remarks are below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on H.R. 1737, the Reforming CFPB Auto Financing Guidance Act of 2015\nNovember 18, 2015\nMs. Norton. Mr. Speaker,\nI join many of my Democratic colleagues, as well as the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Council of La Raza, the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, and many other civil rights groups, in opposing H.R. 1737, the Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Financing Guidance Act, a bill that would significantly diminish the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPB) ability to protect consumers from racial discrimination in the auto lending market and give auto dealers a leg up in charging higher interest rates, and, as studies have shown, in discrimination. In 2013, the CFPB issued guidance that was aimed at combatting these biases in the auto lending industrybecause of a practice used by car dealers known as markups, people of color were paying more for car loans than their white counterparts with similar or identical credit histories.\nAs the former chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, I am dismayed by the practice of markups, which allows discriminatory car dealers, who get a cut of the additional charges and fees that markups provide, to profit from their bad behavior. The CFPB has done important work toward eradicating discriminatory lending practices. I oppose this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-be-briefed-on-dc-national-security-by-fbi-s-washington-field", "Norton to Be Briefed on D.C. National Security by FBIs Washington Field Office, Tomorrow, and by DHS Secretary Johnson and FBI Director Comey, Today", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she will be personally briefed tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Washington Field Office Assistant Director Paul Abbate on security in the District of Columbia following the terrorist attacks in Paris this past weekend and a new threat made by ISIL specifically against the nations capital. Norton will also attend a classified national security briefing for Members of Congress today at 5:30 p.m. with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson, FBI Director James Comey, and officials from the Departments of Defense and State. Although, according to security officials, there is currently no credible intelligence concerning danger to the District from ISIL or other terrorist operations, Norton said she has been assured that all the necessary precautions have been taken, particularly in light of the specific threat made to D.C. She cautioned that ISIL not only spreads terror through actual violence, it wages terror by naming specific jurisdictions.\nI urge District residents to continue going about their daily lives, despite the new threats from ISIL, Norton said. ISIL shall have accomplished its mission of spreading terror if an entire city shrinks from its daily activities without a credible indication of a threat. At this time, there is no reasonable precaution residents can take, or that we have learned is necessary to take.\nIt is important to recognize that ISIL may have well pivoted to waging terror on jurisdictions outside of its territory in order to distract from its recent losses on the battlefield. As President Obama indicated at the G-20 summit in Turkey yesterday, the U.S. and its allies have recently made significant progress in pushing back ISIL in Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led airpower, recently liberated Sinjar, and Iraqi forces are finally now making progress in the fight to take back Ramadi, a key strategic city that ISIL captured several months ago. In Syria, ISIL has been pushed back from much of the areas bordering Turkey, and allied forces on the ground are making good headway in cutting off supply lines to Raqqa, one of ISILs most important strongholds. When ISIL loses territory, it loses face, and must find ways to focus on continuing to build strength. For ISIL, that has been much easier to do in Europe than in the U.S. because of Europes proximity to turmoil in the Middle East. The United States is not a safe harbor, but it does not have the same exposure as Europe.\nIn the District, we are accustomed to being a major target, but our city of 650,000 residents and 20 million tourist annually has always maintained balance between openness and security ever since 9/11. This is not the time to succumb to the fear spread by terrorism. In the meantime, I will keep residents fully informed.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-lgbt-equality-caucus-press-conference-to-announce", "Norton to Speak at LGBT Equality Caucus Press Conference to Announce Creation of Transgender Equality Task Force, Today", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a former chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, will speak at a press conference to announce the creation of a Transgender Equality Task Force, of which she is a founding member, today, Tuesday, November 16, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., at the House Triangle (SE corner of U.S. Capitol). The Task Force will analyze current barriers to full legal and societal equality for transgender people, and will develop legislation and other initiatives to ensure the transgender community has equal access to the American Dream.\nToday, for the first time, many Americans are learning about transgender issues in ways little known to many before, Norton said. However, judging by the rapid acceptance of marriage equality and of gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans in the armed forceseach in fewer than 20 yearsAmericans are putting behind their prejudice based on the unknown. As an African American woman, I am heartened by the increasing willingness of the American people to discard old myths and prejudices. I cannot help but believe that the nations long experience with racial prejudice has left a deeper appreciation about the unacceptability of all forms of discrimination than most had realized. We will not rest until we see the same increasing acceptance that we have seen with people of color and gay and lesbian Americans. Prejudice in whatever form retreats when the group itself and their allies step forward.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/with-new-wmata-leadership-in-place-norton-wants-fta-to-modify-financial", "With New WMATA Leadership in Place, Norton Wants FTA to Modify Financial Restrictions That Could Lead to a Fare Increase", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Norton Hopes FTA Works with WMATA to Show Some Safety Reforms by End of Year\nWASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, along with some members of the Houses Virginia delegation, today met with incoming Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager Paul Wiedefeld. Norton said she was encouraged by Mr. Wiedefelds agenda to begin addressing the transit agencys safety and fiscal challenges. Norton told Mr. Wiedefeld that it is particularly important that WMATA fully embrace the congressional language Norton got included in the recently-passed Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 to allow the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to provide direct federal safety oversight of the transit agencys Metrorail system. Norton suggested that WMATA and FTA officials hold a joint press conference to show that they are working collaboratively to improve Metrorails safety. Norton also said that as part of FTAs safety oversight of WMATA, FTA has published an online table that lists the safety actions FTA has required WMATA to meet, the required actions estimated completion date, and the required actions status. FTA will update the tracking table bi-monthly.\nAs Mr. Wiedefeld takes office on November 30, I believe his most important mission is to restore confidence among Metro riders, who are leaving Metro at a time when WMATA needs them most, Norton said. The two major concerns this past year for WMATA have been safety and financial reform. I hope Mr. Wiedefeld will be able to convince FTA that he wants to work with FTA to accomplish some immediate safety reforms, and that he and FTA will be able to announce at least some of those actions before the end of the year. To avoid a fare increase, the next thing he needs from FTA is relief from FTA requirements that WMATA do its financial reimbursements by hand rather than electronically. While FTA was right to require manual processing of reimbursements given the shabby state of WMATAs finances 18 months ago, WMATA has since brought in an entirely new financial team and implemented new budget controls based on FTAs recommendations. FTA restrictions on WMATA reimbursements have already forced WMATA to get several short-term lines of credit, incurring significant interest payments and digging WMATA deeper into financial trouble. By depriving WMATA of same-day reimbursements, FTA is guaranteeing a fare increase for Metro. FTA owes it to the new General Manager to look closely at the budget controls WMATA has put in place and move toward tight but appropriate monitoring that does not make WMATAs shaky financial position worse.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-dc-statehood-briefing-postponed", "Norton D.C. Statehood Briefing Postponed", "2015-11-16", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the briefing on District of Columbia statehood with a screening of HBOs Last Week Tonight with John Oliver D.C. statehood segment followed by a question and answer segment, scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2015, must be postponed. Norton said her office will announce a rescheduled date shortly.\nThe briefing will begin with a screening of the Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 17-minute segment where Oliver makes the case for statehood by making fun of Congress for denying D.C. residents equal rights. Following the screening, there will be a presentation and a question and answer session with constitutional expert Viet Dinh, the former U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy under President George W. Bush, where he will lay out the constitutional basis for D.C. statehood.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-manage-short-term-surface-transportation-extension-on-house", "Norton to Manage Short-Term Surface Transportation Extension on House Floor and H.R. 1694, Today", "2015-11-16", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee, and one of the Big Four transportation leaders that introduced the six-year surface transportation bill that passed the House earlier this month, today will manage a short-term surface transportation reauthorization bill on the House floor that will extend Federal transportation programs until December 4, 2015. Norton, a member of the House Conference Committee that is negotiating with the Senate on a final surface transportation bill to send to the President to sign, said the short-term extension is necessary to avoid a shutdown of Federal transportation programs while the Conference Committee works out the remaining differences between the House and Senate bills. Norton also will manage H.R. 1694, the Fairness to Veterans for Infrastructure Investment Act of 2015, on behalf of House Democrats.\nBecause of the bipartisan, long-term surface transportation bill passed by the House two weeks ago, todays bill should be the last short-term surface transportation extension the House considers before our Conference Committee completes its negotiations to send the President the first long-term (six-year) surface transportation bill in over a decade, Norton said. Short-term extensions have stymied state action for roads, bridges, highways, and transit systems for years because states could not start major projects without the certainty that a long-term authorization provides. As Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders, we have worked together as a bipartisan Big Four throughout the authorization process to craft a comprehensive six-year bill. Its overwhelming passage by the House two weeks ago gives us confidence that we can even improve on the House bill in conference.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-museum-of-african-american-history-to-kick-off-three", "Norton to Speak at Museum of African American History to Kick Off Three-Day Commemorate and Celebrate Freedom Event, Tonight", "2015-11-16", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will give remarks this evening, Monday, November 16, 2015, at the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture (Madison Dr. NW, between 14th and 15th Streets NW) at 5:30 p.m., to open the museums Commemorate and Celebrate Freedom three-day event, which marks the completion of the museums external construction. The event will pay tribute to three important anniversaries in African American history: ratification of the 13th amendment, which officially ended slavery (1865); passage of the Voting Rights Act (1965); and the end of the Civil War (1865). Norton was a leading cosponsor of the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act, which in 2003 authorized the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This evenings Commemorate and Celebrate Freedom event will kick off the countdown to the museums grand opening in fall 2016 by bringing the museum to life for three nights, as the faade of the building will be illuminated with moving images in a spectacular display.\nWe begin today the countdown to the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which we have worked for decades to bring to the District, Norton said. Today, we celebrate African American history with a museum that will showcase itand we will make a little history ourselves.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-nps-to-move-forward-on-installing-tribute-to", "Norton Gets NPS to Move Forward on Installing Tribute to Environmentalist Rachel Carson in Glover Archbold Park", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced a victory for the Glover Park community in the agreement by the National Park Service (NPS) to consider installing a feature in Glover Archbold Park honoring Rachel Carson, the environmental pioneer and an inspiration for the development of the environmental movement. For several years, Norton has been working with organizations in the Glover Park neighborhood for recognition of Carsons work in the District of Columbia. Norton said that despite Carsons lifetime achievements here in the District, there is no memorial to her in the city. Initially, the community requested that a trail in Glover Archbold Park be named for Carson. Instead, NPS has agreed to consider providing some other type of recognition for her contributions [to conservation] within Glover Archbold Park, such as interpretive signage or other feature. Residents of Glover Park and other environmentalists gathered the evidence to show that Carson, who was a writer in the Department of the Interiors Fish and Wildlife Service, used Glover Archbold Park as a site to draw observations about nature and the environment. In 2013, Norton introduced a bill to rename the trail after Carson, and a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).\nThe Glover Park community should take a bow for its very thorough spadework to push NPS to recognize Rachel Carson for her path-breaking achievements while working as a federal employee here in the District, including some observations in Glover Archbold Park, Norton said. I believe installing signs on the trail featuring her lifes work in conservation will honor and commemorate Carsons special place in leading to a greater understanding and appreciation for the environment, particularly here in the nations capital. I look forward to working with NPS and residents on the implementation of these signs going forward.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-criminal-complaint-against-uniformed-secret-service-officer", "Norton Says Criminal Complaint Against Uniformed Secret Service Officer for Soliciting a Minor for Sex Needs a New Focus", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, today issued the following statement following reports that a U.S. Secret Service uniformed officer has been charged with soliciting a 14-year-old girl for sex, the result of a sting operation.\nThe criminal complaint filed today against a uniformed Secret Service officer for soliciting a minor for sex is particularly troubling. Most of the public interest in the Secret Service recently has been directed toward agents because they are more closely associated with protecting the president and his family. However, the uniformed service provide security for the White House and other high-level, secure facilities, and the public more often comes in contact with uniformed Secret Service officers. According to the complaint, this officer has allegedly admitted to texting a Delaware State Police detective, posing as a 14-year-old girl, from a secure guard booth where the uniformed Secret Service officer was checking in visitors to the White House, as well as other locations while on duty. An adult soliciting a minor for sex is a serious and disturbing crime, but more so if the officer was on duty charged with security at the White House. The arrest of this officer should cause our Oversight and Government Reform Committee to look more closely at the uniformed officers, who comprise 1,300 of the Secret Service force.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/on-veterans-day-norton-honors-dc-residents-who-have-proudly-served-their", "On Veterans Day, Norton Honors D.C. Residents Who Have Proudly Served Their Nation Despite Being Denied a Vote", "2015-11-11", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Norton to Introduce Bill to Bolster Pro Bono Services for Veterans\nWASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today expressed her deep gratitude to District of Columbia veterans and other veterans across the nation for their service and sacrifice and introduced a new bill for veterans.\nToday, Americans take time to thank and honor our veterans who have proudly and selflessly served our nation, Norton said. However, over 30,000 veterans living in the nations capital are still shamefully denied the democratic rights all veterans have fought for and other veterans automatically receive. D.C. veterans do not even have a vote on whether our nation goes to war, despite the risks veterans take and the taxes they contribute to defend our country. This Veterans Day, we particularly acknowledge this denial of democracy to our citys veterans and the other 620,000 American citizens living in the District of Columbia.\nNorton also announced that, in honor of Veterans Day, when Congress returns from recess next week she will introduce a bill to allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide support to law school clinics that provide pro bono legal and support services to veterans, including assistance with disability claims and appeals, foreclosures, and other cases.\nWe must do more to ensure that when our veterans return home and transition to society they are not met with an ineffective bureaucracy that fails to deliver the benefits they have earned or the counseling they need, Norton said. Law school clinics are a low-cost, highly efficient vehicle to assist veterans that ensures supervision by brilliant law professors and lawyers. The VA is still faced with an enormous backlog of disability claims, and homelessness among veterans remains a critical problem. Providing support to these law school clinics would assist veterans with the many problems they encounter by utilizing the network of clinical programs ready to provide pro-bono legal services for our veterans.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gsa-roundtables-result-in-dramatic-reductions-in-costly-holdover", "Norton GSA Roundtables Result in Dramatic Reductions in Costly Holdover Leases in National Capital Region", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, today released a report she requested from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on the status of GSA holdover leases in the National Capital Region (NCR). Norton has held two roundtables to spur holdover lease reformin 2010, when she held her first roundtable, and in April of this year. The report shows dramatic reductions in holdover leases following the 2010 roundtable and a shift to forward-planning following the April roundtable, which has allowed GSA to focus on preparing for leases set to expire before 2017.\nBoth roundtables focused on the costly practice where the government stays beyond the expiration of the lease, often resulting in negotiations for short-term extensions requiring the government to pay a premium short-term price instead of a lower-cost long-term lease. However, holdovers disadvantage private owners as well because owners cannot evict the government and get new tenants, or take action concerning their property. Holdover leases occur when the tenant of a property stays beyond the expiration of the lease, but continues to make lease payments. When a lease has been in holdover for several months, the GSA will negotiate a short-term extension of the lease until they can make a long-term decision.\nGSA Public Buildings Commissioner for the NCR Darren Blue, who authored the report, wrote that as a result of the 2010 roundtable, GSA has reduced holdovers by 78 percent between [fiscal year] 2012 and [fiscal year] 2014. In addition, GSA has reduced the average length of holdover in the NCR to just 4 months. The GSA report states that following the April roundtable, the GSA has found long-term solutions to bring all remaining holdover leases out of holdover status. At the April roundtable, Norton requested that the GSA report how it intends to break out of the costly holdover pattern and develop long-term plans for the 144 leases in the NCR set to expire by September 30, 2017, where the government either occupies an entire commercial office building or is a principal tenant to ensure its leases do not go into holdover. As a result, Commissioner Blue wrote in the report that GSA has committed to plan for lease expirations further in advance, eliminate holdovers, seek longer firm lease terms, and only execute short-term extensions when the Government has identified and is implementing a long-term consolidation strategy. The GSA report also said that GSA is working to eliminate short-term lease extensions wherever possible, and that GSA will only execute short-term extensions to support projects that consolidate leases into federally-owned space, complete capital construction projects, reconfigure existing space to accommodate new requirements, or that result in termination of a lease. For example, in preparation for the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) ongoing consolidation to St. Elizabeths in Ward 8, many DHS agencies have signed short-term leases until the date they are scheduled to move to the new consolidated headquarters.\nIn its report, GSA detailed the plans it has developed to address all 144 leases to avoid holdover. GSA will execute short-term extensions for only 11 of the 144 leases. Norton assumes that by 2017, those short-term leases will become long-term leases. The report also said that GSA plans to replace 71 of the expiring leases with long-term leases, and the majority of these leases have now gone out for competition among private owners. GSA reports that it will exercise the option to renew 17 of the 144 leases, which locks in a lower rate based on the originally agreed-to long-term lease, saving millions in taxpayers funds over the term of the renewal lease. GSA will execute succeeding leases for 20 properties, which are used when the rental terms are highly favorable to the government. Finally, rather than venture into short-term extensions, GSA will terminate the remaining 25 leases upon expiration.\nThe GSA reported that 19 of the 144 leases in the NCR were in holdover status as of the publication of the report. As a result of Nortons April roundtable and follow-up letter, GSA has identified long-term solutions for all 19 holdover leases by awarding replacement leases for seven locations, awarding replacement leases in four locations that are now in negotiations, terminating three leases, and reworking five long-term leases, including consolidation into existing leases or federally owned space.\nHaving lost the governments renting advantage after the 2008 great recession, the report shows that GSA is making good progress in catching up, Norton said. The reduction in the number of costly holdover leases in the National Capital Region will save millions of taxpayer dollars while stabilizing the commercial real estate market for private sector owners who do business with the federal government. The real estate market is still ripe for long-term planning and investment. The elimination of the holdover backlog and GSAs solid plans for leases expiring in 2017 will bring significant savings to the government. Proactively engaging in negotiations on leases to avoid holdovers will give GSA the advantage in seeking below-market rents or other concessions from private owners and planning for future leasing needs. At the same time, private owners will have an opportunity to negotiate market-rate rents, refinance their property, and engage in long-term planning.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-tonight-at-penn-branch-citizens-civic", "Norton in Your Neighborhood Tonight at Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association Meeting to Focus on D.C. Priorities in Transportation Bill, Clean Senate D.C. Appropriations Bill, Synthetic Drugs, and Statehood", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Norton in Your Neighborhood community conversation with the Penn Branch Citizens Civic Association tonight, Tuesday, November 10, 2015, from 7:00 p.m.  9:00 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church (3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE). Norton will engage Penn Branch-area and other District of Columbia residents about her role in getting priorities for D.C. and WMATA in the recently passed surface transportation bill, preserving DCTAG funding for D.C.s college-bound students, strengthening federal law to combat synthetic drugs, the record number of House and Senate cosponsors for her statehood bill, and other congressional issues of interest to the community.\nI am looking forward to having an open and free-flowing discussion with Penn Branch residents on the issues most important to their community, Norton said.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-introduce-bill-to-require-federal-officials-serving-dc-to-live", "Norton to Introduce Bill to Require Federal Officials Serving D.C. to Live in the City", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that when Congress returns from recess next week, Norton will introduce a bill to require certain officials who serve the District of Columbia to live in the city. In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United Stateswith the exception of New York City, which is the only jurisdiction divided between two federal districtsU.S. Marshals, federal district court judges, and U.S. Attorneys are required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointedbut no such residency requirement exists for officials serving in the District.\nFederal officials who serve the District of Columbia have an obligation to live in our city with the policies they make or enforce and to directly engage with the people they serve in order to form a strong bond with the community and keep on top of their concerns, Norton said. My bill is a simple way to eliminate another element of inequality that D.C. residents uniquely experience. D.C. deserves the same community involvement as other jurisdictions across the nation.\nNortons full introductory statement follows.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act of 2015\nToday, I introduce the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act of 2015, a bill that would amend federal law to require certain officials who serve D.C. to actually live within its boundaries. In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United States, federal district court judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals are required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointedbut these same officials appointed to serve the people of the District are not bound by these same requirements. The only other jurisdictions where these officials are not required to live within their appointed jurisdictions are the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York. However, this is because New York City is the only city in the country that is divided between two federal districtsbut the District is not similarly situated. My bill would put D.C. on equal footing with almost every other jurisdiction by ensuring that our Marshals, judges, and U.S. attorney live among the residents they have been appointed to represent.\nClearly, the idea that these federal officials ought to live in the jurisdictions they serve is a significant onewhich is why the residency requirement for other jurisdictions is enshrined in federal law. Yet, D.C. was exempt from this requirement based on the now-outdated notion that the District is too congested and small to house these appointed officials. The District of Columbia is a vibrant and bustling city with a diverse populace who deserve direct engagement on the part of its federal judges, U.S. attorney, and Marshals. My bill recognizes the fact that D.C. deserves the same type of community involvement by these federal officials as nearly every jurisdiction.\nI urge my colleagues to support this bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-remembers-visionary-and-trailblazing-former-eeoc-chair-jacqueline", "Norton Remembers Visionary and Trailblazing Former EEOC Chair, Jacqueline Berrien", "2015-11-09", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), said she was stunned and saddened to learn of the passing of former EEOC Chair Jacqueline Berrien. Berrien, like Norton, was a native Washingtonian, and was President Obamas first appointment as chair of the EEOC for his administration. Norton worked closely with Berrien on several issues, including providing more resources for the EEOC. Nortons statement follows.\nI was devastated to hear of the passing of Jacqueline Berrien, whose career with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the American Civil Liberties Union more than prepared her to take on the challenging work as President Obamas first EEOC chair. She had been a litigator and particularly appreciated that the EEOCs greatest contribution as a government agency would be in fighting systemic discrimination affecting large numbers of those covered by the law. She was not afraid to bring the EEOC into the 21st century, trailblazing areas of discrimination that required EEOC to make new law, such as the disparate impact of arrest and conviction records when used to make employment decisions. Throughout her tenure at EEOC, Jacqueline embarked on new paths that took courage and vision to chart out where the EEOC had not been before. Those of us who have worked in civil rights and the many thousands who benefitted from her work feel a special loss of a tireless champion.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-welcomes-attention-from-unrepresented-nations-and-peoples", "Norton Welcomes Attention From Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization to the District", "2015-11-09", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement after the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) announced today that it would welcome the District of Columbia as a member of the organization.\nCongratulations to our D.C. statehood delegation, led by D.C. Shadow Senator Paul Strauss, in getting UNPO to accept the District as its newest member at the organizations session this past week in Brussels, Belgium. I recognize that some of UNPOs members are ethnic groups or territories that present different kinds of abuse than we usually discuss in the District, but the fact that we are among strange bedfellows only points up the recognition that the denial of democracy takes many forms. We need more actions like those taken by the statehood delegation and Senator Strauss, who traveled to Brussels, in order to raise the national and international profile of the Districts fight for statehood, including full representation in our own Congress. Senator Strauss has also informed my office that he showed the HBO Last Week Tonight with John Oliver segment on D.C. statehood, in which Oliver makes fun of Congress for denying D.C. equal rights, at the UNPO session, and that the world-class HBO segment increased UNPOs understanding of the Districts status. On Tuesday, November 17, at 3:00 p.m. in 2253 Rayburn House Office Building, we are holding a Capitol Hill D.C. statehood briefing featuring the HBO segment and constitutional expert Viet Dinh, who served as U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy under President George W. Bush, followed by a discussion on the best ways to make continued use of the HBO segment to increase knowledge of the Districts undemocratic status.\nThe statehood delegations effort in Brussels adds to the extraordinary work of Tim Cooper, a D.C. resident who traveled to Geneva, Switzerland in 2006 to testify at the United Nations Human Rights Committee on D.C.s lack of representation, and, as a result, this very important committee has twice formally criticized the U.S. government for failing to grant D.C. residents equal congressional voting rights in the House and Senate.\nThe Districts problem with statehood does not begin within Congress, where there is currently insufficient pressure to change the status quo. The problem is with our fellow citizens in the states and others across the world, who have not been adequately educated about the Districts unequal status. In Congress, a record number of Democrats have signed on to our statehood bill in the House and Senate. As important as that effort is, it pales beside the outside pressure we need to put on Congress, which comes from citizen action and organizing, such as Senator Strauss trip to Brussels.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-president-s-rejection-of-the-keystone-xl-pipeline-asserts", "Norton Says Presidents Rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline Asserts Global Leadership Needed to Save the Planet", "2015-11-06", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement on the Presidents decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline project permit.\n\"The Presidents decision today to reject the permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline just a few weeks before the Paris summit on climate change reflects emerging economic and environmental realities. With climate change already showing itself sharply in the U.S. and throughout the world, the U.S. could hardly have gone to the Paris Summit at the end of the month with Keystone undecided. Low oil prices are closing oil fields in this country and alternative fuels, from wind to natural gas, compete with increasing favor with oil. With the President taking the lead, top greenhouse gas emitters, such as China and India, are stepping up, even though they are industrializing economies.\n\"Bringing out tar sands oil, among the dirtiest in the world, at a time when the market for oil in the U.S. is rapidly decreasing would have been difficult for an advanced economy to justify, especially considering that building Keystone would yield no net jobs in the U.S. once the pipeline was built. An independent study showed the pipeline would kill as many jobs as it would produce.\n\"The Presidents decision was courageous, particularly considering that the Congress is controlled by climate change deniers. Even they, however, can no longer simply deny the existence of climate change. Today, the President took action on the survival of the planet itself, the most important global issue in the 21st Century.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/dc-s-newest-us-attorney-what-went-into-my-decision-to-recommend-channing", "D.C.s Newest U.S. Attorney: What Went into My Decision to Recommend Channing Phillips", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nSome have wondered why I recommended a new U.S. Attorney for the District, Channing Phillips, instead of Vincent Cohen, who was Principal U.S. Attorney under former U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen, and why President Obama, after doing his own investigation, nominated Mr. Phillips.\nMr. Phillips and Mr. Cohen were both exceptionally well-qualified candidates with virtually the same experience in the U.S. Attorneys Office.\nSome have focused on former D.C. Mayor Vincent Grays case as the reason Mr.Cohen was not nominated. However, an unfinished case, barring obvious flaws, tells us nothing about a U.S. Attorney. Consequential cases, such as the successful prosecution of three former D.C. Council members while Mr. Cohen was in office, should be considered, however.\nIn response to a question at a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, then-U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder said, If the Justice Department had waited until after the election, we would have been charged potentially with withholding information that would have been relevant for voters to have and we ... bring the cases when theyre ready to go.\nWe relied on appraisals of the tenures of both candidates from judges, Justice Department officials, past and present attorneys in the U.S. Attorneys Office and others. The president and I focused on selecting the candidate we regarded as best for this important office at this time.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/as-aca-open-enrollment-begins-this-week-norton-introduces-bill-to", "As ACA Open Enrollment Begins This Week, Norton Introduces Bill to Increase Federal Reimbursement to D.C. Medicaid Program", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.With the 2015-2016 open enrollment period for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act launching this week, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to relieve the District of a portion of Medicaid costs it has uniquely borne for years. Nortons bill would increase the federal governments reimbursement for Medicaid costs from 70 to 80 percent. Raising the federal governments contribution to 80 percent would make the Districts contribution to Medicaid equal to the contribution paid by New York City in 2012-2013. The District pays for 30 percent of Medicaid, more than any U.S. city. Medicaid is financed mostly by the federal government and the states, but the District is a city with no state to contribute to it.\nMy bill would increase the federal governments Medicaid reimbursement for D.C. to match the level it pays to New York City, Norton said. The District should certainly contribute no more to Medicaid than the New York City, which has a huge tax base.\nThe bill would complete what Norton started with the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, when she got Congress to pay 70 percent of the District's Medicaid costs, rather than the crippling 50 percent it had been paying, which had been partly responsible for the city's economic crisis in the 1990s.\nNortons full introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\n\tOn the Introduction of\n\tThe District of Columbia Medicaid Reimbursement Act of 2015\n\tNovember 4, 2015\nMr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia Medicaid Reimbursement Act of 2015 as open enrollment begins this week for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. That important legislation, among other things, expands eligibility for Medicaid to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. My bill increases the federal governments reimbursement for a portion of the Districts Medicaid costs from 70 to 80 percent. In 2012-2013, New York City, the jurisdiction that powers the economy of New York State, contributes a 20 percent share for Medicaid costs, while the state pays 33 percent, less than the Districts federally mandated 30 percent contribution.\nMedicaid is financed mostly by the federal government and the states. However, the District, a city with no state to contribute to it, must alone absorb the state portion of Medicaid. Thus, the District pays for 30 percent of Medicaid, more than any U.S. city. Considering the difference in the size of its tax base, the District should certainly contribute no more than the New York City contribution to Medicaid. Therefore, my bill would raise the federal contribution to the District's Medicaid program to 80 percent, equal to that of New York City.\nUnder the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (Revitalization Act), Congress recognized that state costs are inappropriate for any city to shoulder. To address this unfairness to the District, the Revitalization Act transferred certain, but not all, state responsibilities from the District to the federal government, including the cost of prisons and courts, and increased the federal Medicaid reimbursement to the District from 50 to 70 percent, partially relieving this burden. The city continues to carry many state costs, however.\nIn 1997, a formula error in the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital allotment reduced the 70 percent Federal Medical Assistance Percentage share, and, as a result, the District received only $23 million instead of the $49 million it was due. I was able to secure a technical correction in the Balanced Budget Act of 1999, partially increasing the annual allotment to $32 million from fiscal year 2000 forward. I appreciate that in 2005, Congress responded to our effort to get an additional annual increase of $20 million in the budget reconciliation bill, bringing D.C.s Medicaid reimbursements to $57 million, as intended by the Revitalization Act. However, this amount did not reimburse the District for the years the federal error denied the city part of its rightful federal contribution.\nI urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-appoints-mar-a-e-holleran-rivera-to-her-federal-law-enforcement", "Norton Appoints Mara E. Holleran Rivera to Her Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced Mara E. Holleran Rivera as the newest member of her Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission. The Commission screens and recommends candidates for important federal law enforcement positions in the District of Columbia from whom Norton chooses her recommendations to the President. Rivera, who recently retired from federal government service, has extensive experience working as an attorney for both the federal and District of Columbia governments. Rivera is a past president and board member of the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia. From 2000-2012, she worked for the U.S. Department of Energy, most recently as a foreign affairs specialist from 2008-2012. From 1983-1999, Rivera worked in the Districts Office of the Corporation Counsel, now known as the Office of the Attorney General. Rivera was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New York City. She is a resident of Ward 1. The Commission, chaired by Pauline Schneider, a special counsel at Ballard Spahr LLP and former president of the D.C. Bar., consists of lawyers and laypeople from all of the citys wards.\nMara E. Holleran Riveras distinguished background as an attorney for both the federal and D.C. governments and in Hispanic legal affairs make her especially well qualified to help select candidates for important federal positions, Norton said. She is deeply rooted in our city and in our legal community. Her background in the D.C. and federal governments is a welcome addition to our commission.\nPresident Obama, like President Clinton, granted Norton senatorial courtesy to recommend federal district court judges, the U.S. Attorney, and other federal law enforcement officials in the District. Nortons Commission consists of 17 D.C. residents.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-resumes-fight-to-protect-home-as-republicans-threaten-to-impose", "Norton Resumes Fight to Protect Home Rule as Republicans Threaten to Impose Riders as Final Spending Negotiations Begin", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) has redoubled her efforts to ensure that the District of Columbias right to self-government is preserved as final negotiations begin on a fiscal year 2016 omnibus spending bill, with Republican House and Senate leaders insisting that controversial riders be included in the bill.\nRepublicans control of Congress for the first time in eight years and the Houses far right power gains mean we will be more reliant than ever on the President and congressional Democrats, whose votes will be necessary to pass any bill, to defend D.C. home rule, Norton said.\nNorton was gratified that the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed fiscal year 2016 D.C. Appropriations bill does not include any D.C. riders. However, the House Appropriations Committee-passed D.C. Appropriations bill contains threeprohibiting D.C. from spending its local funds on abortions for low-income women, on legalizing marijuana sales, and on enforcing the Reproductive Heath Non-Discrimination Act (RHNDA). RHNDA prohibits D.C. employers from discriminating against employees based on their reproductive health decisions.\nOverturning RHNDA is a top priority for the House Freedom Caucus, the Republican Study Committee and outside conservative groups, which forced leadership to bring a disapproval resolution to the House floor to block RHNDA, the first one since 1991. While the disapproval resolution passed in the House, the Senate did not take it up and the president threatened to veto it.\nIn the fiscal year 2015 spending bill, Republicans blocked D.C. from legalizing marijuana sales. While they argued that the rider also blocked D.C.s initiative legalizing marijuana possession, Norton found a loophole in the language and the initiative has since been implemented.\nA spending bill must be passed by December 11 to avert a federal government shutdown. Even if the federal government shuts down, however, the D.C. government will remain open because of a provision Norton got enacted exempting D.C. from shutdowns in fiscal year 2016.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-big-four-surface-transportation-bill-passed-today-with-new", "Norton Says Big Four Surface Transportation Bill Passed Today with New Funding and Federal Safety Oversight Will Help New WMATA General Manager with Agencys Challenges", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee and a member of the Big Four transportation leaders that introduced the six-year surface transportation bill that passed the House today, released the following statement after the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritys (WMATA) Board named Paul Wiedefeld as the agencys new General Manager and Chief Executive Officer.\nA fair amount of what has plagued WMATA has been that the transit agency has been without leadership for nearly 10 months until today. Having an actual leader in place will provide WMATA with much-needed stability and certainty. Mr. Wiedefeld will take office just as we have passed the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 today in the House. Besides providing desperately needed funding, our bill contains the PROMPT Act, which allows direct federal oversight of WMATA by the Federal Transit Administration until the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland have had the time to develop a state safety oversight agency certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary. We believe these actions will give the new General Manager the tools most needed to begin a new chapter for WMATA.\nThe transit agency should be strengthened by Mr. Wiedefelds combination of public and private sector experience, both of which have been close to home. His service as Administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, a major multi-model transit system that has many similarities to WMATA, and his operational experience as CEO of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport mean he has succeeded in the eye of the storm. Mr. Wiedefelds experience in increasing operational efficiency, improving customer service, addressing passenger concerns and safety, contracting with vendors, and overseeing the largest expansion in BWIs history will prepare him as WMATA works to ensure passenger safety, implement its new fleet of 7000 series cars, and manage the upcoming expansion of the Silver Line toward Dulles Airport.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/surface-transportation-reauthorization-reform-act-receives-overwhelming", "Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act Receives Overwhelming House Support", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following three days of debate, during which over 100 amendments were considered, the U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan, multi-year surface transportation bill to reauthorize and reform federal highway, transit, and highway safety programs.\nThe Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (the STRR Act) helps improve the Nations surface transportation infrastructure, refocuses programs on addressing national priorities, provides more flexibility and certainty for states and local governments, accelerates project delivery, maintains a strong commitment to safety, and promotes innovation to make the transportation system and programs more effective.\nThe legislation, approved today by a vote of 363 to 64, was introduced in the House by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Ranking Member Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).\nThe crowning achievement of this bill is its six years of promised funding to the states and the District of Columbia so that they can, once again, resume significant projects,Nortonsaid. This six-year authorization comes at a time when much of our infrastructure needs rebuilding, not repair. To keep this six-year funding promise, we must reinvent the Highway Trust Fund. If we work together, as Chairman Shuster, Ranking Member DeFazio, Subcommittee Chairman Graves and I have on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, we will be able to take pride in doing for the nations 21stcentury infrastructure what the Eisenhower administration and Congress did for the nations 20thcentury infrastructure nearly 60 years ago.\nToday the House voted to give our infrastructure and our economy a much needed shot in the arm,Shustersaid. The STRR Act provides strong reforms and policies to help us improve Americas transportation system, and now we can get to work on resolving the differences with the Senate bill and carry a final measure over the goal line,Shustersaid.\nI am very pleased, that after ten years of short-term band-aids and extensions, the House finally passed a bipartisan, six-year transportation bill, saidDeFazio. This legislation isnt perfect. Unfortunately, it doesnt provide the level of investment needed to repair or rebuild our aging 1950s-era system of roads, bridges, and public transit systems. It does, however, include a critical provision that would allow for automatic adjustments and increased infrastructure investment if more money flows into the Highway Trust Fund than currently projected. If Congress does the right thing and comes up with more revenue to deposit into the Highway Trust Fund, this mechanism will invest those funds in our surface transportation infrastructure, without any additional action by Congress. This is a step in the right direction. I commend Chairman Shuster, Chairman Graves, and Ranking Member Norton for this bill and look forward to the upcoming conference with the Senate.\nProperly investing in and modernizing this countrys infrastructure should be a top priority of the federal government,Gravessaid. But for the past decade, states have been forced to operate off of one short-term highway extension after another. A multi-year surface transportation bill is critical to all of those responsible for maintaining Americas roads and bridges, and todays bipartisan vote reflects that. I want to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Members DeFazio and Holmes Norton for all of their hard work completing this bill.\nClickherefor more details about the provisions included in the STRR Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-issues-statement-on-wade-henderson-s-retirement-and-legacy", "Norton Issues Statement on Wade Hendersons Retirement and Legacy", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called her friend, Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, upon learning of his decision to retire at the end of next year and issued the following statement.\nAs might be expected, Wade Henderson is leaving the venerable Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in fine shape with succession planning for which his successor will be grateful. However, it is Wades work that has institutionalized the Leadership Conferences work for an era of progress following the passage of the three great civil rights statutes. During his 20 extraordinary years of leadership, Wade broadened the Leadership Conferences membership from a 20th century civil rights organization to a 21st century human rights conference and broadened its mission to match. Building a coalition of such breadth could have been unwieldy, and making it credible into the halls of power was a formidable challenge. Wade Henderson went well beyond making the Leadership Conference credible. He made it powerful. Members of the Congress and the public alike are the beneficiaries of Wade Hendersons unique legacy.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-one-of-four-leaders-for-bipartisan-surface-transportation-bill", "Norton, One of Four Leaders for Bipartisan Surface Transportation Bill, Speaks on House Floor on Its Merits and Shortcomings", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Racial Profiling, DBE, Workforce Development, and Enhanced Bus Safety for Drivers and Riders among Norton Priorities in Bill\nWASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees subcommittee on Highways and Transit, helped open debate yesterday on the House floor on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRR). Norton is one of the bipartisan Big Four committee leaders that introduced the six-year surface transportation bill, which will also be debated on the floor today and tomorrow. Norton was candid about the bills shortcomings, particularly its funding level, which is the same, adjusted for inflation, as the previous surface transportation reauthorization, MAP-21, which was passed three years ago. She said that the bill is barely funded for two and a half years and is a six-year bill in name only. At the same time, she said that states and the District of Columbia planning large projects will be grateful for the certainty in the immediate future provided by a six-year bill. STRR is the first long-term surface transportation bill in 10 years.\nNorton said, however, that the shortcomings of this bill should not obscure what makes this bill unique. It is genuinely bipartisan. It was approved unanimously in committeeDemocrats and Republicans put aside their many differences, giving up much of what they believed they need. I hope this bill will be a model for how to proceed in the future.\nNorton said she was particularly pleased that the bill includes her language to provide $45 million in federal highway grant funding to encourage state-based efforts to collect racial profiling data on traffic stops and develop strategies to combat profiling.\nNorton also highlighted a number of other important priorities that she got in the bill, including: direct federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority Metrorail system; new 21st century pilot funding to replace the now antiquated Highway Trust Fund, which has been made obsolete by energy-efficient vehicles; reauthorization of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which provides contract opportunities for businesses owned by minorities, women, and service-disabled veterans; funding for workforce development; and enhanced safety for bus riders and drivers.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-writes-in-support-of-protected-bike-lane-connecting-union-station", "Norton Writes in Support of Protected Bike Lane Connecting Union Station and Capitol; Announces Funding in Transportation Bill on Floor Now", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter she wrote to Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers and District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif Dormsjo urging support for the construction of a protected bicycle lane facility on Louisiana Avenue NE between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Norton said D.C. biking advocates have already gotten the construction of the bike lane included in DDOTs MoveDC two-year action plan for D.C.s transportation future. Norton said the project has broad support from the community, local officials, and Members of Congress.\nNorton helped include federal funding to support safe streets projects in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, which she introduced with the three other bipartisan Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders. The bill is being debated on the House floor this week.\nIn her letter, Norton wrote, A protected bike lane between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Louisiana Avenue would improve safety and provide a vital link between already existing bike lanes in the area.There is uniform support by the surrounding community for a protected bike lane on Louisiana Avenue connecting Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C have both written to your offices expressing strong support for the bike lane. In addition, my congressional colleagues representing our bipartisan Congressional Bike Caucus, of which I am a member, have written in support of this bike lane.\nNortons full letter is below.  \n\tStephen T. Ayers  \n\tArchitect of the Capitol  \n\tSB-15, U.S. Capitol  \n\tWashington, DC 20515\nLeif Dormsjo  \n\tDirector  \n\tD.C. Department of Transportation  \n\t55 M Street, SE  \n\tSuite 400  \n\tWashington, DC 2000\nDear Architect of the Capitol Ayers and Director Dormsjo:\nI am writing to support bicyclists in the District of Columbia who have gotten the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) to include in its MoveDC plan the construction of a protected bicycle lane facility on Louisiana Avenue NE between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. This project has broad support from the community and Members of Congress, and it would provide a vital benefit to the many residents, visitors, and workers that traverse the area by bicycle.\nA protected bike lane between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Louisiana Avenue would improve safety and provide a vital link between already existing bike lanes in the area. Union Station and the U.S. Capitol are separated by multi-lane roadways with fast-moving traffic, which poses safety risks to the residents, workers, and visitors destined for Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, and points beyond. DDOT has already constructed protected bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and First Street NE and throughout the city. Filling in the missing link on Louisiana Avenue NE would help complete this network of bicycle lanes.\nThere is uniform support by the surrounding community for a protected bike lane on Louisiana Avenue connecting Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C have both written to your offices expressing strong support for the bike lane. In addition, my congressional colleagues representing our bipartisan Congressional Bike Caucus, of which I am a member, have written in support of this bike lane. This support shows that a protected bike lane is needed, and will provide a safer and more efficient connection between Union Station, a major transportation hub, and the U.S. Capitol and surrounding neighborhoods.\nAs you evaluate the feasibility of a protected bike lane facility between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds, I ask that you keep my office informed. I will have staff follow up with your offices on a timeline for completion.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\nCC:  The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus  \n\t     The Honorable Vern Buchanan, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus  \n\t     Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6       \n\t     Mark Kazmierczak, Chair, Transportation/Public Space Committee. ANC 6C  \n\t     Greg Billing, Executive Director, Washington Area Bicyclist Association\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-flags-issue-of-dc-licenses-not-being-recognized-for-new-tsa", "Norton Flags Issue of D.C. Licenses Not Being Recognized for New TSA Administrator at Congressional Hearing", "2015-11-03", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.At an Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing today with the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator, Peter Neffenger, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) raised the issue of TSA agents being unable to recognize the new District of Columbia license, which was changed from Washington, D.C. to District of Columbia, in May 2014. Before Norton asked her question on TSA security issues at airports, she held up a sample copy of a REAL ID D.C. license and gave a copy to Administrator Neffenger. Norton told the Administrator Neffenger that she spoke early last year with his predecessor, John Pistole, after her office received repeated complaints from residents that their new D.C. license was not recognized by TSA agents and that some had been asked to present their passports instead, despite the fact most travelers do not carry their passports when flying domestically. When problems persisted, Norton met with TSA Deputy Administrator Melvin Carraway. Both Pistole and Carraway took corrective action to ensure all three D.C. licenses currently in circulation are a part of the daily transportation security officers shift briefings. Norton said that she raised the issue again because her office still receives some complaints, although she is grateful that the complaints are far fewer than before.\n\t\t\t\t\tI wanted the new TSA administrator to understand how seriously D.C. residents take the failure of TSA agents to recognize their drivers license and the embarrassment of being pulled out of line and to be asked for a passport instead, as if they were from a foreign country, not the District of Columbia, our nations capital, Norton said. This issue has become one more indignity that residents see as closely related to the denial to them of equal rights. As we have continued to raise this issue, complaints have gone down. We will continue to raise it until, as a matter of course, TSA agents recognize D.C. licenses.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-outreach-requirements-yield-construction-jobs-for-dc-residents-at", "Norton Outreach Requirements Yield Construction Jobs for D.C. Residents at Some Federal Projects", "2015-11-03", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Improvements and Contracts for D.C. Small Businesses Sought in Others \nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced new statistics showing District of Columbia residents employed and D.C. small businesses contracted at federal construction projects in the city that were achieved through Nortons legislative work. The new numbers reflect resumption in construction at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters at St. Elizabeths as well as other new projects that are underway. The projects showing the highest percentages of D.C. residents employed are, in order, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History (Clark Construction, 13%), Lafayette Building Modernization (Grunley Construction, 13%), the Old Post Office Building (Trump Construction, 12.6%), and the Harry S. Truman Modernization (Clark Construction, 10%). All of these projects show D.C. residents representing over 10% of workers, higher than the regional representation of D.C. residents. The DHS headquarters project on the Ward 8 St. Elizabeths Campus is the largest federal construction project in the country. Two of the contractors currently working on the St. Elizabeths project, Grunley Construction and General Dynamics, reported rates of employed D.C. residents at less than 3%. General Dynamics is doing IT installation on the St. Elizabeths campus. They are doing high-skill work and the jobs require extensive security clearances. CW Resources, the third contractor operating at St. Elizabeths, reported having 68 D.C. residents employed for custodial and related services, and one employed for D.C. building operations and maintenance services, but did not report their total number of employees working at St. Elizabeths. Norton said she expects D.C. employment rates at St. Elizabeths to improve because the main building for the DHS secretary and his 900 top staff just came out of the design phase and is about to enter the main construction and renovation phases, which will require positions for which many D.C. construction workers are well-suited. Norton said she will closely monitor the subcontractors as well, and will hold the prime contractor, Grunley, accountable on the follow-through to its subcontractors.\nNorton is also tracking the number of D.C. small businesses awarded contracts at the St. Elizabeths site and the Old Post Office Building. At the Old Post Office Building, Trump Construction has awarded 10% of the value of qualifying contracts to D.C. small businesses. So far, Grunley Construction has hired only one D.C. small business, but with its design only approved last week, Norton said this number is expected to increase.\nWhen there is significant federal construction that proceeds from my work in Congress, my obligation does not cease upon getting the bill passed or funding appropriated, Norton said. Although federal law allows any American to work on federal construction projects, it is only fair that we use the available legal tools, such as aggressive outreach, to see that D.C. residents have the opportunity for jobs in their own city. These monthly statistics hold federal contractors accountable and gauge whether they are fulfilling their obligation to our local economy. I recognize some of the D.C. sites are still in a start-up phase, but we expect to see monthly improvements in D.C. employment and small business utilization.\nNorton monitors and publishes monthly numbers of D.C. residents hired and D.C. small business contracts on federal projects in the District. Anyone, regardless of residency, can work on a federally financed project, and federal law prohibits local jurisdictions from using specific quotas for the hiring of local residents. However, outreach in the local community is encouraged. Prior to the start of heavy construction, Norton met with contractors to discuss hiring D.C. residents, to determine the job skills that would lend themselves well to D.C. residents, and to identify projects that would be well-suited for D.C. small businesses. As she has done in the past, Norton also makes unannounced visits to federal construction sites and holds roundtables to report progress.\nGSA has also set up an Opportunities Center at St. Elizabeths (2701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE, St. Elizabeths West Campus), which is open weekdays 8:00 a.m.  4:00 p.m. and provides assistance to prospective employees and helps small businesses with hiring and contracting processes at St. Elizabeths and other GSA sites. The center also offers resume writing workshops, job postings, 8(a) small business training, and community outreach.\nBelow is the hiring breakdown by company and total hiring at federal construction sites to date.\nWard 8 Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Project on the St. Elizabeths Campus\n\t\t\t\tContractor\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tProject\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTotal D.C. Residents Employed and percentage of total as of October 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGrunley Construction\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDesign/Build of the Historic Center Building\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t2 of 79 (2.5%)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGeneral Dynamics\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDHS Technology Integration Program (TIP)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t2 of 71 (2.8%)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCW Resources\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCustodial and Related Services\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t68*\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCW Resources\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBuilding Operations and Maintenance Services\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t1*\n\t\t\t\n\t\t* No total number of employees reported\nOld Post Office Building\n\t\t\t\tContractor\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTotal D.C. Residents Employed as percentage of total as of October 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTrump Construction\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t46,237 man hours of 367,722 man hours (12.6% of total)\n\t\t\t\n\t\tOther Large D.C. Federal Projects\n\t\t\t\tContractor\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tProject\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTotal D.C. Residents Employed as percentage of total as of October 2015\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClark Construction\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSmithsonian National Museum of African American History\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t333 of 2601 (13%)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGrunley Construction\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLafayette Building Modernization\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t82 of 630 (13%)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tClark Construction\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHarry S. Truman Modernization\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t52 of 520 (10%)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-testify-at-senate-hearing-about-shortcomings-of-the-dc-voucher", "Norton to Testify at Senate Hearing About Shortcomings of the D.C. Voucher Program, Wednesday", "2015-11-03", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Norton Releases Testimony \n\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released an advance copy of Nortons testimony ahead of a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing on reauthorizing the District of Columbia private school voucher program, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in 343 Dirksen Senate Office Building. A bill to reauthorize the controversial program, which provides federal funds for low-income D.C. students to attend private schools in D.C., passed the House last month, and the program was former Speaker John Boehners (R-OH) political pet project for more than a decade. Norton said she opposes the program because it has failed to improve academic achievement, including for the students it was designed to most benefit, those from low-performing public schools; it violates D.C.s right to self-government; it deprives students of federal civil rights protections; and it is unnecessary for our city, which, unlike most jurisdictions, has robust public school choice programs. Norton said that, despite her opposition to the program, President Obama and I have always supported allowing current voucher students to remain in this program until they graduate high school. However, Republicans refused this compromise. Nevertheless, Norton said she wants to work with the programs supporters to eliminate voucher mills, saying Congress should not fund low-quality schools that would not exist but for this programs virtually unconditional federal funds. Norton also expressed concern that the bill eliminates the requirement from the prior authorizations that this programs evaluation be conducted using the strongest possible research design.\n\t\t\t\t\tNortons full testimony, as prepared for delivery, is below.\n\t\t\t\t\tTestimony of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\n\t\t\t\t\tCommittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs \n\t\t\t\t\tThe Value of Education Choices for Low-Income Families: Reauthorizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program\n\t\t\t\t\tNovember 4, 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tAs the only member privileged to represent the residents of the District of Columbia in Congress, I very much appreciate the opportunity to testify today. Chairman Johnson, I begin by thanking you for working with me on your bill (S. 1629) to make improvements to D.C. criminal justice agencies under federal jurisdiction. I appreciate your leadership as this bill is on its way to passage.\n\t\t\t\t\tI recognize that the bill (S. 2171/H.R. 10) to reauthorize the D.C. voucher program may pass. Therefore, as the bill moves forward, I want to work with my colleagues who support this $182 million program to ensure that the voucher students, who I am proud to represent as my constituents, receive a high-quality education. I will offer some suggestions shortly.\n\t\t\t\t\tPresident Obama and I have always supported allowing current voucher students to remain in this program until they graduate high school, but we oppose admitting new students, a reasonable compromise considering that D.C. is one of the few jurisdictions in the United States that has built significant alternatives to its traditional public school system. I oppose this program because it has failed to improve academic achievement, including for the students it was designed to most benefit, those from low-performing public schools; it violates D.C.s right to self-government; it deprives students of federal civil rights protections; and it is unnecessary for our city, which, unlike most jurisdictions, has robust public school choice programs. Few jurisdictions enjoy the quality or quantity of our charter schools, which 44 percent of our public school students attend, or have 75% of their students attending out-of-boundary schools.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that this program lacks quality controls and transparency. I appreciate that the bill attempts to improve this program, especially by requiring students, at the very least, to attend accredited schools. However, accreditation is a relatively low bar, and is not sufficient to ensure quality.\n\t\t\t\t\tWhile there are a number of high-quality schools in this program, Congress should not fund low-quality schools that would not exist but for this programs virtually unconditional federal funds. These voucher mills are often fly-by-night schools in low-income neighborhoods that sprang up only after Congress created this program. For example, GAO found that voucher students comprised more than 80% of the total enrollment of six schools. The Washington Post, in an investigation titled Quality Controls Lacking for D.C. Schools Accepting Federal Vouchers, spoke to officials at some of these schools. The founder of one said, If this program were to end, this school would end. If a school can only survive by relying primarily or solely on federal funds, it suggests there is limited private market demand for the education that school provides. I hope to work with this programs supporters to eliminate voucher mills.\n\t\t\t\t\tTo accomplish this purpose, I offered an amendment in the House to limit voucher students to 50% of a schools total enrollment, a fairly liberal requirement. My amendment was rejected, but I appreciated that the majority indicated they support eliminating voucher mills. Perhaps the cap should be higher, or perhaps there are better, less blunt quality controls. However, the burden is on Congress to ensure that the high-quality schools funded by this program, such as our fully accredited Catholic schools, do not have to compete for these federal funds with voucher mills.\n\t\t\t\t\tI am also concerned that the bill eliminates the requirement from the prior authorizations that this programs evaluation be conducted using the strongest possible research design. Thus far, this program has been evaluated with the gold standard of scientific research, a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In contrast, the bill requires the evaluation to be conducted using an acceptable quasi-experimental research design, and expressly prohibits an RCT. However, the researchers conducting the current evaluation have indicated that an RCT is especially important in the context of school choice because families wanting to apply for a choice program may have educational goals and aspirations that differ from the average family.\n\t\t\t\t\tSome suggest that it is unfair to deny students a voucher by putting them in a control group for an RCT. Others suggest that it is too difficult to administer an RCT. Given that this program is the first and only federally funded or created voucher program, we owe it to these students and the nations taxpayers to understand whether it is improving academic achievement and attainment.\n\t\t\t\t\tI appreciate this committees interest in improving access to a high-quality education. I look forward to working with you to accomplish this goal.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-at-brightwood-park-to-focus-on-clean-senate", "Norton In Your Neighborhood at Brightwood Park to Focus on Clean Senate Appropriations Bill, D.C. Priorities in Transportation and Infrastructure Bill, and DCTAG, Tonight", "2015-11-02", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Norton in Your Neighborhood community conversation hosted by the Brightwood Park Civic Association tonight, Monday, November 2, 2015 from 7:00 p.m.  8:00 p.m. at the Emery Recreation Center (5701 Georgia Ave. NW). Norton will engage Brightwood-area and other District of Columbia residents about how D.C. has floated above the rancorous House Republican majority to get federal help for bus and rail safety and jobs, to preserve DCTAG funding for D.C.s college-bound students, and other priorities.\nNorton in Your Neighborhood discussions are very valuable to me because they give me the opportunity for feedback from residents on what they need from Congress, Norton said. This community event is open to all D.C. residents, and I encourage residents to join us tonight at Emery Recreation Center.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-letter-gets-quick-response-from-smithsonian-providing-nursing", "Norton Letter Gets Quick Response from Smithsonian Providing Nursing Employees with Lactation Facilities", "2015-10-29", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Norton to Keep Pushing for Accommodations at Federal Buildings for Visiting Nursing Mothers\n\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she was pleased by the quick actions and response by Smithsonian Institution Secretary David Skorton, detailed in a letter written to Norton, in which he described action he has taken to strengthen practices and policies to ensure that employees of the Smithsonian who are nursing mothers have access to appropriate private places to pump breast milk for their babies and tasking all our directors and supervisors to immediately identifyappropriate space for nursing mothers. Earlier this month, Norton wrote to Skorton to express her dismay that Smithsonian employees reported facing major obstacles to pumping breast milk in safe and private spaces and that the Smithsonian lacked dedicated lactation spaces at more than 20 of its facilities, in violation of federal law. In his letter, Skorton said that on October 23, the Smithsonian adopted a formal policy to support our nursing mother colleagues by providing reasonable breaks during the workday to express milk in private, and have distributed the policy to employees and posted it on their internal website. Norton said she appreciated the Smithsonians swift actions and will be monitoring the newly implemented policies in the coming months.\n\t\t\t\t\tI thank Secretary Skorton for taking immediate action to address this serious situation by ensuring all nursing mothers employed by the Smithsonian have access to the spaces they need to pump breast milk in private, Norton said. While I appreciate that Smithsonian employees will have improved nursing spaces, I want to work with the Smithsonian, one of the top tourist sites in the District, on spaces for visiting nursing mothers as well. The Smithsonian attracts millions of visitors each year. For years, federal agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have encouraged breastfeeding. I am working on a bill to require accommodations for nursing mothers who visit federal buildings. However, considering the Smithsonian is probably the top attraction here for families with young children, I hope the Smithsonian will work with me to become a model for other agencies.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-will-reach-out-to-new-speaker-of-the-house-paul-ryan", "Norton Will Reach Out to New Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan", "2015-10-29", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the following statement following the election of Congressman Paul D. Ryan (R-WI) as Speaker of the House.\n\t\t\t\t\tI will reach out and look forward to working with our new speaker, Paul Ryan. Paul is a friend who I have worked with in the past. I first got to know him from his relationship with my good friend, the late Representative and former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Jack Kemp (R-NY), who was Pauls mentor. I see Jack Kemps continuing influence on Paul in his outspoken leadership on a Republican approach to poverty, a subject that other Republicans often neglect.\n\t\t\t\t\tPaul Ryans voting record on District of Columbia matters in recent years has not been unlike others in his caucus. However, I believe Paul understands the importance of local self-government, and I do not think he is unreceptive to our demands for home rule. However, he has not been tested on the degree to which he would respect the Districts right to self-government.\n\t\t\t\t\tI was encouraged by Pauls candor that the House is broken, is in chaos, and is not solving problems, only adding to them. We believe the Houses acrimony about home rule is part of that chaos. The Republican Senate has mostly avoided acrimony about home rule by not interfering with D.C.s home-rule preferences, such as its recent funding for DCTAG and clean D.C. appropriations bill. I will seek the same from Speaker Ryan.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-requests-november-community-meeting-on-upcoming-closure-of", "Norton Requests November Community Meeting on Upcoming Closure of Buzzard Point Marina", "2015-10-28", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.After hearing concerns from her constituents about the scheduled closing of Buzzard Point Marina at the end of the year, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today sent a letter to the National Park Service (NPS) requesting a community meeting in early November so that members of the public and boating community can share their concerns about the closure of the marina and the future use of the area. Norton said she would have preferred NPS to have held a community meeting shortly after the decision to close the marina in August, but at the very least the meeting should take place early next month to allow enough time for affected residents to give feedback and receive information on the decision-making process regarding the marina closure.\n\t\t\t\t\tWhile I understand Buzzard Point Marina badly needs repair, residents who dock their boats there deserve to hear directly from NPS officials on why the marinas closure is necessary and to be part of the planning process for the area going forward, Norton said. More than half of the slips at Buzzard Point are occupied. Therefore, the impact of the closure will be substantial. An early-November meeting is not too much to ask.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe full letter is below.\n\t\t\t\t\tOctober 28, 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tGopaul Noojibail  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSuperintendent, National Capital Parks East  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tNational Park Service  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1900 Anacostia Drive SE  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20020\n\t\t\t\t\tDear Superintendent Noojibail:\n\t\t\t\t\tAs you know, constituents have called my office regarding the temporary closure of Buzzard Point Marina. I appreciate that you now intend to schedule a community meeting. Since the National Park Service (NPS) intends to close the marina on December 31, 2015, I am asking you to schedule a meeting in early November so that members of the public and boating community can share their concerns about the closure of the marina and the future use of the area.\n\t\t\t\t\tWe understand that Buzzard Point Marina is in desperate need of repair, and that a closure may be necessary to replace the existing docks in order to create a space that a potential concessioner could make profitable. However, NPS should hear from the community, including the sizable number of those who currently keep their boats at Buzzard Point. A public meeting would allow you to discuss the decision-making process regarding the marina closure.\n\t\t\t\t\tPlease contact my office as soon as possible with the date, time, and location of a community meeting where boat owners and other interested parties can discuss the future of Buzzard Point Marina.\n\t\t\t\t\tSincerely,\n\t\t\t\t\tEleanor Holmes Norton\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-new-dci-washington-training-complex-will-help-provide", "Norton Says New DCI Washington Training Complex Will Help Provide Trained D.C. Workers For Her Congressional Construction Projects", "2015-10-28", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will offer remarks at the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for Dynamic Concepts Inc.s (DCI) new Washington Training Complex today, Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., at 1419 Kenilworth Avenue NE. The complex is a private-public partnership training facility that will focus on providing District of Columbia residents with specialized training in the construction field, including installing gas pipelines, underground electric utilities, and communication conduits.\n\t\t\t\t\tI am very pleased to see the opening of this much-needed training facility specializing in the construction trades, particularly because my major work in Congress and its committees has been in bringing construction projects to the city, Norton said. For example, we need skilled District residents to work on the construction of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) center building at St. Elizabeths, which is underway and will house the DHS secretary and 700 top DHS officials. Just last week, a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that I helped write as the top Democrat on the reauthorizing subcommittee moved in Congress and will be on the House floor in November, just in time for construction projects to use trained District workers. Another bill of mine, the Southwest Waterfront Redevelopment Act, is making possible construction of The Wharf, which will need workers for years to come. I look forward to working with the District to ensure interested residents who take advantage of this new training facility can step into jobs in their own city.\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter the ceremony, DCI will partner with the D.C. Department of Employment Services to host a career fair to connect job-seeking residents with major utility companies like Washington Gas, Pepco, and Verizon.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-ban-use-of-e-cigarettes-and-other-electronic", "Norton Introduces Bill to Ban Use of E-Cigarettes and Other Electronic Smoking Devices on Airplanes", "2015-10-27", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today introduced a bill to prohibit the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on board airplanes following the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rule issued yesterday prohibiting passengers and crewmembers from carrying battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices in checked baggage, which did not ban the use of these vaping devices on airplanes. Norton said these devices pose significant fire and health risks to airplane passengers, and that she acted because the DOT rule requiring passengers to carry electronic vaping devices onto airplanes is a virtual invitation to smoke, making this bill necessary. Norton said although some individual airlines have banned the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices on airplanes, a federal ban is necessary to cover all airlines.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe use of e-cigarettes and similar vaping devices on airplanes presents a substantial safety risk to passengers from second hand smoke as leading medical organizations have warned, Norton said. The Department of Transportation rule issued yesterday prevents passengers from putting vaping devices into checked luggage, yet, under current federal law, passengers on certain flights can smoke using devices that have not been shown to be definitely safe, either for the user or those around them. Individual airlines have already recognized the risks posed by vaping devices, and it is time we made the ban on using them in-flight universal with a congressional bill.\n\t\t\t\t\tNortons full introductory statement is below.\n\t\t\t\t\tStatement of the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton on\n\t\t\t\t\tIntroduction of Banning the Use of Electronic Cigarettes on Airplanes Act of 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tOctober 27, 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tMs. Norton. Mr. Speaker,\n\t\t\t\t\tI rise to introduce the Banning the Use of Electronic Cigarettes on Airplanes Act of 2015. The bill prohibits the use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on commercial airplanes by including use of these devices within the definition of smoking. Smoking tobacco products on commercial airplanes has been banned for years, but with the increase in use of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices in their place, it is necessary to update our laws to reflect this new nuisance and health risk on airplanes. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in 2011 ban the use of these devices, but four years later, no progress has been made. Therefore, Congress should step in to legislatively resolve the issue.\n\t\t\t\t\tElectronic cigarette use has increased over the last decade with the increased education of the general public about the dangers and public health threats caused by traditional cigarettes to smokers and nonsmokers alike. For example, between 2010 and 2011, e-cigarette use among adults doubled. Researchers and public health experts have voiced concerns over the use of electronic cigarettes because there are still so many unknowns about the chemicals these devices can produce. The American Lung Association (ALA) has cited many concerns about the lack of regulation of e-cigarettes because they are on the market while the potential harm from secondhand e-cigarette emissions is unknown. ALA has identified two studies that show formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and other harmful irritants coming from e-cigarette emissions. In addition, the temperature of an e-cigarette can affect how many harmful the chemicals are, but with no configuration standards, it is too difficult to uniformly assess the health effects of smoking e-cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule in 2014 that would extend new regulatory authority to e-cigarettes by subjecting e-cigarettes to registration and product listing requirements, restrictions on marketing products prior to FDA review, and a prohibition on providing free samples like with traditional tobacco products.\n\t\t\t\t\tThis year we celebrate 25 years since legislation was passed banning smoking on domestic flights in the United States. In the 1960s, the U.S. Surgeon General identified smoking as a cause of increased mortality and by 1986, the U.S. Surgeon General had named secondhand smoke a serious health risk. The National Academy of Sciences, in its report The Airliner Cabin Environment: Air Quality and Safety, recommended a ban on smoking on all domestic commercial flights. The Association of Flight Attendants can be credited with urging the smoking ban due to the negative health impacts flights attendants suffered working in cramped, closed-off spaces when a third or more passengers smoked in-flight. Congress used this information to include an amendment authored by then-Representative Dick Durbin (D-IL) in the Federal Aviation Act that made domestic flights of two hours or less smoke free. By 1990, this smoking ban was extended to all domestic flights of six hours or less, and, in 2000, the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act made all flights to and from the United States smoke-free. All of this was done even in the face of the strong tobacco industrys opposition because of the undeniable health impacts of cigarettes and cigarette smoke. Many flyers do not remember a time without No Smoking signs located throughout a commercial airplane.\n\t\t\t\t\tIn 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued its NPRM to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on U.S. airplanes. Under current FAA policy, battery-powered electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, vape pens, atomizers, and electronic nicotine systems are prohibited in checked baggage, and the FAA recommends that such devices only be carried in the aircraft cabins because of safety issues. It is up to individual airlines to ban their use. Some airlines have already taken the initiative to institute a ban on the use of electronic cigarettes, but legislation is necessary to make this update applicable to all airlines, and permanent.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe current smoking ban applies to the smoking of tobacco products on all scheduled passenger flights and on scheduled passenger flight segments on foreign air carriers in the U.S. and between the U.S. and foreign countries, unless a waiver is granted based on bilateral negotiations. The Banning the Use of Electronic Cigarettes on Airplanes Act of 2015 will amend the statutory definition of smoking located in 49 U.S.C. 41706 to include the use of electronic cigarettes, defined as a device that delivers nicotine or other substances to a user of the device in the form of a vapor that is inhaled to simulate the experience of smoking.\n\t\t\t\t\tI urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-14th-anniversary-resolution-honoring-the-two-postal", "Norton Introduces 14th-Anniversary Resolution Honoring the Two Postal Workers and the Three Other Americans Killed in Anthrax Attacks, and All USPS Employees", "2015-10-23", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.During the week of the 14-year anniversary of the 2001 anthrax attacks, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a resolution honoring the late Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., the United States Postal Service (USPS) employees who died from anthrax inhalation while working at the USPS processing facility located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, which is now named for them. The Norton resolution also honors three other Americans who died from exposure to anthrax during the attacks, as well as all USPS employees for their dedicated service to the nation in the face of threats to federal facilities throughout the U.S., such as the anthrax attack, and a lack of deserved funding support from the Congress.\n\t\t\t\t\tEach Congress I introduce this resolution honoring the lives of Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., two native Washingtonians, who lived in Maryland when they died, and tragically lost their lives while working for their country at USPS, said Norton, a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which has jurisdiction over the USPS. Our resolution is a way of saying these men should always be honored. We will forever honor them and all U.S. Postal Service workers for serving the nation with consistency in the face of unpredictable danger. The anthrax attacks in the weeks following September 11, 2001, shook an already reeling nation. Today, we remember the dedication of both men and the courage of postal employees, who continued to work then as now.\n\t\t\t\t\tIn 2002, Norton cosponsored the bill that renamed the USPS processing facility on Brentwood Avenue, NE the Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing and Distribution Center. In 2010, Norton introduced a resolution directing the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend to the U.S. Postmaster General to issue a postal stamp honoring the lives and dedication of both Curseen and Morris.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe text of Norton's resolution follows.\n\t\t\t\t\tRESOLUTION\n\t\t\t\t\tHonoring the lives, work, and sacrifice of Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., the two United States Postal Service employees who died as a result of their contact with anthrax while working at the United States Postal Facility located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, Washington, DC, during the anthrax attack in the fall of 2001, United States Postal Service employees, who have continued to work diligently in service to the people of the United States notwithstanding anthrax attack, as well as the three Americans who died and the 17 who became ill.\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas the founders of the United States, recognizing the importance of a national system of mail to the new country, gave Congress the constitutional authority To establish post offices and post roads;\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas employees of the United States Postal Service provide indispensable public service and honorably represent the United States on a daily basis;\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas despite the many terrorist attacks in federal facilities throughout the United States, including the anthrax attack more than ten years ago, Postal Service employees continue to risk their lives daily to serve the people of the United States;\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas Joseph P. Curseen, Jr., and Thomas L. Morris, Jr., both natives of Washington, DC, diligently and admirably served the Nation for decades as employees of the United States Postal Service;\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas in the fall of 2001, during the course of their jobs with the United States Postal Service, Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., were exposed to letters containing anthrax that were placed in the mail and subsequently suffered from the inhalation of anthrax and thereafter died;\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas five individuals in the United States died from exposure to anthrax during the 2001 anthrax attacks and 17 became ill in the worst biological attack in the Nations history; and\n\t\t\t\t\tWhereas in 2002, the United States Postal Service facility located at 900 Brentwood Road, NE, Washington, DC, was designated as the Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing and Distribution Center by Public Law 107-225: Now, therefore, be it\n\t\t\t\t\tResolved, That the House of Representatives honors the lives and work of Joseph Curseen, Jr., and Thomas Morris, Jr., and acknowledges the sacrifice that all Postal Service employees make on behalf of the United States on a daily basis.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-benghazi-select-committee-missed-opportunities-and-revealed", "Norton Says Benghazi Select Committee Missed Opportunities and Revealed No New Relevant Information", "2015-10-23", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR), which has held four hearings on the September 11, 2012, attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, today said that even Benghazi Select Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) conceded in interviews that no new information was revealed at yesterdays unprecedented 11-hour hearing. Norton said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, more than held her own as the hearings only witness. Although previous statements by Republicans had undermined much of the Select Committees credibility even before the hearing, Republicans chose to maintain their partisan posture, rather than seeking new credibility through a fact-finding approach. Norton said OGR and the several other congressional committees that have investigated Benghazi should declare victory for their work, which had revealed much of the information discussed at yesterdays hearing, except for largely irrelevant questioning on matters such as the emails of Sidney Blumenthal, a friend of Clintons who sent her emails on Libya. Norton said yesterdays hearing stood in stark contrast to the Watergate investigation, which was conducted in a bipartisan fashion despite having the U.S. presidency at stake, and was fact-driven in order to determine the truth of what happened.\n\t\t\t\t\tRepublicans on the Benghazi Select Committee chose to continue their $4.5 million investigation in the style of a partisan witch hunt, reinforcing existing the divisions between Republicans and Democrats that have dominated these hearings, Norton said. More often than not, the four Americans who lost their lives in attacks seemed like an afterthought. Republicans were clearly trying to put Secretary Clinton on the hot seat, but she showed great poise and steadiness despite numerous attempts at gotcha questioning. It became clear that security issues on Benghazi no more reached Clinton than security issues involving the Capitol reach the Speaker of the House rather than the U.S. Capitol Police chief. However, if the committee had been trying to keep loss of life from happening again, it would have been fair to ask Clinton whether at least some security issues went up the chain to the Secretary of State herself and whether that began to happen after the Benghazi tragedy.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-attend-dc-federation-of-civic-associations-85th-annual-awards", "Norton to Attend D.C. Federation of Civic Associations 85th Annual Awards Ceremony and Scholarship Luncheon, Saturday", "2015-10-23", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton will give greetings and mention the busy week in Congress for the District of Columbia at the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations (DCFCA) 85th Annual Awards Ceremony and Scholarship Luncheon on Saturday, October 24, 2015, 11:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m., at the Navy Yards Catering and Conference Center (1454 Parsons Ave. SE, Building 211). Students from vocational, public, private, and charter schools throughout the District of Columbia will receive awards for academic excellence, and individuals and organizations will be recognized for outstanding service to their communities. DCFCA, which is comprised of over 60 local civic associations, works within local communities to promote and further the diverse interests and needs of District residents.\n\t\t\t\t\tI thank the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations for organizing this important community event as part of their continued efforts to bring together local leaders from across the District of Columbia, Norton said.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-edwards-and-comstock-get-prompt-act-to-ensure-wmata-safety", "Norton, Edwards and Comstock Get PROMPT Act to Ensure WMATA Safety Included in House Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill", "2015-10-22", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said today she believes that the residents of the District of Columbia and the region will be relieved that the Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation (PROMPT) Act of 2015 is assured of passage. The bipartisan bill implements direct federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) Metrorail, which Norton worked to achieve with Congresswomen Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA), both of whom also serve on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee, was included in the Managers Amendment to the House Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act, which is being marked up by the full committee today. The bills inclusion in the six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, which is expected to pass, guarantees new, tougher safety oversight for Metro.\n\t\t\t\t\tBecause the National Transportation Safety Board has flagged Metrorail safety oversight as an issue requiring immediate attention, we have worked to see that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) assume immediate control of WMATA safety oversight responsibilities using its administrative authority, Norton said. I am deeply grateful to Congresswomen Edwards and Comstock not only for working so hard on our bill, but also for agreeing to the immediate safety oversight responsibility by FTA. Our last surface transportation bill gave states safety oversight responsibility for the first time following the tragic 2009 Metro accident that took the lives of nine D.C.-area residents. However, the bill also allows the federal government to step in. Because neither the states nor the federal government has had safety oversight of Metrorail before, only two states have set up their own safety oversight apparatuses. WMATA presents unique challenges because it is the only Metrorail that covers three jurisdictions. Our bill, by reinforcing the needed administrative action, sends a clear message to WMATA to increase its own attention to safety, and to riders that their safety has been our priority at the national level.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe bill implements U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxxs actions earlier this month to assume federal safety oversight of activities for WMATA Metrorail by authorizing the DOT Secretary to administer state safety oversight activities for Metrorail until the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland develop a state safety oversight agency certified by the Secretary.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-major-priorities-included-in-surface-transportation", "Norton Gets Major Priorities Included in Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill; Passes Amendment to Provide Federal Oversight over WMATA", "2015-10-22", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Infrastructure Committees Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, announced that her major legislative priorities for the District of Columbia and the nation, including her amendment to implement direct federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) Metrorail, were included in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (STRR), which passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today. In addition, Norton got in the bill her other important prioritiesincluding increased safety for bus and rail systems; funding for workforce development; small-business contract opportunities for minorities and women; new pilot funding projects for the rapidly deteriorating Highway Trust Fund; increased funding for National Park Service (NPS) roads to help rebuild Arlington Memorial Bridge; protections for bus and rail operators from assault; and increased restroom breaks for bus and transit operators.\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton, who was one of the Big Four (chairs and ranking members of the full committee and subcommittee), said, I appreciated working with Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) to achieve the first six-year or long-term surface transportation bill in ten years. While todays markup went smoothly, the bills funding, which is basically at the same levels as 2004, can hardly begin the rebuilding of the nations infrastructure, which has become so urgent. The most important aspect of the bill is the six-year authorization, because states had begun to stash their money without spending it due to repetitive short-term reauthorizations that provided them with no certainty. Letting major projects pile up may be penny wise, but it is pound foolish, because it means at some point the federal and state governments will have to, at some point, inject massive amounts of funding to keep the countrys infrastructure from becoming uncompetitive with the rising amounts we are seeing invested in infrastructure around the world.\n\t\t\t\t\tSummary of Norton Priorities Included in STRR\n\t\t\t\t\tImmediate Federal Oversight of WMATA\n\t\t\t\t\tAn emergency recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board convinced Norton action had to be taken immediately to direct federal safety oversight of WMATA Metrorail.\n\t\t\t\t\tIncreased Safety for Bus and Rail Systems\n\t\t\t\t\tSTRR clarifies that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) can set minimum safety standards for transit systems, requires a safety review on emergency preparedness, design, maintenance and inspections of critical systems, and includes certification requirements for train and bus operators.\n\t\t\t\t\tWorkforce Development\n\t\t\t\t\tWith the pending retirement of baby-boomer transit workers, Norton focused on filling the workforce skills gap and creating career pathways for jobs for underrepresented populations, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, low-income populations, as well as other Americans. The bill also includes 21st century training on safety, security, emergency preparedness, and communication during emergencies.\n\t\t\t\t\tIncreased Opportunities for Minorities and Women\n\t\t\t\t\tTo make up for decades of exclusion in the construction industry, Norton, a former chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, worked to ensure that the STRR set a goal of 10 percent of DOT contracts to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, which are small businesses at least 51% unconditionally owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, who include, for the purposes of this program, women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Subcontinent Asian Americans.\n\t\t\t\t\tNew Funding Sources for Highway Trust Fund\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton has been a strong critic of the gas tax as the sole funding source of the Highway Trust Fund, considering energy conservation and high-fuel efficiency vehicles have significantly reduced the available funds. Because the federal government has done so little to address this shortfall, Norton got $20 million for a program called the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives, which allow states to experiment with pilot funding projects, such as using a road user charge (RUC) based on vehicle mileage rather than the traditional gas tax. She will try to get her committee to bring the best of the funding methods carried out in the states to the federal level.\n\t\t\t\t\tIncreased Funding to Help Rebuild Arlington Memorial Bridge and Other Construction Projects on NPS Lands\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton got the Federal Lands Transportation Program an annual increase of $100 million in federal funding from $300 million to $400 million a year for fiscal years 2016-2021. This increased funding will help rebuild Arlington Memorial Bridge, for which NPS was forced to implement emergency lane closures and weight restrictions. This authorization is particularly important to the District because of the abundance of NPS roads here.\n\t\t\t\t\tProtecting Bus and Rail Operators on WMATA and Other Systems from Assault \n\t\t\t\t\tNorton insisted on tougher safety standards for transit systems that will now require FTA to craft new rules, such as installing protective barriers, purchasing buses with driver-side doors, installing security cameras with a live feed to TV screens on the bus, and adding law enforcement officers to routes.\n\t\t\t\t\tRestroom Breaks for Bus and Transit Operators\n\t\t\t\t\tWhen Norton learned the health consequences for transit bus drivers who often have no restroom breaks or access to restroom facilities, she wrote to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Thomas Perez calling on DOLs Occupational Safety and Health Administration to investigate workplace protections for transit workers, particularly bus drivers, who have complained of inadequate access to restrooms. Without restroom breaks, drivers have been found to suffer urinary tract infections, dehydration, fatigue, and similar conditions. The bill requires FTA to study the issue of restroom breaks for transit rail and bus drivers and, based on the studys results, to draft rules to address the issue.\n\t\t\t\t\tOther Priorities\n\t\t\t\t\tOther Norton priorities in the bill include: an increase from 60% to 70% requiring buying from American-made manufacturers, added flexibility for states to address the large number of deficient bridges, and a well-regulated extension of the Positive Train Control mandate.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/as-dc-voucher-bill-passes-house-norton-to-continue-fight-to-improve", "As D.C. Voucher Bill Passes House, Norton to Continue Fight to Improve Failing Program", "2015-10-21", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), in opposing a bill to reauthorize the District of Columbia private school voucher program, today tried to protect students who are already in the program by allowing every current voucher student to remain until their graduation. Nortons objection to the bill, which passed 240-191, with eight Republicans voting against it and only two Democrats for it, was the programs failure in its basic mission to improve the math and reading scores of D.C. voucher students. The bill, introduced by Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), was never in jeopardy, so Norton looked for ways to improve it. Republicans did not have an answer for the programs failure to improve test scores, and instead cited graduation rates among voucher students, which did not take into account the considerable number of voucher students who dropped out or the rigor of the schools curriculum or graduation requirements.\n\t\t\t\t\tDuring the debate, Norton said that D.C. has a model school choice program. She cited that 75 percent of public school students attend out-of-boundary schools and that almost 50 percent of our public school students attend charter schools, which the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked as the strongest in the nation. Norton challenged Members on whether children in their district attend out-of-boundary schools in such large numbers, and whether their districts could match D.C.s 115 public charter schools. In addition, Norton said test scores for D.C. public schools and public charter schools have improved significantly since the voucher program was first established in 2004, while scores of voucher students have shown no improvement. Norton said Republican Members will have some explaining to do when they go home about why they have proposed to cut $2 billion from K-12 public schools across the nation this year, while providing $100 million for private school vouchers in D.C.\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton offered a two-part amendment to the program. The first part would have restored the integrity of the programs evaluation by reinserting the randomized control study, instead of what the bill describes as an acceptable quasi-experimental research design. Republicans removed the mandated evaluations control study, the scientific gold-standard, apparently because they could not explain the evaluations findings that the program failed to improve test scores. The second part of Nortons amendment would have made it harder for voucher mills to compete with quality accredited schools, such as D.C.s Catholic schools, for vouchers. Almost all the voucher mills started up after the voucher program was authorized, and many are exclusively or largely comprised of voucher students. Some of Nortons Republican colleagues in the House have said they are willing to work with her on voucher mills, and she will be working with her allies in the Senate to restore the control study in the programs evaluation as well.\n\t\t\t\t\tNortons statement, as prepared for delivery, is below.\n\t\t\t\t\tFloor Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\n\t\t\t\t\tH.R. 10\n\t\t\t\t\tOctober 21, 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tI did not expect to be on the floor today managing this bill. Ironically, I was scheduled to host a briefing today for Members and staff on the constitutionality of District of Columbia statehood, where I was going to show a 17-minute clip from HBOs Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that lampoons Congress for denying D.C. residents voting rights, budget and legislative autonomy, and statehood. Instead, I am here on the floor in a virtual reality show, not speaking about the right to self-government, but fighting this latest attempt by the Republican Congress to impose its ideology on D.C. residents. I ask that the D.C. Councils letter opposing this bill be included in the record.\n\t\t\t\t\tYet, I have sought a compromise that should be acceptable to Republicans, as it is to President Obama. We support allowing our current D.C. voucher students to remain in the program until graduation, which would ensure D.C. would have voucher students for many years to come. That is the kind of sensible compromise that Congress must get back to, or be content with the label least productive Congress, as it has come to be known each year under this majority. Instead, this bill goes beyond the compromise we have offered by seeking to admit new students as well.\n\t\t\t\t\tWe are here so that Speaker John Boehner has a capstone to his political career. The D.C. voucher program is his pet project, not ours. He has introduced only two bills this Congress, a bill on the Iran nuclear agreement, and this bill.\n\t\t\t\t\tEven if Members do not respect D.C.s right to self-government, they should at least care whether the program improves academic achievement, which was the stated reason for vouchers in the first place. Far from helping students, however, the program has demonstrably failed. According to the congressionally-mandated evaluation of the programs effectiveness, the program has failed to improve academic achievement, as measured by objective math and reading testing scores. Most important, the program has not had significant impacts on the achievement of students who the program was designed to most benefit, those who previously attended low-performing public schools. The majority cites improved high school graduation rates. However, the evaluation did not examine dropout rates, the rigor of the schools curriculum, or graduation requirements. The majority also cites high college attendance rates. However, the evaluation did not conclude that the program improved college attendance rates. \n\t\t\t\t\tEven if the program were successful, it still would not be needed, least of all in the District, which has perhaps the most robust public school choice program in the country. Almost 50 percent of our public school students attend charter schools, which the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked as the strongest in the nation. In addition, 75 percent of public school students attend out-of-boundary schools. What D.C. has developed amounts to a model for choice in education.\n\t\t\t\t\tMoreover, the D.C. public schools (DCPS) have made some of the most impressive improvements in the country by any measure, spurred by competition from rapidly growing D.C. charter schools, not from the small voucher program. In fact, a 2013 assessment of D.C. public schools indicated that the District had the greatest improvement of any urban district in the nation.\n\t\t\t\t\tD.C. charter schools have even higher educational achievement and attainment than DCPS. D.C. charter schools outperform DCPS across traditionally disadvantaged groups, including African-American and low-income students, and have a higher percentage of such students, precisely the students the voucher program was ostensibly designed to serve. Greater confidence in D.C. public schools is clear: D.C. public school enrollment has increased for seven consecutive years.\n\t\t\t\t\tIf Congress wants to support D.C. students, we ask that you support our home-rule public school choice, not impose yours. Any new federal funding for education in the District should reinforce the hard work of our city, parents and residents, who have shown the nation how to build a fully accountable public school choice program. D.C. residents, not unaccountable Members of Congress, know best what our children need and how to govern our own affairs.\n\t\t\t\t\tDuring this debate, we will consider an amendment I have offered to restore the scientific integrity of the programs evaluation and to crack down on voucher mills. Given that the Speakers bill will pass, I want to work with Members who support vouchers to ensure that our voucher students attend high-quality schools, like our accredited Catholic and other parochial schools, not fly-by-night, often storefront schools in low-income neighborhoods that were opened only after the voucher program was created because of the access to federal funds. I appreciate that the majority indicated in committee and on the floor that they also want to prevent voucher mills. I look forward to continuing to work with them as this bill moves forward to protect our families from voucher mills.\n\t\t\t\t\tUnder the Home Rule Act of 1973, Congress gave D.C. authority to establish its own education system, and unlike some other jurisdictions, D.C. has never created a voucher program. Instead, like many D.C. bills in Congress, this bill seeks to impose a program on the District that does not have national support. Just three months ago, both the House and Senate defeated several Republican national private school voucher amendments on the floor. Members rejected private school vouchers for their own constituents, but want to impose them on mine. No wonder. Since 1970, every referendum to establish state-funded vouchers or tuition tax credits has failed by large margins. Now, the House is trying to do to the District what it has shown it would not dare do at home.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-praises-airport-contract-workers-as-they-organize-at-a-seiu-rally", "Norton Praises Airport Contract Workers as They Organize at a SEIU Rally for a Living Wage and Benefits", "2015-10-21", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today issued the following statement as hundreds of airport contract workers from around the nation rallied at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to fight for a living wage of $15 per hour, affordable benefits and the right to organize without intimidation. Earlier this month, contract workers at DCA filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against airline contractors for interrogating workers about legally protected organizing activities. Norton had planned to attend the rally today at DCA, but was forced to stay at the Capitol due to a District of Columbia bill that was being debated on the House floor.\n\t\t\t\t\tA new set of contract workers at a federally owned facility, this time at DCA, are using labor laws and the Constitution, which allow them the right to organize, to raise their poverty-level wages, Norton said. I applaud the airport workers for filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board, with guidance from the Service Employees International Union. Unfair labor practices, such as threatening to terminate employees and grilling them about their constitutionally protected activities, have long been forbidden by law. From security officers to sky caps, an astonishing range of workers at DCA are not only being denied a living wage, but are being punished for using the law and the Constitution to fight for their rights. This intimidation will not be successful, and DCA contractors should save themselves a finding of engaging in unfair labor practices by recognizing the constitutional rights of their workers.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/committee-leaders-introduce-surface-transportation-reauthorization", "Committee Leaders Introduce Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act", "2015-10-20", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders today introduced the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3763), a bipartisan, multi-year surface transportation bill to reauthorize and reform federal highway, transit, and highway safety programs.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe legislation helps improve the Nations surface transportation infrastructure, reforms programs and refocuses those programs on addressing national priorities, maintains a strong commitment to safety, and promotes innovation to make the system and programs work better. The proposal is fiscally responsible, provides greater flexibility and more certainty for states and local governments to address their priorities, and accelerates project delivery.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe legislation also includes language bridging the House and Senate approaches to extending the deadline for U.S. railroads to implement Positive Train Control technology and preventing significant disruptions of both passenger and freight rail service across the country.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe measure was introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Ranking Member Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).\n\t\t\t\t\tThis is a bill that improves our roads, bridges, and transportation system, as well as our economy, our competitiveness, and our everyday lives,Shustersaid. The legislation streamlines, consolidates, and reforms transportation programs and offices, gives states and local governments more control in addressing their needs, refocuses on national transportation priorities, facilitates the flow of freight and commerce, and promotes innovation as we improve our infrastructure for the future. The more efficient our surface transportation system is, the less time we spend in traffic, the lower the transportation costs for goods and services, and the more jobs that are created throughout the economy.\n\t\t\t\t\tAfter several months of negotiations, I am pleased we are introducing today the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015,DeFaziosaid. I want to thank Chairmen Shuster and Graves, and Ranking Member Norton for working with me to develop this bipartisan bill. I look forward to working with them to get it passed through the House and to conference with the Senate as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this bill doesnt provide the level of investment needed to rebuild or repair our crumbling roads, bridges, highways and transit systems. However, it includes a critical provision that would allow for automatic adjustments and increased investments if more money flows into the Highway Trust Fund than expected. This is a step in the right direction.\n\t\t\t\t\tFrom our economic wellbeing to the safety of every American citizen, an efficient national infrastructure system is critical to everything we do in this country,Gravessaid. State and local governments have been forced to operate off of short-term extensions for too long. That makes the already difficult job of maintaining our roadways and bridges nearly impossible. We need a multi-year reauthorization that will allow us to invest in infrastructure, improve our roadways, and modernize Americas highway system. This bipartisan bill will do just that.\n\t\t\t\t\tThis bill moves us from repetitive short-term extensions, which have halted most major work in states, to a bipartisan effort that acts as a building block for the funding the country needs to fix and improve our roads, bridges and transit systems, saidNorton. Chairman Shuster, Chairman Graves, Ranking Member DeFazio and I have worked together to achieve the most important part of this bill: the return of Congress to the six-year authorization that we know is necessary if states are to do the planning needed to revive our infrastructure. By authorizing a six-year bill, our committee leaders and I are accepting the responsibility to do all we can to ensure that the states can rely on Congress in the end to fund it.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Committee is scheduled to mark up the legislation at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2015, in room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building.\n\t\t\t\t\tSummary of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tImproving Our Infrastructure\n\t\t\t\t\t Provides certainty for state and local governments to undertake large-scale, complex transportation projects\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides flexibility for states to invest in bridge rehabilitation and replacement\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEliminates red tape that slows down infrastructure improvements\n\t\t\t\t\t Reforms\n\t\t\t\t\t Streamlines the environmental review and permitting process to accelerate project delivery\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides more flexibility and decision-making to states and local governments to allow them to better address their priorities and needs\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEliminates and consolidates offices within the Department of Transportation\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEstablishes a National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau to provide assistance to help state, local, and private sector partners move transportation projects forward\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOverhauls federal truck and bus safety grant programs and rulemaking processes\n\t\t\t\t\t\tReforms truck and bus safety programs and eases administrative burdens on small businesses\n\t\t\t\t\t Refocusing on National Priorities\n\t\t\t\t\t Facilitates commerce and the movement of goods by establishing a Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProvides flexibility to states to target driver safety grants on their pressing safety needs\n\t\t\t\t\t\tConsolidates truck and bus safety grant programs and provides state flexibility on safety priorities\n\t\t\t\t\t Innovation\n\t\t\t\t\t Promotes private investment in our surface transportation system\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPromotes the deployment of transportation technologies and congestion management tools that support an efficient and safe surface transportation system for all\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUpdates federal research and transportation standards development to reflect the growth of technology in transportation\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEncourages the installation of vehicle-to-infrastructure equipment to reduce congestion and improve safety\n\t\t\t\t\t\tImproves truck and bus safety by accelerating the introduction of new transportation technologies\n\t\t\t\t\t Additional information, including the text of the legislation and a more detailed bill summary, is availablehere.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-edwards-and-comstock-introduce-protect-riders-of-metrorail-public", "Norton, Edwards and Comstock Introduce Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation Act of 2015; Will Offer as Amendment to House Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act", "2015-10-20", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committees Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, today introduced the Protect Riders of Metrorail Public Transportation (PROMPT) Act of 2015 with Congresswomen Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA), both of whom also serve on the Highways and Transit Subcommittee. The bill implements U.S.Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxxs actions earlier this month to assume federal safety oversight of activities for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) Metrorail by authorizing the DOT Secretary to administer state safety oversight activities for WMATA Metrorail until the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland develop a state safety oversight agency certified by the Secretary. The PROMPT Act is in keeping with the Moving Ahead for Progress (MAP-21) Act, which already allows DOT to conduct direct federal safety oversight of transit rail. The bill also permits the DOT Secretary to use the existing safety oversight formula funds set aside for the State Safety Oversight agency for rail safety oversight.\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton, along with Edwards and Comstock, will offer the bill language as an amendment to the House Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act, which is scheduled to be marked up by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday, October 22, 2015.\n\t\t\t\t\tMy colleagues from the three jurisdictions that use Metrorail and I were able to work together on a bipartisan basis to introduce this bill, which reinforces U.S. DOTs authority to perform direct safety oversight of WMATA, said Norton. MAP-21 directed states to set up State Safety Oversight agencies to perform safety oversight of transit rail systems, but since the bill passed in 2012, only a few states have successfully set up these agencies. WMATA Metrorail is unique because it traverses three jurisdictions, and operates almost like a commuter rail. Metros uniqueness makes safety oversight at a local level more complicated. Particularly in light of safety issues that have arisen, we cannot afford to wait to act. We agree that if the point is to ensure safety for WMATA passengers, many of whom are federal and congressional employees, the PROMPT Act is the fast way to accomplish this mission. We expect the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to provide assistance as needed to the Federal Transit Administration because of FRAs history of rail and commuter rail safety oversight. I look forward to working with my colleagues as we move forward on this proposal.\n\t\t\t\t\tFor years, safety oversight of WMATA has failed to protect the lives of our constituents and ensure consistent operations, said Congresswoman Edwards. That is why in past Congresses, Senator Mikulski, Congresswoman Norton and I worked to establish federal safety standards for heavy rail systems. As that effort continues, todays legislation is a critical step forward to provide the Secretary of Transportation with additional oversight and real enforcement powers to ensure immediate and significant progress is made in improving WMATAs safety record and management. I am proud to join with Congresswomen Norton and Comstock to move this bill forward to help passengers on our nations transit system commute safely on a daily and consistent basis.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe safety failures and the unreliability of Metro threaten our commuters and constituents daily, said Congresswoman Comstock. The Tri-State Oversight Commission has been unable to provide proper oversight of Metro. This bipartisan legislation reinforces and expands the U.S. Department of Transportation's authority to conduct much needed and direct oversight of Metro to provide safety and reliability to our commuters. Under this legislation, the Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Transit Administration, will be able to force Metro to meet the required and necessary safety protocols that are owed our commuters and taxpayers. As the second-busiest transit system in the United States, Metro must provide safe and reliable service for its customersboth residents and visitors alikeand this legislation promotes much needed change to the failed status quo so that proper oversight can be achieved.\n\t\t\t\t\tLast month, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued an urgent recommendation to DOT Secretary Foxx that Congress amend 45 USC 1104(3) to list WMATA as a commuter authority authorizing the FRA to exercise regulatory oversight over WMATA. On October 9, 2015, Secretary Foxx responded to the NTSB recommendation by using existing authority to take over direct safety oversight of WMATA Metrorail from the Tri-State Oversight Committee (TOC). DOT will have available resources from FTA and FRA to implement direct safety oversight, which will include direct enforcement and investigation of the safety oversight of WMATA Metrorail and, and it will perform unannounced facility inspections and issuances of directives to address any safety issues.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-testify-against-dc-voucher-bill-at-rules-committee-today-final", "Norton to Testify Against D.C. Voucher Bill at Rules Committee Today, Final Step Before Floor Vote Tomorrow", "2015-10-20", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Releases Testimony Ahead of Rules Committee Hearing \n\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will testify against a reauthorization bill to impose a private school voucher program on the District of Columbia at a House Rules Committee hearing scheduled for today, Tuesday, October 20, at 5:00 p.m. in H-313. Norton and President Obama have supported allowing all current voucher students to be funded under the program until they graduate, but oppose the admission of new students because the program failed to meet its own stated goal of improving student academic achievement. At the hearing, Norton will offer a two-part amendment to the program to restore the integrity of the programs evaluation and to prohibit voucher mills that rely solely or largely on federal funding for their existence. The controversial program, which provides federal funds for low-income D.C. students to attend private schools in D.C., has been Speaker John Boehners (R-OH) main political pet project, and the reauthorization bill is being voted on a year before the program expires because of the Speakers retirement from Congress at the end of the month.\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton said, This bill demonstrates Republican hypocrisy in seeking to impose private school vouchers on the District when just three months ago, the Republican House and Senate defeated all national private school voucher amendments.\n\t\t\t\t\tNortons testimony, as prepared for delivery, follows.\n\t\t\t\t\tStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton \n\t\t\t\t\tHouse Committee on Rules\n\t\t\t\t\tH.R. 10\n\t\t\t\t\tOctober 20, 2015\n\t\t\t\t\tI am here today to speak on behalf of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee Democrats as well as for an amendment I have filed. I must ask why the House is even considering this bill when a majority of the District of Columbia Council, including the chairman of the Education Committee, and I, the Districts only representative in Congress, oppose it? I ask that the Council opposition letter be included in the record.\n\t\t\t\t\tAlong with President Obama, I support allowing our current D.C. voucher students to remain in the program until graduation. That is the kind of sensible compromise that Congress must get back to, or be content with the label least productive Congress, as it has come to be known each year. This bill, however, goes beyond the compromise we have offered by seeking to admit new students as well.\n\t\t\t\t\tLike many D.C. bills the city faces in Congress, this bill seeks to impose a program on the District that does not have national support. Just three months ago, both the House and Senate defeated several national private school voucher amendments on the floor. No wonder. Since 1970, every referendum to establish state-funded vouchers or tuition tax credits has failed by large margins. So the Congress rejects private school vouchers for their children, but wants to impose vouchers on ours.\n\t\t\t\t\tFar from helping D.C. students, the bill seeks to reauthorize a program that has demonstrably failed. According to the study mandated by the D.C. voucher law, the program has not improved the academic achievement of the students as measured by math and reading test scores, which are the objective and universally used measure of educational performance. Most important, the program has not had significant impacts on the achievement of students who the program was designed to most benefit, students who previously attended low-performing public schools.\n\t\t\t\t\tEven if the program were successful, it still would not be needed, least of all in the District, which has perhaps the most robust public school choice programs in the country. Almost 50 percent of our public school students attend charter schools, which the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked as the strongest in the nation. In addition, 75 percent of public school students attend out-of-boundary schools.\n\t\t\t\t\tMoreover, the D.C. public schools (DCPS) have made some of the most impressive improvements in the country by any measure, spurred by competition from D.C. charter schools, not vouchers. D.C. charter schools have even higher educational achievement and attainment than DCPS. D.C. charter schools outperform DCPS across traditionally disadvantaged groups, including African-American and low-income students, and have a higher percentage of such students, precisely the students the voucher program was ostensibly designed to serve. Greater confidence in D.C. public schools is clear: D.C. public school enrollment has increased for seven consecutive years.\n\t\t\t\t\tIf Congress wants to support D.C. students, we ask that you support our home-rule public school choice, not impose yours. Any new federal funding for education in the District should reinforce the hard work of our city, parents and residents, who have shown the nation how to build a fully accountable public school choice program. D.C. residents, not unaccountable Members of Congress, know best what our children need and how to govern our own affairs.\n\t\t\t\t\tI have submitted an amendment to H.R. 10. Although I strongly oppose the bill, I want to work with Members who favor the bill to provide some much-needed oversight for the millions in federal funds that are used to finance private schools in the District of Columbia.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe stated reason for the program is to improve access to quality education. The objective evaluation of the program demonstrated that it did not improve student performance on math and reading tests. Ensuring that voucher schools meet minimum standards should help more voucher students succeed. This bill requires, for the first time, that schools be accredited, but gives unaccredited schools five years, along with a one-year grace period, to become accredited. This is far too long, and allows existing and new unaccredited schools to accept voucher students well into the next decade. Allowing our children to attend unaccredited schools is at odds with the purpose of the voucher bill itself. Why not allow only accredited schools, which would not affect the larger number of accredited voucher schools, most of which are longstanding Catholic schools?\n\t\t\t\t\tAmendment Statement\n\t\t\t\t\tMy amendment has two parts. The first part restores the integrity of the programs evaluation, and the second prohibits voucher mills.\n\t\t\t\t\t1) Restoring Evaluation Integrity\n\t\t\t\t\tMy amendment restores the requirement from the prior authorizations that the evaluation of the program be conducted using the strongest possible research design. The program has been evaluated with the gold standard of scientific research, a randomized controlled trial. That is, the study compared the outcomes of students randomly assigned to receive or not receive a voucher. This requirement is extremely important, especially considering the finding that the voucher program has not had significant impacts on the achievement of students who the program was designed to most benefit, students who previously attended low-performing public schools.\n\t\t\t\t\tIn contrast, this bill requires the evaluation to be conducted using an acceptable quasi-experimental research design, and expressly prohibits a randomized controlled trial. The evaluation will compare voucher students with students in D.C. public schools with similar characteristics, even though, in any scientific examination, only randomized controlled trials produce results. Moreover, as the researchers conducting the current programs evaluation point out, a randomized controlled trial is especially important in the context of school choice because families wanting to apply for a choice program may have educational goals and aspirations that differ from the average family.\n\t\t\t\t\t2) Prohibiting Voucher Mills\n\t\t\t\t\tThe second part of my amendment prohibits fly-by-night, storefront school voucher mills by limiting the percentage of voucher students in a school to 50% of the schools total enrollment. No current voucher student or sibling will be affected by the cap.\n\t\t\t\t\t School vouchers are premised on market forces, competition and accountability. Yet, ironically, many schools that participate in the D.C. voucher program would not survive without the unconditional financial support of the federal government. For example, there are a number of voucher schools that did not exist prior to the program, and would not exist without these federal funds. If a voucher school cannot continue without relying solely or largely on federal funds, that would show there is no market for the quality of education being offered. No voucher mills should receive federal funds.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe amendment disqualifies private voucher mills that cannot survive without government funding, and startups that have sprung up in low-income neighborhoods from receiving unrestricted federal funds. Government funding to private schools distorts the market, especially when, as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted in its 2007 and 2013 reports on the D.C. school voucher program, the program lacks quality controls, transparency, and information. Schools should survive on their ability to attract students with a high-quality education, not their access to unconditional government largess.\n\t\t\t\t\tFor example, in its most recent report on the program, GAO found that, in six participating voucher schools, more than 80% of the total enrollment consisted of voucher students. In a 2012 Washington Post investigation of the quality of the voucher program, the founder of one school where voucher students comprised 93% of the total enrollment of 72 students noted that [i]f this program were to end, this school would end. The school director of another school where voucher students consisted of 100% of the schools total enrollment of 50 told the Post that if the program were to end, they would have to stretch with fundraising to continue operating. I ask that the Post investigation, titled Quality Controls Lacking for D.C. Schools Accepting Federal Vouchers, be included in the record. The federal vouchers give a school the imprimatur of the federal government. Considering the purpose of the voucher program is to improve student achievement, voucher mills are inconsistent with Congress intent and should not be enabled with federal funds.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-whip-hoyer-and-cbc-to-host-roundtable-discussion-with-howard", "Norton, Whip Hoyer, and CBC to Host Roundtable Discussion with Howard University Students on the Impacts of Sequestration on Minority Communities", "2015-10-20", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will join House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) for a roundtable discussion with Howard University students on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 11:00 a.m.  noon, at Howards Founders Library Browsing Room (500 Howard PL. NW). The discussion will focus on how sequester spending cuts to Pell Grants hurt students, and more generally how sequestration disproportionately impacts minority communities.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe sequesters arbitrary and across-the-board cuts have deeply hurt the nations college students, but the greatest harm has been to minority communities and those most in need of critical government programs, Norton said. Today, I will be looking to hear firsthand accounts from Howard students.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/white-house-and-whip-hoyer-join-norton-in-opposing-dc-voucher-bill", "White House and Whip Hoyer Join Norton in Opposing D.C. Voucher Bill", "2015-10-20", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that she appreciated the Obama administrations Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) strongly opposing Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) bill, H.R. 10, to reauthorize the District of Columbia private school voucher program. Both Norton and the administration support a compromise that would allow all current students to remain in the voucher program until their graduation, but Speaker Boehner and House Republicans rejected the compromise and are insisting that new students be admitted despite the Districts own home-rule, public charter school alternative. Norton also expressed her gratitude to House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) for whipping House Democrats to vote against the bill when it comes to the House floor tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Norton will manage debate on the bill on the House floor for Democrats.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe SAP notes that rigorous evaluation over several years demonstrates that D.C. vouchers have not yielded statistically significant improvements in student achievement by scholarship recipients compared to other students not receiving vouchers. Furthermore, the SAP says that Instead of using Federal resources to support a handful of students in private schools, the Federal Government should focus its attention and available resources on improving the quality of public schools for all students.\n\t\t\t\t\tI thank the administration for strongly opposing the House Republican effort to once again impose an unsuccessful and unaccountable private school voucher program on the District, Norton said. I also thank my good friend, Whip Steny Hoyer, for organizing a united Democratic opposition to this program, which has failed our children and violates D.C. home rule. As the Obama administration notes, Congress should be focusing on improving public education and increasing resources for all District students. Instead, my Republican colleagues are proposing to cut billions from public elementary and secondary schools. We believe that the combination of very significant improvements in our traditional public schools, plus our charter school alternative, which attracts almost half of our children, makes D.C. a model choice jurisdiction.\n\t\t\t\t\tAt tonights House Rules Committee hearing on the D.C. voucher bill, the committee made in order a Norton amendment to the bill, which she plans to offer on the House floor tomorrow. Nortons amendment to the program would restore the integrity of the programs evaluation and eliminate voucher mills, which rely solely or largely on federal funding for their existence.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe full Statement of Administration Policy follows.\n\t\t\t\t\tSTATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY\n\t\t\t\t\tH.R. 10  Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Reauthorization Act\n\t\t\t\t\t(Rep. Boehner, R-OH, and 14 cosponsors)\n\t\t\t\t\tH.R. 10 would reauthorize the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results Act, which provides Federal support for improving traditional public schools in the District of Columbia(D.C.), expanding and improving high-quality D.C. public charter schools, and offering private school vouchers to a limited number of students. The Administration continues to strongly oppose the private school vouchers program within this legislation, known as the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.\n\t\t\t\t\tRigorous evaluation over several years demonstrates that D.C. vouchers have not yielded statistically significant improvements in student achievement by scholarship recipients compared to other students not receiving vouchers. In addition, H.R. 10 would extend this voucher program to a new population of students previously attending private schools. Instead of using Federal resources to support a handful of students in private schools, the Federal Government should focus its attention and available resources on improving the quality of public schools for all students.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-announces-dc-statehood-briefing-ironically-postponed-due-to-bill", "Norton Announces D.C. Statehood Briefing Ironically Postponed Due to Bill Violating D.C. Home Rule", "2015-10-19", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the briefing on District of Columbia statehood with a screening of HBOs Last Week Tonight with John Oliver D.C. statehood segment followed by a question and answer segment, originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2015, must be postponed because a bill to impose private school vouchers on the District is scheduled to come to the House floor that day. Norton said it was ironic that the House Republican effort to impose a private school voucher program on the District without consulting with local officials or her has made it necessary to reschedule a briefing intended to educate congressional staff and the public about the congressional denial of equal rights to the District. Norton announced that the new scheduled date for the briefing is Tuesday, November 17, 2015, at 3:00 p.m.\nThe briefing will begin with a screening of the Last Week Tonight 17-minute segment where Oliver makes the case for statehood by making fun of Congress for denying D.C. residents equal rights. Following the screening, there will be a presentation and a question and answer session with constitutional expert Viet Dinh, the former U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy under President George W. Bush, where he will lay out the constitutional basis for D.C. statehood.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/republicans-double-down-with-failed-select-committee-strategy-but-planned", "Republicans Double Down with Failed Select Committee Strategy, but Planned Parenthood Wins the Day", "2015-10-15", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Planned Parenthood took the high road and a smart turn in the road by announcing that they will continue fetal tissue donations, but will no longer accept reimbursements. They have now taken both legs out from under the Republican attack on Planned Parenthood. With the fetal tissue issue gone, Planned Parenthood has exposed the real attackon womens health and on constitutionally protected abortion. The other leg is the Planned Parenthood select committeewhich is now widely recognized as the Republican default strategy when their committees fail.\nTry hard as they did, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, on which I serve, could not show any violation of law, as Chairman Jason Chaffetz had to admit. Still, the predicable reaction of House Republicans is to double down and proceed anyway with a new witch-hunting select committee. Yet another select committee is as doomed as its Benghazi forebear, which was exposed as a political vehicle by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-requests-hearing-on-airplane-noise-affecting-dc-and-communities", "Norton Requests Hearing on Airplane Noise Affecting D.C. and Communities Across the Nation", "2015-10-15", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Aviation Subcommittee, today released a letter she wrote to the chairs and ranking members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Aviation Subcommittee requesting a hearing to explore airplane noise and its impacts on residential communities in the District of Columbia and across the United States. In her letter, Norton wrote, There are reports from throughout the country of intolerable nighttime and early morning airplane noise in residential neighborhoods, much of it caused by new flight paths designed to implement NextGen. Airplane noise has become a nationwide issue for many members of our Committee and many other Members. A congressional hearing at this time would help our Committee discover what FAA is doing to mitigate noise; whether NextGen, commercial airlines, or other factors are responsible for increased airplane noise; and what can be done about it. Norton, a founding member of the bipartisan Quiet Skies Caucus, has actively pursued remedies for neighborhood airplane noise in the District over the years with some success, only to see it return.\n\t\t\t\t\tIn May, Norton held a community meeting on airplane noise with residents in the Palisades, Foxhall, Georgetown, Hillandale and other impacted neighborhoods in the District and summoned representatives of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be present as residents expressed great frustration at an increase in air traffic activity during late nighttime and early morning hours. Norton said much of the airplane noise is being caused by new flight paths designed to implement FAAs NextGen program throughout the nation.\n\t\t\t\t\tOur investigation leaves no doubt that airplane noise our residents experience is not unique and has become a national issue, Norton said. Therefore, a congressional hearing is in order. With allies among Republican and Democratic colleagues, I hope that we can finally achieve appropriate remedies. We need to focus on what steps have been and can be taken by FAA and the airlines.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe full text of Nortons letter is below.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Honorable Bill Shuster  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tChairman  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t2165 Rayburn House Office Building  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20515\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Honorable Frank A. LoBiondo  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tChairman  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAviation Subcommittee  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t2165 Rayburn House Office Building  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20515\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Honorable Peter DeFazio  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tRanking Member  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t2163 Rayburn House Office Building  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20515\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Honorable Rick Larsen  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tRanking Member  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHouse Transportation and Infrastructure Committee  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAviation Subcommittee  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t2163 Rayburn House Office Building  \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20515\n\t\t\t\t\tDear Chairmen Shuster and LoBiondo and Ranking Members DeFazio and Larsen:\n\t\t\t\t\tThank you for your leadership on aviation issues. I am writing to request that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, or its Aviation Subcommittee, hold a hearing to explore airplane noise and its impacts on residential communities across the United States. There are reports from throughout the country of persistent, insufferable nighttime and early morning airplane noise in residential neighborhoods, much of it caused by new flight paths designed to implement NextGen.\n\t\t\t\t\tAbout a year ago, I joined my Republican and Democratic colleagues in launching the Quiet Skies Caucus to bring a national focus to the issue of airplane noise. Airplane noise has impacted constituents across the country from Arizona and California to New York and Illinois, and many other jurisdictions. For example, the city of Phoenix, Arizona has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleging a lack of public input and false claims by the FAA in implementing modified flight paths in the Metroplex surrounding Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Arizona congressional delegation has been seeking legislative remedies to the situation. In the National Capital Region, residents in some sections of the city suffer persistently after-midnight and before-dawn airplane noise. FAA implemented the LAZIR flight path for departures causing airplanes to fly directly over the homes of District of Columbia residents rather than prior flight paths that kept planes over the Potomac River.\n\t\t\t\t\tAirplane noise has become a nationwide issue for many members of our Committee and many other Members. A congressional hearing at this time would help our Committee discover what FAA is doing to mitigate noise; whether NextGen, commercial airlines, or other factors are responsible for increased airplane noise; and what can be done about it.\n\t\t\t\t\tSincerely,\n\t\t\t\t\tEleanor Holmes Norton\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-host-hispanic-heritage-month-roundtable-on-the-impact-of", "Norton to Host Hispanic Heritage Month Roundtable on the Impact of Hispanic Americans on Elections, Tonight", "2015-10-13", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a roundtable with local officials and community leaders to discuss the rise of Hispanic Americans and the Hispanic vote across the nation and in the District of Columbia tonight, Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at Carlos Rosario International Public School Sonia Gutierrez Campus (514 V Street NE) from 7:45 p.m.  8:30 p.m. The roundtable discussion is open to the public and press. In 2016, Hispanics and Latinos will comprise 13% of eligible U.S. voters and nearly 11% of D.C.s population. The roundtable will focus on how the Senate responded to the Hispanic vote with an immigration bill following the 2012 presidential election.\n\t\t\t\t\tFeatured panelists include Franklin Garcia, Shadow U.S. Representative for the District of Columbia; Gloria Williams Brevard, a community relations officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Ximena Hartsock, co-founder and President of Phone 2 Action, a social media group focused on civic engagement; and Kristian Ramos, a Communications and Outreach Manager at Media Matters.\n\t\t\t\t\tHispanic Americans are an increasingly important power force in American life, Norton said. We in the District are proud of our thriving Hispanic population that continues to grow each year. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we want to understand the reasons for the increasing importance of Hispanics and its relationship to issues such as immigration, voting power, and other factors that have shown Hispanics to be a new force in American life.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-applauds-passage-in-committee-of-bill-to-strengthen-local-justice", "Norton Applauds Passage in Committee of Bill to Strengthen Local Justice System in D.C.", "2015-10-09", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) thanked House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (OGR) Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) for working with her today to unanimously pass out of committee Senator Ron Johnsons (R-WI) bill to modernize and improve the daily operations of the District of Columbia Courts, the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA). Norton said she believes that she can get this bill, which has already passed the Senate, to the House floor and to President Obamas desk to be signed. The 1997 Revitalization Act transferred the costs and operations of some state functions, including these three agencies, from D.C. to the federal government. Norton introduced the same version of the bill last Congress and the House passed it by voice vote. All of the provisions in the bill are technical, but they have real effects. The bill would authorize CSOSA to use incentives-based programs for offenders, instead of only sanctions to get compliance; allow PDS to accept and use public grants, voluntary and uncompensated services, such as unpaid law clerks and interns and private contributions made to advance PDSs work; and allow the courts to collect debts owed by its employees to the courts.\n\t\t\t\t\tI thank Chairman Chaffetz and my OGR colleagues for taking up Senator Johnsons bipartisan bill to improve the District of Columbias justice system, Norton said. All that is left now is a vote on the House floor and the Presidents signature. I will work closely with him to that end.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-makes-progress-on-current-funding-of-fly-by-night-schools-in-dc", "Norton Makes Progress on Current Funding of Fly-By-Night Schools in D.C. Voucher Bill", "2015-10-09", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, the House Oversight and Government Committee (OGR), as expected, passed a bill to reauthorize the District of Columbia private school voucher program on a party-line vote, but Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) was able to make some progress on her effort to eliminate fly-by-night voucher schools, which rely solely on the voucher program for their existence. At the markup, Norton introduced a two-part amendment to the program. The first was to limit the percentage of voucher students in a school to 50% of the schools total enrollment to eliminate start-up schools that rely solely or largely on federal funding. However, Norton believes a new requirement in the bill that voucher schools become accredited will help eliminate many of the fly-by-night schools. Nortons Republican colleagues said they would work with her addressing fly-by-night schools before the bill goes to the House floor. The second part of the Norton amendment reinserted the randomized control trial Congress required in the two previous authorizations to evaluate the programs effectiveness. The control trial amendment failed, Norton believes, because the scientifically grounded study Congress previously required found that the voucher program had not improved the academic achievement of students as measured by math and reading test scores.\n\t\t\t\t\tNorton spoke with the voucher students, teachers and parents from St. Anthony School and Archbishop Carrol High School in attendance at the committee markup, all of whom would have stayed in the voucher program under a compromise that had been offered by President Obama and Norton, which would have allowed all current voucher students to be funded until graduation, but no new students would have been admitted.\n\t\t\t\t\tNothing could have stopped a Republican majority bill sponsored by the Speaker as he leaves Congress  not even my compromise, supported by President Obama, to allow all current voucher students to be funded until graduation, Norton said. However, in light of the bills failure to meet its stated aim of improving math and reading test scores, the progress we made on fly-by-night schools was worth the effort. I was pleased to talk extensively with voucher students, teachers and parents before and after the markup. The irony is that waiting lists have kept many from attending D.C. public charter schools that residents prefer and the voucher schools have no waiting lists.\n\t\t\t\t\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 464, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "DC", "p1": "2015"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 464, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 464, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "DC", "label": "DC", "count": 464, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2015", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "2015", "label": "2015", "count": 464, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2015-10-09,http~3A~2F~2Fnorton~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fnorton-makes-progress-on-current-funding-of-fly-by-night-schools-in-dc", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2015&_next=2015-10-09%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Fnorton~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fnorton-makes-progress-on-current-funding-of-fly-by-night-schools-in-dc&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 63.08161932975054, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}