{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"DC\" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-allow-commercial-filming-on-capitol-grounds-0", "Norton Introduces Bill to Allow Commercial Filming on Capitol Grounds When Congress is Out of Session", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill today to permit commercial filming and photography on the U.S. Capitol Grounds beyond the area where it is currently permitted, Union Square, and when both chambers of Congress are out of session. Norton's bill would provide an economic and patriotic boost to the nation's capital by allowing filmmakers to showcase the Capitol in its fullest authenticity to the nation and the rest of the world. The expanded filming would be subject to the same terms and conditions as filming in Union Square. Norton said her bill addresses any security concerns by giving Capitol Police full discretion to issue filming permits depending on the circumstances in and around the Capitol. Norton's bill is part of her effort to expand public access to public space, particularly around the Capitol.\nIn our open and free democracy, it should be unthinkable to deny access to film one of our nation's most iconic democratic symbols, the U.S. Capitol Building, Norton said. It is neither business-friendly nor true to the nation's democratic traditions to exclude filming of the Capitol and there is no justifiable policy or security reason to limit filming to Union Square. Encouraging commercial photography and filming at the Capitol would help spread the story of our democracy and our national legislature around the world, while providing a boost to the District of Columbia's economy.\nNorton's introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton \nOn the Introduction of a bill to permit commercial filming and photography on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol\nDecember 19, 2019\nToday, I introduce a bill that would permit commercial filming and photography on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, beyond east of Union Square, the only area where such filming is currently authorized. This bill would permit commercial filming and photography outside of the Capitol and congressional office buildings by permit, so long as both the House and Senate are not in session. In many countries worldwide, freedom of expression is limited. Our country should be the first to encourage commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, a symbol of U.S. democracy at work. Commercial filmmakers should not have to go to other cities or fake capitol buildings for movies and films about the Capitol.\nThe current policy permitting filming near the United States Botanic Garden shows that Capitol Police can handle filmmaking on Capitol grounds, especially when Congress is not in session, as my bill would provide. However, filming from that vantage point captures the least familiar view of the Capitol. Keeping filmmakers from standing in front of the Capitol is neither business-friendly nor true to the nation's democratic traditions. Encouraging commercial filming and photography at the Capitol would help spread the story of our national legislature around the world. The time is overdue to allow commercial filming and photography of the exterior of the historic 19th-century Capitol.\nThere is no good reason why commercial filming and photography should be confined to Union Square. Specifically, my bill would give Capitol Police complete discretion to issue a permit authorizing commercial filming and photography under the same conditions as those in Union Square. No policy or security reason exists to justify limiting commercial filming and photography of the Capitol complex to only one location, Union Square, especially considering that permits are necessary. Visitors are regularly seen on East Capitol Street (east of 2nd Street) taking pictures, where they get a full view of the Capitol building, demonstrating the arbitrary nature of limiting commercial filming and photography to Union Square.\nThis bill would also provide Capitol Police the authority to charge fees to cover any costs incurred by the Architect of the Capitol resulting from permit approval, to be deposited into the Capitol Trust Account. The Capitol Trust Account was established to accept proceeds from any fees collected for commercial filming and photography permits for Union Square. Amounts in the Capitol Trust Account would be available without fiscal year limitation for maintenance, improvements and projects as the Architect of the Capitol considers appropriate, subject to the approval of the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate.\nViews of the Capitol are among America's most iconic. Limiting commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, an important vehicle for telling the nation's story, does not serve the American people. Indeed, most of the world reveres our system of government largely through commercial films and photos of the Capitol, a symbol of our democracy at work. Commercial films and photographs of the Capitol, the seat of our democracy, are perhaps the best modern vehicles for telling the nation's story and showcasing its democratic system of government. Republicans and Democrats alike revere the image of the Capitol as a symbol of patriotism. My bill would enable appropriate, permitted commercial filming and photography of the Capitol, and would create economic benefits for the nation, the District of Columbia, and private business.\nI strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-lee-claim-victory-announce-spending-bills-require-federal", "Norton, Lee Claim Victory, Announce Spending Bills Require Federal Agencies to Report on Advertising with Minority and Women-Owned Media", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) claimed victory today, announcing that the final fiscal year 2020 Appropriations bills require federal agencies to report the amount spent on advertising contracts with small disadvantaged businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities to Congress. The language is based on a 2016 Government Accountability Office (GAO) study Norton requested on advertising by the federal government. Norton and Lee had sent letters to the House appropriations subcommittees requesting that they direct each agency under their jurisdiction to provide this information. 11 of 12 final fiscal year 2020 Appropriations bills require the reports.\nAs the largest advertiser in the United States, the federal government has an obligation to ensure fair access for minority and women-owned media companies, Norton said. This language is a significant win for transparency and will ensure that federal agencies are striving to reach minorities and women, who often get their news from outlets that serve more specific communities.\nFor far too long, federal agencies have overlooked minority-owned businesses for advertising contracts,Lee said. I am proud tohave helped securethis importantreportlanguagein our appropriations billsto encourage our advertising dollars to be used with businesses that more equitably reflect our constituenciesandensure diversity in our federal contracting.\nNorton led Members of Congress in requesting the 2016 GAO report on agency advertising contracts. Released in July 2018, the GAO reported that in fiscal year 2017, only 16 percent of the federal government's advertising contract obligations went to businesses owned by minorities and women.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-higher-limits-on-salt-deduction-is-a-win-for-dc-residents", "Norton Says Higher Limits on SALT Deduction Is A Win for D.C. Residents", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks on the House floor today on the Restoring Tax Fairness for State and Localities Act, which passed the House. At 40 percent, D.C. residents are at the top among Americans who deduct state and local taxes (SALT) to reduce their federal taxes. The 2017 Republican Tax Bill capped SALT deduction at $10,000 per year.\nIn her remarks, Norton said, We cannot, of course protect Americans from taxes, but ever since the passage of the federal income tax law in 1913 we have protected them from being taxed on dollars already taxed by state and local governments. The Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act ensures that wisdom.\nNorton's full remarks can be found below.\nMadam Speaker, Americans famously complain about taxes. Who can then blame residents of the District of Columbia, where 40 percent claim the SALT deduction, among the largest number of taxpayers in the country? By allowing at least a $10,000 deduction, the 2017 Republican tax law concedes that it imposes double taxation.\nThe Republican tax law was particularly nefarious because it virtually targeted blue states, whose taxes support values like funding for local public education. We cannot, of course protect Americans from taxes, but ever since the passage of the federal income tax law in 1913 we have protected them from being taxed on dollars already taxed by state and local governments. The Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act ensures that wisdom.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-releases-clinton-impeachment-transcript-calls-for-dc-statehood", "Norton Releases Clinton Impeachment Transcript, Calls for D.C. Statehood", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the transcript of her House floor speech 20 years ago during impeachment for President Bill Clinton, calling on the House to recognize the right of District of Columbia residents to vote on that matter. Norton says that her comments on the Trump and Clinton impeachments both ring true today. The 23rd Amendment gives 700,000 District residents, who pay the highest federal taxes per capita, the right to vote for the President and Vice President. It follows logically that D.C. residents should have a vote on removing a president.\nNorton's 1998 remarks can be found here and below.\nMs. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, most Americans do not know and most people\nin the world are unaware that the residents of the Nation's Capitol do not have\nany representation in the Senate and cannot vote on this floor.\n\n But the Constitution of the United States, in its 23rd amendment,\ndoes give to the residents of the District the right to vote for\nPresident and Vice President of the United States. The same\nConstitution that gives the District the right to vote for President\nmust recognize the right of District residents to representation for a\nvote on removal of the President.\n\n I have submitted a narrowly-tailored resolution, along with a legal\nmemorandum, for a narrowly-tailored right. I am not here asking for the\ndelegate vote in the Committee of the Whole at this time. I am not\nasking for a House vote. I am asking to vote only on impeachment, in\norder to perfect the rights of District residents under the 23rd\namendment. The House has abundant authority to grant me this right at\nthis time.\n\n Clause 2 of the 23rd amendment gives the House the power to enforce\nthe amendment through legislation. My resolution is that legislation.\nThe District clause, as this body so often reminds us, gives Members\nfull authority over the District of Columbia, and the impeachment\nclause gives Members unilateral authority, or the sole power of\nimpeachment.\n\n The 23rd amendment explicitly treats the District as a State for\npurposes of electing the President and the Vice President.\n\n I ask for this right in the name of half a million people, the only\nAmericans who pay Federal income taxes who do not have full\nrepresentation in the Congress. They are a third per capita in Federal\nincome taxes. Their one right that is explicitly mentioned in the\nConstitution is the right to vote for President and Vice President.\n\n The decision to expel a President from office is as important as the\ndecision to elect the President to office. Indeed, the decision to\nexpel him is more momentous. There are no partial rights in the\nConstitution. It is unconstitutional and irrational to interpret the\n23rd amendment to afford a vote for President, but no vote on whether\nto impeach a President.\n\n Let this process begin on a high note of fairness. In the name of the\nhalf million American citizens who happen to live in the Nation's\nCapital, I ask for the vote in these impeachment proceedings, Mr.\nSpeaker.\n\n Mr. Speaker, today I introduce a resolution affording the District of\nColumbia Delegate a vote in impeachment proceedings. The House is fully\nempowered to enact my resolution under Article I, Sec. 2, clause 5 of\nthe Constitution (stating that the ``House of Representatives . . .\nshall have the sole Power of Impeachment''); the Twenty-Third Amendment\naffording the people of the District of Columbia the right to vote for\nPresident of the United States; and Article I, Sec. 8, clause 17 of the\nConstitution affording Congress plenary power over the District of\nColumbia.\n\n I am seeking to protect the constitutional right of District\nresidents to vote for President by securing a vote in the impeachment\nproceedings only. My resolution is narrowly tailored and would not be a\ngrant of voting privileges to the Delegate in other proceedings of the\nHouse.\n\n American citizens living in the District of Columbia participated in\nthe last two presidential elections by choosing as their electors three\ncitizens pledged to President Clinton. Unless Congress acts to remedy\nthe situation under the Twenty-Third Amendment, the District population\nwill be the only community of American citizens who participated in the\nPresidential elections of 1992 and 1996 who will have no vote at all on\nimpeachment or conviction.\n\n This constitutional asymmetry not only violates the rights of more\nthan half a million voters; it is unnecessary. Congress has sufficient\nauthority under the District Clause and under the enforcement clause of\nthe Twenty-Third Amendment to grant the District of Columbia Delegate\nto the House of Representatives a vote in the House impeachment process\non the House floor. The Supreme Court has liberally construed\nenforcement clauses in all of the suffrage amendments to vindicate the\nbroad and central constitutional purpose of securing equal voting and\nparticipation rights for all Americans.\n\n The Twenty-Third Amendment put the District of Columbia essentially\non the same level as the states for purposes of presidential elections.\n\n The purpose of Twenty-Third Amendment was to give Congress the power\nto provide the residents of the District an equal role in selecting the\nPresident and the Vice-President. The Amendment allows District\nresidents to participate in presidential elections on an equal footing\nwith the states.\n\n Today, this right can be fully vindicated only by reading the Twenty-\nThird Amendment to permit Congress to grant the District of Columbia\nDelegate a vote on the Resolution Impeaching William Jefferson Clinton,\nPresident of the United States. Otherwise, the political will and\nsovereignty of residents of the District of Columbia in the selection\nof the president will be lost in violation of the Twenty-Third\nAmendment.\n\n The legislative history of the Twenty-Third Amendment does not\ncontradict this conclusion. Apparently because impeachment has been so\nrare, there was no discussion of this problem at the time. This is the\nfirst occasion that articles of presidential impeachment will go to the\nfloor of the House since the Twenty-Third Amendment was added to the\nConstitution in 1961. This is a case of first impression.\n\n The Twenty-Third Amendment is part of our Constitution's progressive\ninclusion of all ``the governed'' in the processes of government. The\nFifteenth Amendment secured the right of African-Americans to vote. The\nNineteenth Amendment extended the right to vote to women. The Twenty-\nFourth Amendment abolished the poll tax. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment\ngave the right to vote to 18-year olds. All of these suffrage\namendments have been interpreted liberally to secure the inclusion of\nonce disenfrachised Americans. As the Supreme Court stated in Reynolds\nv. Sims in 1964: ``history has seen a continuing expansion of the scope\nof the right of suffrage in this country. The right to vote freely for\nthe candidate of one's choice is of the essence of a democratic\nsociety, and any restrictions on that right strike at the heart of\nrepresentative government.'' 337 U.S. 533 (1964)\n\n This reasoning applies equally to the Twenty-Third Amendment and\nAmerican citizens who happen to live in the nation's capital.\n\n The case for the Delegate's vote on impeachment would be harder put\nif such participation had to be self-executing. But section 2 provides\nthat, ``the Congress shall have power to enforce this article by\nappropriate legislation.'' Since Congress is given the instrumental\nrole in activating and enforcing the Twenty-Third Amendment, it may\ninterpret that amendment to give the Delegate the right to cast her\nvote along with the representatives of all the other states that\nparticipated in the presidential electoral college.\n\n The Supreme Court has clearly treated impeachment as a political\nquestion solely within legislative competence and control. In Nixon v.\nUnited States, 506 U.S. 224 (1993), the Court rejected an impeached\njudge's attack on Senate Impeachment Rule XI, under which the presiding\nofficer appoints a committee of Senators to ``receive evidence and take\ntestimony.'' The Court found that this process of delegating to a\ncommittee was wholly within the Senate's powers because the Senate has\n``the sole power to try all Impeachments.'' Article I, Section 3,\nClause 6. The Court found that the ``common sense meaning of the word\n`sole' is that the Senate alone shall have authority to determine\nwhether an individual should be acquitted or convicted. . . . If the\ncourts may review actions of the Senate in order to determine whether\nthat body `tried' an impeached official, it is difficult to see how the\nSenate would be `functioning . . . independently and without assistance\nor interference.' ''\n\n Just as the Senate has the ``sole power'' to shape and control the\ntrial process, the House of Representatives has the ``sole power of\nImpeachment'' in the first instance. Article I, Section 2, Clause 5. As\nthe Nixon Court itself pointed out in discussing the nonreviewability\nof the Senate trail, ``the word `sole' appears only one other time in\nthe Constitution--with respect to the House of Representatives' sole\nPower of Impeachment.'' Thus, like the Senate, the House of\nRepresentatives is free to structure the impeachment proceeding\nconsistent with its own judgment of constitutional requirements.\n\n The Delegate's participation on the impeachment articles can thus be\naccomplished by way of a House rule. Article 1, Section 5 of the\nConstitution generally makes ``Each House'' both ``the Judge of the\nElections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members'' and the sole\nbody to ``determine the Rules of its proceedings.'' As precedent, the\nHouse unilaterally granted the Delegate from the District of Columbia\nand other Delegates full power to vote in Committee of the Whole\ndeliberations, a decision upheld against constitutional attack in\nMichel v. Anderson. This case, too, presents little constitutional\ndifficulty because the House is not acting in its bicameral legislative\ncapacity but rather in its unilateral capacity to ``have the sole power\nof Impeachment'' under Article 1, Section 2. Thus, the House must be\nable to design and enforce its own rules for conducting the impeachment\nprocess.\n\n The Supreme Court has recognized an extremely broad degree of\ninterpretive powers under congressional enforcement clauses found in\nthe Constitution's suffrage amendments. In Katzenbach versus Morgan it\nupheld the power of Congress, under Section 5 of the Fourteenth\nAmendment, to override a New York law and grant the right to vote to all persons who had completed the sixth grade in Puerto Rican schools regardless of their inability to read or write English. The Court rejected the argument that Congress' powers under the enforcement clause were limited only to what\nthe Fourteenth Amendment itself required, stating rather that: ``It is\nthe power of Congress which has been enlarged. Congress is authorized\nto enforce the prohibitions by appropriate legislation. Some\nlegislation is contemplated to make the amendments fully effective.''\n\n The Court emphasized that Congress was acting to protect voting\nrights and expressed reluctance to interfere with congressional\njudgement in this field. The Court said: ``It was well within\ncongressional authority to say that this need of the Puerto Rican\nminority for the vote warranted federal intrusion upon any state\ninterests served by the English literacy requirement. It was for\nCongress, as the branch that made this judgement, to assess and weigh\nthe various conflicting considerations . . .''\n\n The Court concluded that any legislation enacted under the\nenforcement clause of the Fourteenth Amendment was permissible so long\nas the enactment `` `is plainly adapted to [the] end' '' of enforcing\nEqual Protection and ``is not prohibited by but is consistent with `the\nletter and spirit of the Constitution','' regardless of whether Equal\nProtection itself dictates such a result.\n\n Elsewhere, the Court has also found that enforcement clauses give the\nCongress the power to act to vindicate voting interests even where a\nparticular statutory result is not constitutionally required. In South\nCarolina versus Katzenbach, the Court upheld Congress' power under\nSection 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment to enact the Voting Rights Act of\n1965, which included a ban on literacy tests, the requirement that new\nvoting rules must be precleared, and the use of federal voting\nexaminers. The Court stated that ``Congress has full remedial powers to\neffectuate the constitutional prohibition against racial discrimination\nin voting.'' These powers are defined in these terms: ``Whatever\nlegislation is appropriate, that is, adapted to carry out the objects\nthe [Reconstruction] amendments have in view, whatever tends to enforce\nsubmission to the prohibitions they contain, and to secure to all\npersons the enjoyment of perfect equality of civil rights and the equal\nprotection of the laws against State denial or invasion, if not\nprohibited, is brought within the domain of congressional power.''\n\n In Oregon versus Mitchell, the Court unanimously upheld the Voting\nRights Act Amendments of 1970, which banned literacy tests for five\nyears. Using a mere rationality test, the court found that Congress\ncould rationally have found that these measures were needed to attack\nthe perpetuation of racial discrimination. In City of Rome versus\nUnited States, the Court upheld Congress' Section 2 power to ban\nelectoral changes that are discriminatory in effect intentional\ndiscrimination in voting. Thus, the Court found that Congress'\nenforcement authority under Section 2 went beyond the strict\nrequirements of Section 1. The Court stated that it ``is clear . . .\nthat under Section 2 of the Fifteenth Amendment Congress may prohibit\npractices that in and of themselves do not violate Section 1 of the\nAmendment, so long as the prohibitions attacking racial discrimination\nin voting are `appropriate.' ''\n\n Because the Twenty-Third Amendment is an attempt to bring voting\nrights to a historically disenfranchised population, its enforcement\nclause should be read in a very broad way consistent with the Court's\ndeference to congressional enforcement of suffrage rights. It is also\nrelevant that the District Clause, contained in Article 1, Section 8,\nClause 17 of the Constitution, provides that Congress shall exercise\n``exclusive Legislation in all cases whatsoever over ``the District.''\nThis ``plenary power'' has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to\ngive Congress complete authority over the District. There is thus ample\nconstitutional basis for Congress having the final authority to define\nthe meaning of the Twenty-third amendment, given that this is a\n``case'' involving the District. The courts, at any rate, would, in all\nlikelihood, treat this matter as a political question solely within the\nlegislative competence, as impeachment is clearly a political question,\nas determined by the Supreme Court in Nixon versus United States, 506\nU.S. 224 (1993).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-says-clinton-impeachment-offers-good-context-for-today-s-trump", "Norton Says Clinton Impeachment Offers Good Context for Todays Trump Impeachment", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her brief floor remarks during the 1998 Clinton impeachment proceedings to give residents context for today's impeachment against President Trump. Twenty-one years ago on the House floor, Norton said of the Clinton impeachment, the framers raised the bar as high as possible, allowing impeachment not even for crimes, but only for high crimes. The Republicans have lowered the bar as low as they can to reach tawdry private consensual sex.\nThe facts of Trump's impeachment have no parallel in American history in seriousness of the acts and strength of the evidence presented, Norton said. Unlike President Clinton, President Trump has denied all wrongdoing and continues to abuse his office, creating a clear and present danger to our country and to our constitutional checks and balances.\nNorton's full 1998 remarks are below.\n Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, this impeachment is unfair on three counts. It is unfair\nto the President whose admitted misconduct in covering-up of a private\nsexual affair cannot compare to the Nixon precedent where high stake\ncrimes were not in doubt. It is unfair to the country because the\npreference of the voters for censure of the President is being barred\neven from consideration. It is unfair to the people who live in this\ncity, who have a 23rd amendment constitutional right to vote for\nPresident but have been denied a vote on removal of the President.\n\n We are converting a solemn constitutional process into a petty\npolitical proceeding. The framers raised the bar as high as possible\nallowing impeachment not even for crimes, but only for high crimes. The\nRepublicans have lowered the bar as low as they can to reach tawdry\nprivate consensual sex.\n\n The framers sought to make partisan impeachment a contradiction in\nterms; the majority is making it a reality. The people acting\nofficially on November 3rd repudiated impeachment. Yet, the Majority\nhas denied a vote on the public preference for censure. Defying its own\nannounced standard that no impeachment could occur without\nbipartisanship, the Majority is heading for an incredible partisan,\nparty line vote to impeach the President.\n\n This impeachment is unfair to the people of the District of Columbia.\nThe Majority has relegated them to the functional equivalent of partial\ncitizens--good enough to vote for president, but not good enough to\ndecide whether to remove him.\n\n This impeachment is raw with unfairness. Only a repudiation of all\narticles can save us now.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/final-appropriations-bills-full-of-norton-s-national-priorities", "Final Appropriations Bills Full of Nortons National Priorities", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated national wins in the final fiscal year 2020 spending bills, which passed in the House today. Norton secured $224 million in Department of Homeland Security funding for a new headquarters for theCybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at St. Elizabeths, $150 million for Metro, and over $1 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to remove debris in the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Norton also got language allowing sledding on Capitol Grounds. The bills also include Norton's language requiring federal agencies to report on their advertising spending with small disadvantaged businesses, as well as businesses owned by women and minorities.\nWe worked hard for these additions to the appropriations bills because they are not only good for District residents but will be good news for many other Americans as well, Norton said. The bill has funding for Metro, which ensures continuing reliable transportation on America's Subway, and funding for yet another federal agency at St. Elizabeths to help keep federal agencies, and the revenue they generate, here and bring much-needed retail and development to Ward 8.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/in-floor-remarks-norton-says-impeachment-vote-is-another-reason-for-dc", "In Floor Remarks, Norton Says Impeachment Vote is Another Reason for D.C. Statehood", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  As Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) prepares to speak on the impeachment of President Trump tomorrow, she spoke on the House floor today on why the impeachment vote provides yet another reason to pass her D.C. statehood bill, which should  and she believes will  pass the House next year. Citing impeachment, as well as war and peace, the most solemn of matters, Norton said, the more than 700,000 Americans who reside in our nation's capital cannot be recorded when the impeachment vote is taken tomorrow. She said D.C. residents have the right to vote for president and should therefore also be able to vote on whether to remove a president.\nNorton's full remarks follow.\n     Mr. Speaker, when the matter of impeaching President Trump comes to the House floor tomorrow, the House will vote on its most solemn matter, except for matters of war and peace. Yet, more than 700,000 Americans who reside in our nation's capital cannot be recorded.\nIt is un-American to deny any Americans who pay federal taxes the vote on any bill. That denial is even more unconscionable, considering that D.C. residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the United States.\nThe 23rd Amendment of our Constitution gave D.C. residents the right to vote for President and Vice President. It should follow, as day follows night, that D.C. residents should have the vote to remove the President, as well.\nYet another reason, Mr. Speaker, the House will pass our D.C. statehood bill next year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-passes-fifth-bill-in-house-banning-e-cigarette-smoking-on-amtrak", "Norton Passes Fifth Bill in House, Banning E-Cigarette Smoking on Amtrak Trains", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that her Banning Smoking on Amtrak Act of 2019 (H.R. 2726), which would codify Amtrak's internal policy prohibiting smoking, including of electronic cigarettes, on trains passed in the House today. This is Norton's fifth bill to pass the House this year. Norton's bill is modeled after another bill she got enacted in 2018 that clarified that the smoking ban on airplanes includes electronic cigarettes. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.\nAmtrak deserves our thanks and praise for implementing its own policy banning smoking on trains, Norton said. However, that policy could be reversed if not codified. My bill would make this ban a matter of federal law, putting the force of law behind protecting passengers and employees from harmful secondhand smoke and its proven detrimental health effects. My bill reminds the Congress and the country of the countless lives lost during the decades that it took states to ban smoking in public areas. We should never make the same mistake again by delaying banning electronic cigarettes in the close quarters typical of trains.\nTobacco smoking bans have been a critical tool in protecting people from the effects of secondhand smoke, known to increase the risk for serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease, lung cancer and emphysema, among others. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the tobacco epidemic to be one of the most serious public health threats in the world, killing more than seven million people a year. Importantly, according to the WHO, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. It is likely the effects of secondhand exposure to electronic cigarettes is harmful as well.\nNorton has passed five bills in the House this year, two of which have been signed into law, and another bill through committee. Norton was rankedthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congressby the Center for Effective Lawmaking based on her proven ability to advance a member's agenda items through the legislative process and into law.'\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-s-work-that-got-walter-reed-transferred-to-dc-gets-first-retail", "Nortons Work That Got Walter Reed Transferred to DC Gets First Retail, Whole Foods", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated Whole Foods' announcement this week that they will open a new store on the campus of the former Walter Reed military hospital. Norton's efforts were instrumental in ensuring 67 acres of the 110-acre site would go to the District of Columbia for redevelopment. The District was initially awarded only a smaller portion of the property, but Norton fought that decision and was able to secure significantly more land for the District. In 2014, Norton spoke at the Deed Signing Ceremony to transfer the property and emphasized that the new fire and emergency station scheduled for the Ward 4 would reduce response times for the northernmost section of the District and enhance public safety.\nI have prioritized transferring federal land to District control, focusing on the District's options for much-needed space because the District is limited by the Height Act, a federal law that limits building heights in the District, Norton said. My bills have made up for this limitation by developing existing, unused federal land in neighborhoods across the District. Whether NoMa, the Wharf, the Capitol Riverfront, or Walter Reed, I have significantly expanded space for opportunities to build more affordable housing, retail, offices, and other amenities.\nThis announcement by Whole Foods will provide an anchor retail the Northwest community has long sought. Moreover, at a time when the District is growing at a rapid rate and affordable housing is imperceptibly low, Whole Foods, the first retailer on the Walter Reed campus, is a signal that businesses understand that it is good business to give the community what it needs and wants.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-secures-funding-for-dctag-other-funding-priorities-but-republican", "Norton Secures Funding for DCTAG, Other Funding Priorities, But Republican Senate Keeps Bill from Making History with Anti-Home-Rule Riders", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that Norton has achieved her funding priorities in the final fiscal year 2020 District of Columbia Appropriations bill, released today. The bill contains her top priority for the fifth year in a row, $40 million for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG). Norton, working with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), also secured a $6 million increase, to $18 million, for the Emergency Planning and Security Fund (EPSF), to make up for the shortfall in the fund, which is used to fund the unique security concerns of the District in relation to the federal government, such as special events and presidential inaugurations. The bill also includes $4 million for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, which Norton secured because of D.C.'s high rate of infection, and $8 million for DC Water, as well as an exemption for D.C. from any federal government shutdown in fiscal year 2021, should it occur.\nIn June, Norton got the House to pass the historic fiscal year 2020 D.C. Appropriations bill, which had no riders and allowed D.C. to carry out its budget autonomy law for the first time ever, but the Republican Senate refused to ratify these historic changes in the final bill. The Senate also successfully insisted on maintaining in the final bill the two existing anti-home-rule riders that Norton eliminated from the House bill: prohibitions on D.C. using local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana and to provide abortions for low-income women. Over Norton's objection, Senate Republicans succeeded in reauthorizing the D.C. private school voucher program (through fiscal year 2023) and dropping the civil rights protections for voucher students that were included in the House bill. The D.C. voucher program's authorization expired at the end of fiscal year 2019, and the program has failed to improve academic achievement, as measured by math and reading test scores, as promised. The D.C. voucher program is the only federally funded voucher program in the U.S., but Norton has been able to get extra funding each year for D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and D.C. charter schools as a result. In fiscal year 2020, she got an extra $17.5 million each for DCPS and D.C. charter schools.\nSecuring $40 million for DCTAG is a big win for the thousands of D.C. students in college and universities across the 50 states, and we did well on the spending side, Norton said. Until Democrats take the Senate, it will be difficult to eliminate anti-home-rule riders.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-bill-banning-e-cigarette-smoking-on-amtrak-on-house-floor-monday", "Norton Bill Banning E-Cigarette Smoking on Amtrak on House Floor, Monday", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that her Banning Smoking on Amtrak Act of 2019 (H.R. 2726), which would codify Amtrak's internal policy prohibiting smoking, including of electronic cigarettes, on trains will be considered on the House floor on Monday. The bill is modeled after another bill Norton got enacted into law in 2018 that clarified that the smoking ban on airplanes includes electronic cigarettes. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. This is Norton's fifth bill to be considered on the House floor this year, and Norton has already passed four bills in the House in 2019.\nAlthough Amtrak has implemented its own policy banning smoking on trains, that policy could be reversed if not codified, Norton said. My bill would make this ban a matter of federal law and put the force of law behind protecting people from harmful secondhand smoke and its proven detrimental health effects. My bill will remind my colleagues of the countless lives lost during the decades that it took states to ban smoking in public areas. We should not make the same mistake again by delaying banning electronic cigarettes in the close quarters typical of trains.\nTobacco smoking bans have been a critical tool in protecting people from the effects of secondhand smoke, known to increase the risk for serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease, lung cancer and emphysema, among others. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the tobacco epidemic to be one of the most serious public health threats in the world, killing more than seven million people a year. According to the WHO, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. It is likely the effects of secondhand exposure to electronic cigarettes is harmful as well.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-releases-2019-year-end-newsletter", "Norton Releases 2019 Year-End Newsletter", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her 2019 Year-End Newsletter today. The Newsletter highlights key victories in the first year of the 116th Congress, including historic momentum for D.C. statehood, Norton's success chairing the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, historic wins for home rule, and her work continuing to revitalize and support D.C.'s neighborhoods.\nThe 2019 Year-End Newsletter can be found online here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-releases-weekend-public-schedule", "Norton Releases Weekend Public Schedule", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her public weekend schedule today, which includes a holiday party celebration for children of incarcerated parents, the D.C. Statehood Champions Holiday Celebration, and the birthday celebration of Carter G. Woodson, hosted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and Heritage in partnership with the National Park Service and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.\nMedia interested in attending should RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at a 2019 holiday party for children of incarcerated parents\nWHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 11:30 AM\nWHERE: Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE, Washington, DC\n\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the D.C. Statehood Champions Holiday Celebration\nWHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 7:00 PM\nWHERE: 2218 Newton Street NW Washington, DC\n\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the annual commemoration of the birth of Carter G. Woodson\nWHEN: Sunday, December 15th at 2:00 PM\nWHERE: Seaton Elementary School, 1503 10th Street NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-newseum-s-final-program-tonight", "Norton to Speak at Newseums Final Program, Tonight", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at the Newseum's final program of the 2019 season this evening at 7:00 p.m. The Newseum, which is closing at the end of the year, has been a staple along Pennsylvania Avenue for over a decade, moving from Rosslyn, Virginia to the District in 2008. The museum celebrates the First Amendment and has drawn millions of visitors with a diverse set of exhibits, including a piece of the Berlin Wall and an antenna which stood on the top of the World Trade Center. Norton, a former tenured professor of law at Georgetown University, worked as a civil rights attorney for the ACLU in the Civil Rights Movement and will speak on the importance of the First Amendment.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the last program of the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue\nWHEN: Tonight, December 11th at 7:00 PM\nWHERE: 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/in-win-for-dc-cybersecurity-norton-announces-ndaa-would-block-metro-from", "In Win for D.C. Cybersecurity, Norton Announces NDAA Would Block Metro from Buying Chinese Railcars", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, announced today that the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report would prohibit federal funds from being used by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) to purchase railcars and buses from state-owned corporations. Norton has raised alarms at the possibility of Metro purchasing railcars manufactured in China, citing serious cybersecurity and surveillance concerns for the nation's capital. In June, Norton filed an amendment to the fiscal year 2020 transportation appropriations bill that would prohibit Metro from purchasing Chinese-made railcars. The House is expected to vote on the NDAA bill later this week. \nThe security of public transit in the nation's capital must be a top priority, Norton said. China is not making these railcars so cheaply out of the goodness of their hearts. Until we have irrefutable evidence, we must not turn a blind eye to the clear incentive China has to monitor our capital and undermine our security.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-bill-making-dc-eligible-for-federal-flood-mitigation-prevention-0", "Norton Bill Making D.C. Eligible for Federal Flood Mitigation, Prevention Funds Passes House", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that her bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) to include the District of Columbia in the definition of a coastal state, which would make D.C. eligible for federal coastal zone management funding, passed the House today. This is Norton's fourth bill to pass the House this year. Norton's bill, the District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act, would give the District oversight for federally issued permits, facilities, and actions that affect the coastal waters of the District. Norton said she believes the District's omission from the CZMA was an unintentional oversight, as the CZMA was passed in 1972  before the District achieved home rule  and the territories have been eligible along with states. Norton's bill was included in a larger bill, the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act.\nEven though the District is located on two rivers and has suffered substantial coastal floods in the past, D.C. was omitted from the list of eligible entities in the CZMA, Norton said. This oversight probably occurred because the CZMA was passed in 1972  before the District achieved home rule. Because territories are included in the definition of coastal states,' it appears that D.C.'s omission was a mistake, which only Congress can correct.\nScientists have predicted that the tides on the Atlantic Coast could rise two to four feet by the year 2100, causing as much as $7 billion worth of property in the District, which would regularly be under threat by floodwaters. This damage not only would be to private homes and businesses, but the National Mall, federal buildings, and three military bases located in the District. Due to this threat, the District should be eligible for CZMA grants just like states and territories.\nNorton has passed four bills in the House this year, along with three bills passed in committee. Norton was rankedthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congressby the Center for Effective Lawmaking based on her proven ability to advance a member's agenda items through the legislative process and into law.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-on-house-floor-on-her-bill-making-dc-eligible-for", "Norton to Speak on House Floor on Her Bill Making D.C. Eligible for Federal Flood Mitigation, Prevention Funds", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak on the House floor today at 3:15 p.m. on her bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) to include the District of Columbia in the definition of a coastal state, which would make D.C. eligible for federal coastal zone management funding. Norton's bill, the District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act, would give the District oversight for federally issued permits, facilities, and actions that affect the coastal waters of the District. Norton said she believes the District's omission from the CZMA was an unintentional oversight, as the CZMA was passed in 1972  before the District achieved home rule  and the territories have been eligible along with states. This would be Norton's fourth bill to pass the House this year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-testify-on-her-bill-making-dc-eligible-for-urban-forestry", "Norton to Testify on Her Bill Making D.C. Eligible for Urban Forestry Funds, Tomorrow", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will testify before the House Agriculture Committee tomorrow, December 11th, at 10:00 a.m. on her bill to make the District of Columbia eligible for urban forestry funding. Norton's bill, the McIntire-Stennis Act District of Columbia Equality Act, would amend the McIntire-Stennis Act that provides U.S. states and territories with formula funds to support state-designated institutions' cooperative forestry research programs to also extend available funding to D.C. Norton said that the District is treated as a state under virtually all federal programs and that the District's omission from the legislation was likely an oversight from before the District had home rule or a Member of Congress.\nThe District's notable absence from this definition makes it ineligible for funds that would support research at the District's state-supported university, the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). UDC's College of Agriculture, Urban Stability, and Environmental Science complements the District's ongoing forestry efforts. UDC is the nation's only urban land-grant university.\nSix years ago, my provision for UDC to receive forestry research funding was included in the Senate version of the Farm Bill, Norton said. That should be no surprise, as D.C. residents pay the highest taxes per capita in the nation and, for the most part, D.C. is eligible for the programs states qualify for, including these critical federal forestry funds. UDC, our urban land-grant university, needs funds for their programs in the District. I have already gotten D.C. treated as a state for virtually all federal funding. This legislation is no different.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-create-local-task-forces-on-policing-in-wake", "Norton Introduces Bill to Create Local Task Forces on Policing in Wake of Continuing Police Shootings", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced she has introduced a bill to establish a grant program from existing Department of Justice funds to create local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing. The grants would encourage states and localities to implement former President Obama's 2015 Task Force on 21st Century Policing report and bring police, community representatives, and public officials together to identify local policing issues and best policing practices. Norton first introduced this bill in response to the shooting of an unarmed African American man, Stephon Clark, in Sacramento and the decision of Louisiana authorities to refuse to press charges against Baton Rouge officers who shot and killed Alton Sterling  shootings since repeated in many other jurisdictions.\nIt is unconscionable that Congress has done nothing to help deter police-involved shootings as unarmed African Americans continue disproportionately to be shot in the nation's streets, Norton said. Policing is fundamentally a local issue, but Congress can take meaningful action by providing states and localities with grants to bring communities and police together to find what works for them. For too long, Congress has sat idly by while the scourge of gun violence and racial profiling goes unaddressed. My bill provides a path forward.\nNorton's full introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton \non the Introduction of the Local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing Act\nDecember 9, 2019\nMs. Norton. Madam Speaker. Today, I introduce the Local Task Forces on 21st Century Policing Act, which would assist localities in carrying out the recommendations of the federal Task Force on 21st Century Policing and the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, both of which have detailed the need to strengthen relations between local communities and local law enforcement. The bill would provide grants to local governments to create local task forces on 21st century policing to bring police, representatives of the community and public officials together to identify best policing practices for local police and other ways to strengthen relations between the community and police departments. No new funds are needed. Existing funds from the Department of Justice would support local governments establishing the task forces by listing these task forces as an acceptable use of Byrne Justice Assistance Grants. Given the continuing controversy surrounding police shootings of unarmed African American men, with no solutions in sight, this bill is more timely every day.\nThe task forces, modeled after the federal Task Force on 21st Century Policing, would allow local communities to identify the best ways to create an effective partnership between local law enforcement and the communities they serve, while reducing crime, increasing trust and combating racial profiling. The task forces could create a partnership to implement practical policing practices acceptable to all concerned.\nThe creation of task forces could be an important step toward easing the tensions between local law enforcement and many communities. In addition, the task forces could serve to engage local law enforcement and local stakeholders in a transparent public problem-solving process instead of the current situation that encourages parties to choose sides.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-supports-puerto-rican-statehood-bill-urges-18-republican", "Norton Supports Puerto Rican Statehood Bill, Urges 18 Republican Cosponsors to Support D.C. Statehood Bill", "2019-12-09", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter today to 18 Republican Members of Congress cosponsoring the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act (H.R. 4901), requesting they also consider cosponsoring her D.C. statehood bill (H.R. 51). Norton, a cosponsor of H.R. 4901, says Puerto Ricans deserve the equal citizenship that statehood provides  as do the 700,000 D.C. residents, who pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the United States.\nIn her letter, Norton writes that, statehood for Puerto Rico and for the District of Columbia should be bipartisan issues. Further, she writes: Statehood is the only solution that accords full and equal citizenship rights for residents of the District. To accept less than statehood would concede the equality of citizenship that is the birthright of D.C. residents as citizens of the United States. That is a concession no American citizen has ever made, and one that D.C. residents will not make as they approach the 218th year in their fight for equal treatment in their country. H.R. 51 reaffirms our determination to obtain each and every right enjoyed by other citizens of the United States by becoming a state.\nThe letter was sent to:\nDon Bacon (R-NE)  \n\tJim Banks (R-IN)  \n\tGus Bilirakis (R-FL)  \n\tRob Bishop (R-UT)  \n\tMario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)  \n\tBrian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)  \n\tJennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR)  \n\tJohn Katko (R-NY)  \n\tPeter King (R-NY)  \n\tDoug LaMalfa (R- CA)  \n\tCathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)  \n\tBill Posey (R-FL)  \n\tAumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS)  \n\tRoss Spano (R-FL)  \n\tElise Stefanik (R-NY)  \n\tMichael Waltz (R-FL)  \n\tJoe Wilson (R-SC)  \n\tDon Young (R-AK)\nNorton's full letter can be read below.\nDecember 9, 2019\nThe Honorable [Member Name]\nUnited States House of Representatives\nWashington, DC 20515\nDear [Member Name]:\n Like me, you are a cosponsor of the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act (H.R. 4901). As a matter of equality and fairness, I am writing to request that you also consider cosponsoring my bill that would admit the District of Columbia as a state, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51). Puerto Ricans deserve the equal citizenship statehood provides. So do D.C. residents, who pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the United States.\n The residents of the nation's capital are the only full federal taxpaying Americans who are not treated as equal citizens. Since the founding of the nation, District residents have always carried all the obligations of citizenship, including payment of federal taxes and serving in each one of the nation's wars, all without voting representation in either house of Congress or freedom from congressional interference in purely local matters.\nThe Washington, D.C. Admission Act would create a state from the eight wards of the District. This state, of course, would have no jurisdiction over the remaining federal enclave that Members of Congress and visitors associate with the capital of our country. The U.S. Capitol Complex, the principal federal monuments, federal buildings and grounds, the National Mall, the White House and other federal property here would remain under federal jurisdiction. Our bill provides that the State of Washington, D.C. would be equal to the other states in all respects, as is always required for states' admission, including in obligations and rights. The District recognizes that it can enter the Union only on an equal basis, and is prepared to do so.\nStatehood is the only solution that accords full and equal citizenship rights for residents of the District. To accept less than statehood would concede the equality of citizenship that is the birthright of D.C. residents as citizens of the United States. That is a concession no American citizen has ever made, and one that D.C. residents will not make as they approach the 218th year in their fight for equal treatment in their country. H.R. 51 reaffirms our determination to obtain each and every right enjoyed by other citizens of the United States by becoming a state.\n Statehood for Puerto Rico and for the District of Columbia should be bipartisan issues. In his signing statement on the D.C. Home Rule Act in 1973, President Nixon wrote, As the Nation approaches the 200th anniversary of its founding, it is particularly appropriate to assure those persons who live in our Capital City rights and privileges which have long been enjoyed by most of their countrymen. Viet Dinh, a leading constitutional scholar who served as U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Legal Policy in the George W. Bush administration (now a professor of constitutional law at the Georgetown University Law Center), testified that courts reaching the merits would likely find the [D.C. statehood bill] constitutional.\nPlease also cosponsor the D.C. statehood bill. If you have any questions, please contact me or have your staff contact Trent Holbrook in my office at (202) 225-8050 or trent.holbrook@mail.house.gov.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/as-house-passes-voting-rights-advancement-act-norton-says-dc-statehood", "As House Passes Voting Rights Advancement Act, Norton Says D.C. Statehood Cut from Same Cloth", "2019-12-06", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who strongly supported House passage of the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), said the bill's passage today reinforces her own District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51), which gives D.C. residents equal voting rights in Congress. Norton said both bills stand for the right to vote as the backbone of our democracy. Since the 2013 Supreme Court decision partially invalidating the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), Shelby County v. Holder, voter suppression laws have depressed turnout in the United States, particularly in communities of color. \nIn celebrating House passage of H.R. 4 today, I could not help but note the ultimate case of voter suppression: denying D.C. residents voting rights on the floor of the House and the Senate, Norton said. Noteworthy as well is H.R. 1, the bill that contains multiple ways to strengthen the franchise, contained both endorsements of the VRA and H.R. 21, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Fortunately, during this 116th Congress, we also anticipate House passage of H.R. 51.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-urges-doj-decision-to-help-dc-code-felons", "Norton Urges DOJ Decision to Help D.C. Code Felons", "2019-12-05", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today sent a letter toAttorney General William Barr requesting answers on implementation of the First Step Act, saying it is vitally important that the Act's benefits be applied to D.C. Code felons, as Congress intended, to ensure equality for these inmates. In November, Norton met with Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer to ensure BOP would apply the reforms equally. Norton got language inserted in the First Step Act clarifying that the new law applies to all BOP Code felons, not just those convicted under federal law. Norton maintains that D.C. inmates now qualify for valuable new benefits, such as the Good Time Credit, early release by participating in recidivism reduction programs, and additional phone privileges and visitation. However, Hawk Sawyer said that Norton's previous request for a list of BOP programs unavailable to D.C. Code felons is currently under Department of Justice review, which prompted Norton's letter to Barr.\nThe full letter can be read below.\nDecember 5, 2019\nThe Honorable William Barr\nAttorney General\nUnited States Department of Justice\n950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW\nWashington, DC 20530\nDear Attorney General Barr:\n As you may know, I have requested from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) a list of all federal laws, rules, regulations, programs and policies related to federal offenders in BOP custody that do not apply in the same manner to D.C. Code felons in BOP custody. This is particularly important given the recent enactment of the First Step Act (Act), where I was able to include language making it explicit that the Act applies to all inmates in BOP custody, including D.C. Code felons. A similar request for this information was also submitted as a Question for the Record following the October 17, 2019, House Judiciary Committee hearing on the BOP.\n I understand that the Department of Justice is reviewing this matter. Given the importance of this issue to the residents of the District, I am writing to ask that you respond as soon as possible. It is vitally important that the Act be applied to D.C. Code felons, as Congress intended, and the list of which laws, regulations, programs and policies may not apply to D.C. Code felons is also important as we look at developing legislation to ensure equality for D.C. Code felons.\n I appreciate your attention to this matter, and request that you respond to this letter within 30 days.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\nCc: Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Ph.D., Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-bill-making-dc-eligible-for-federal-flood-mitigation-prevention", "Norton Bill Making D.C. Eligible for Federal Flood Mitigation, Prevention Funds on House Floor Next Week", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that her bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) to include the District of Columbia in the definition of a coastal state, which would make D.C. eligible for federal coastal zone management funding, is expected to be on the House floor next week. Norton's bill, the District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act, would give the District oversight for federally issued permits, facilities, and actions that affect the coastal waters of the District. Norton said she believes the District's omission from the CZMA was an unintentional oversight, as the CZMA was passed in 1972  before the District achieved home rule  and the territories have been eligible along with states.\nIn her introductory statement on the bill, Norton said: Even though the District is located on two rivers and has suffered substantial coastal floods in the past, D.C. was omitted from the list of eligible states and territories in the CZMA. This oversight probably occurred because the CZMA was passed in 1972  before the District achieved home rule  Because territories are included in the definition of coastal states, it appears that D.C.'s omission was a mistake, which only Congress can correct. Scientists have predicted that the tides on the Atlantic Coast could rise two to four feet by the year 2100, causing as much as $7 billion worth of property in the District to be routinely under threat by floodwaters. This damage not only would be to private homes and businesses, but the National Mall, federal buildings, and three military bases located in the District  Because both federal and DC assets are at risk, the District of Columbia should be eligible for CZMA grants just like the states and territories.\nNorton has already passed three bills in the House this year, along with four bills passed in committee. Norton was rankedthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congressby the Center for Effective Lawmaking based on her proven ability to advance a member's agenda items through the legislative process and into law.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-chair-hearing-on-freight-transportation-thursday", "Norton to Chair Hearing on Freight Transportation, Thursday", "2019-12-04", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said the subcommittee will hold a joint hearing on Thursday with the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the economic, environmental, and social impacts of freight transportation across the United States. The U.S. freight railroad industry operates on 140,000 miles of track across the country, while the trucking industry operates on more than four million miles of public roads (and 616,000 bridges). Norton said the hearing is an important opportunity to understand and highlight fuel management systems, efficiency, emissions, and impact on communities, as well as what still needs to be done.\nMoving goods across the United States is a monumental task and requires the federal government to work closely with private business, Norton said. At the same time, we must understand the many impacts our transportation system has on the communities it touches and on the environment. This hearing will be an excellent opportunity to learn how the federal government can do more to support the efficient and sustainable transport of goods throughout the country.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton chairs Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing on freight transportation\nWHEN: Thursday, December 5th at 10:00 AM\nWHERE: Rayburn HOB (Room 2167), 45 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-assist-returning-dc-citizens-in-federal", "Norton Introduces Bill to Assist Returning D.C. Citizens in Federal Custody", "2019-12-03", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the District of Columbia Returning Citizens Coordination Act of 2019, which would allow the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) to share information with the District of Columbia government to help ensure the District has services ready for returning citizens. Norton's bill would ensure that District agencies, in coordination with BOP and CSOSA, are better able to determine the services returning citizens may require before they are even released from prison. D.C. Code felons are the only local inmates housed by the BOP, spread in facilities throughout the United States, making this bill especially important for returning D.C. citizens.\nCurrently, BOP and CSOSA are allowed to share information regarding returning citizens with each other, since both are federal agencies, but not with D.C. agencies. This bill would allow BOP and CSOSA to treat agencies of the D.C. government as they do other federal agencies concerning federal privacy laws, such as the Privacy Act, with respect to returning citizens so that the District agencies that assist individuals during their return may more easily obtain the necessary information to provide appropriate services.\nIn her introductory statement, Norton writes: D.C. inmates face significant hurdles in preparing to return to society because most are spread across the country in BOP facilities hundreds or even thousands of miles from the District, their families and their loved ones. Because they are frequently housed so far away from the District, coordinating returning citizens' reentry into society is difficult. This bill would make the coordination efforts between the BOP, CSOSA and District agencies less burdensome and more efficient.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-testify-before-house-natural-resources-committee-on-her", "Norton to Testify Before House Natural Resources Committee on Her National Monument for Women in World War II Bill, Tomorrow", "2019-12-03", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will testify before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands tomorrow, December 4th, at 10:00 a.m. on her Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act (H.R. 5068), which would authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia commemorating the millions of American women who helped the World War II effort. The memorial, when completed, would be interactive to educate visitors on the important roles women played during World War II. Norton, who was the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), noted that women are dramatically underrepresented in our national memorials.\nThe committee will also hear testimony from 17-year-old D.C. resident Raya Kenney, founder of the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation. Raya came up with the idea to honor women on the home front who supported the World War II effort, and Norton greatly appreciates her activism.\nBetween 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, including 25 percent of married women. The work done by women on the home front opened doors for women in the workplace itself and had a profound effect on the job market going forward. In addition, more than 10,000 women served behind the scenes in World War II as codebreakers.\nWorld War II was fought and won by the entire nation, including millions of women, Norton said. Women have largely been ignored in the memorials on federal land in the nation's capital, even when they have played key roles, like in WWII. During this time, American women redefined what women's work' looked like, from codebreaking and flying aircraft to health care and factory work. Women took jobs to support their families and their country. In light of these contributions, it is time that women who worked on the home front, represented by my bill, be properly recognized in the nation's capital.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton and D.C. resident Raya Kenney testify before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on H.R. 5068\nWHEN: Tomorrow, December 4th at 10:00 AM\nWHERE: Longworth House Office Building, Room 1324, 15 Independence Ave SE, Washington DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-with-deanwood-recreation-center-tonight", "Norton in Your Neighborhood with Deanwood Recreation Center, Tonight", "2019-11-25", "2019", "2019-11", "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 conversation at the Deanwood Recreation Center today, November 25th, at 6:30 p.m.\nNorton will engage residents in a conversation on recent congressional actions, including the historic momentum for her D.C. statehood bill that has developed in the House and Senate. This September 19th, the House held its first hearing on D.C. statehood in over 25 years. Norton will also discuss her successful efforts to secure a clean D.C. Appropriations bill from the House Appropriations Committee, her success in getting$40 million for DCTAG, and her record in passing bills for D.C priorities, including bills that are rebuilding neighborhoods.\nBecause of Norton's record passing bills last Congress in the minority, the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Nortonthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congress.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts a Norton In Your Neighborhood'\nWHEN: Monday, November 25th at 6:30 PM\nWHERE: Deanwood Recreation Center, 1350 49th Street NE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-meets-with-bop-director-kathleen-hawk-sawyer", "Norton Meets with BOP Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) this week had a long-anticipated meeting with recently-named Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, PhD, concerning D.C. inmates, who are housed in BOP prisons throughout the United States. Norton was particularly concerned about ensuring that the BOP would apply the reforms in the First Step Act, which was enacted last year, to D.C. Code inmates in Federal BOP custody. Norton got language inserted in the First Step Act clarifying that the new law applies to all BOP inmates, not just those convicted under federal law. Norton maintains that D.C. inmates now qualify for valuable new benefits, such as the Good Time Credit, early release by participating in recidivism reduction programs, and additional phone privileges and visitation. However, Hawk Sawyer said that a response to this request is currently under Department of Justice review. Norton said she will therefore write the Attorney General requesting an immediate response.\nNorton has also long pressed for a final decision on the outstanding men's halfway house for D.C. inmates. Hawk Sawyer indicated that the request for the proposed D.C. halfway house is ongoing, but that, of course, a halfway house for D.C. inmates would continue to be available during the solicitation and procurement process.\nI am grateful that BOP has a new director and that Director Hawk Sawyer was very knowledgeable and responsive to my questions, Norton said. We look forward to fresh, up-to-date information from the new Director.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-releases-thanksgiving-week-schedule", "Norton Releases Thanksgiving Week Schedule", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released her public events schedule for Thanksgiving week. Norton and her staff recently served meals at Miriam's Kitchen as a way to give back to the community beyond legislative action and congressional casework. This Thanksgiving season, Norton encourages all residents to find ways to contribute to those most in need.\nGiving back and representing the needs of District residents are my sole job, Norton said. While we have achieved much through congressional action and limiting Congress' interference in local D.C. affairs, partnering with Miriam's Kitchen gave my staff and me an opportunity to give more. I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.\nMedia attending should RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\n\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts a Norton In Your Neighborhood'\nWHEN: Monday, November 25th at 6:30 PM\nWHERE: Deanwood Recreation Center, 1350 49th Street NE, Washington, DC\n\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at DC Voting Rights Case Pep Rally & Breakfast\nWHEN: Tuesday, November 26th at 8:15 AM\nWHERE: One Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street NW, Washington, DC\n\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the 20th Anniversary Safeway Feast of Sharing\nWHEN: Wednesday, November 27th at 11:00 AM\nWHERE: Washington Convention Center (Hall D Stage), 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC\n\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at 13th Annual Little George tree lighting\nWHEN: Saturday, November 29th at 5:30 PM\nWHERE: Corner of 7th Street and D Street SE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-relieved-at-dc-confirmations-urges-senate-to-fill-vacancies", "Norton Relieved at D.C. Confirmations, Urges Senate to Fill Vacancies", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked the Senate for confirming four officials to posts in the District of Columbia judicial system. Norton announced that Robert Anthony Dixon was confirmed to be United States Marshal for the Superior Court; Joshua A. Deahl was confirmed to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals; and Deborah J. Israel and Andrea L. Hertzfeld were confirmed to be Associate Judges of the Superior Court.\nStatehood will make these matters respecting court personnel in the District local matters as they should be, Norton said. Until then, I am particularly grateful to my Senate colleagues for their advice and consent on these much-needed D.C. judges and marshal, Norton said. These officials will begin the urgently needed work of clearing case backlogs. Before these vacancies were filled, two vacancies existed on the Court of Appeals and an astonishing nine vacancies existed on the Superior Court, the District's trial court for criminal and civil matters, the largest in the country. We are pleased that Ms. Hertzfeld and Ms. Israel have been confirmed, yet seven vacancies still remain.\nUnfortunately, the District seems to have a vacancy crisis every few years, whether the Senate is controlled by Democrats or Republicans. I recognize that Senate leadership is understandably more focused on nominees for lifetime federal judgeships and federal agencies than on local D.C. courts. However, I will continue to work with the Senate to move quickly to fill these vacancies to ensure D.C. has an effective judicial branch.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-appear-on-pbs-to-the-contrary-7", "Norton to Appear on PBS To The Contrary", "2019-11-22", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) can be seen on this week's airing of the national PBS series To The Contrary, locally here on Friday at 5:30 p.m. on WETA; Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WHUT; and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on WETA. The panel will discuss women and the impeachment process, action on climate change, and the #MeToo movement's influence on business culture. Norton is a frequent panelist.\n\nThe program, which airs nationally, is shown at different times depending on the local station and includes two conservative and progressive panelists who discuss hot topics of the day. Local listings can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-and-staff-serve-meals-at-miriam-s-kitchen-in-thanks-to-dc", "Norton and Staff Serve Meals at Miriams Kitchen in Thanks to D.C. Residents", "2019-11-21", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  In advance of Thanksgiving, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and her staff served meals at Miriam's Kitchen yesterday. As winter sets in, Norton wanted to call attention to the District's progress in reducing homelessness while focusing on the thousands who need shelter and other help.\nGiving back and representing the needs of District are my sole job in Congress, Norton said. While I have achieved much for the District through congressional action and have limited congressional interference in local D.C. affairs, partneringwith Miriam's Kitchen gave my staff and me an opportunity to serve those who need more. We are particularly grateful to Miriam's Kitchen for the comprehensive, life-saving assistance they give our residents.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-congratulates-carolyn-maloney-on-historic-election-to-oversight", "Norton Congratulates Carolyn Maloney on Historic Election to Oversight Chair", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today congratulated Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on her historic election as the first woman to chair the House Oversight and Reform Committee following the death of Elijah Cummings last month. Norton, the second highest ranking Democrat on the committee, had indicated she would only seek the chair if Maloney did not achieve it, but says that Maloney's seniority and broad experience will serve the Oversight Committee well.\nCongratulations to my friend Carolyn Maloney on this historic step, Norton said. Although she becomes chair following the loss of a much-admired Chairman, Carolyn is a tough and capable leader  more than capable of carrying on the Committee's important work. I look forward to working closely with her as chair and continuing our push for D.C. statehood, advancing H.R. 51 onto the House floor for final passage.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-champions-of-democracy-awards-honor-representatives", "Norton to Speak at Champions of Democracy Awards, Honor Representatives Raskin and Connolly", "2019-11-20", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at the Champions of Democracy Awards this Thursday, November 21st, at 7:00 p.m. honoring Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) for their work advocating for equality and statehood for the District of Columbia. This year's celebration is titled Forward to 51: A DC Vote Celebration and will be held at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall.\nMy good friends Jamie Raskin and Gerry Connolly have been unwavering supporters of equality for the District for Columbia, Norton said. As the movement for D.C. statehood gains historic momentum, with passage of H.R. 51 expected this Congress, I will be especially pleased to speak about my colleagues and their leadership in our fight for justice and equal representation for D.C. residents.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the Champions of Democracy dinner\nWHEN: Thursday, November 19th at 7:00 PM\nWHERE: The Hilton Washington DC Mall Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-for-breastfeeding-mothers-to-be-excused-from-jury", "Norton Introduces Bill for Breastfeeding Mothers to be Excused from Jury Duty", "2019-11-19", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the Breastfeeding Mothers Jury Duty Exclusion Act of 2019, which would allow breastfeeding mothers summoned for jury duty in federal court or in the District of Columbia courts (which are controlled by the federal government) to be excused from service for the period that they are breastfeeding an infant. Norton says a constituent raised this issue in a letter to her office. This law would give nursing mothers the choice, allowing them to serve on a jury should they so choose. Seventeen states, along with Puerto Rico, already allow exemptions from jury duty for nursing mothers. The benefits of breastfeeding are so well-documented that Norton wanted to bring jury duty in line with existing federal policy on encouraging breastfeeding.\nBreastfeeding has many well-documented benefits for infants, Norton said. Mandating that nursing mothers perform jury duty service could deter breastfeeding and has negative impacts on infants, families, and healthy communities. This bill furthers my successful efforts to encourage breastfeeding  my bill to require federal facilities to provide lactation spaces was recently signed into law.\nIn July, Norton's bill requiring federal facilities to provide lactation spaces to nursing mothers was signed into law. Norton was rankedthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congress.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-resolution-condemning-voter-suppression-laws-lack-of", "Norton Introduces Resolution Condemning Voter Suppression Laws, Lack of Voting Rights for D.C.", "2019-11-18", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a House resolution today condemning restrictive state voting laws across the country that unconstitutionally deny voting rights to people of color, the elderly, and low-income residents. Particularly, Norton criticized the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, which struck down sections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, therefore allowing states and political subdivisions with a chronic history of passing restrictive voting laws to again disenfranchise voters. Norton's resolution notes that, as a result, states have rushed to restrict early voting, require proof of citizenship, reduce the number of polling stations, decrease assistance at polling places, and added other restrictions on voting. Norton says that Democrats have prioritized ending voter suppression this Congress. The House passed a broad voter enfranchisement bill earlier this year, H.R. 1, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) unveiled a sweeping proposalto combat voter disenfranchisement, including restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act, establishing national, automatic voter registration laws, and supporting D.C. statehood.\nThe Supreme Court's 2013 decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act has been immeasurably harmful to our democracy, Norton said. Following this decision, over a dozen states quickly moved to erect new barriers to voting, particularly targeting people of color, the elderly, and low-income residents. Federal appeals courts have struck down several of these laws, but judicial action to stop voter suppression laws is not enough. Congress must pass an updated Voting Rights Act that ensures every eligible American has access to the ballot box.\nWe must also acknowledge that, by far, the worst instance of voter suppression in this nation is the continuing injustice of depriving taxpaying residents of the District of Columbia a vote in Congress. More than 700,000 residents are denied their congressional representation simply because of where we live  and we remain the only democracy in the world where residents in a nation's capital are deprived of voting rights in the national legislature. To truly end voter suppression, we must end this practice wherever it occurs, especially in our own nation's capital.\nThe text of full resolution is below.\nRESOLUTION\nCalling on Congress to condemn voter suppression laws enacted by States and political subdivisions.\nWhereas the ratification of the 15th Amendment in 1870 affirms that voting rights cannot be denied to citizens on the basis of race;\nWhereas post-Reconstruction Jim Crow laws severely restricted minority voting rights, particularly those of African Americans;\nWhereas the Voting Rights Act of 1965 contributed to a significant increase in voter registration and participation by African Americans and other minorities;\nWhereas the Supreme Court's 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder struck down section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the coverage provision of the law that identified States and political subdivisions with a chronic history of passing restrictive voting laws;\nWhereas the Shelby County decision effectively immobilized section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which allowed the Department of Justice and Federal courts to `preclear' any proposed changes to voting rules, allowing a preemptive strike of unjust and discriminatory voting laws in the regions identified by section 4(b);\nWhereas the absence of this preclearance requirement has allowed for voter suppression laws to proliferate by permitting States and political subdivisions to pass restrictive voting laws without Federal preclearance to determine if the laws are racially discriminatory;\nWhereas following the Shelby County decision, at least 14 States had voting restrictions in place for the first time in a Presidential election in time for the 2016 contest;\nWhereas approximately 11 percent of American citizens lack government-issued photo identification, and a disproportionate number are low-income, elderly, or people of color;\nWhereas African Americans are as much as 305 percent and Latinos are as much as 195 percent more likely than Whites to lack acceptable identification required to vote;\nWhereas since the Shelby County decision, at least 4 States have reduced early voting access;\nWhereas restricting early voting disproportionately affects people of color, low-income citizens, and the elderly, who often rely on flexible, early voting periods;\nWhereas many voting-eligible, low-income Latino voters are naturalized United States citizens who lack proof of citizenship and cannot afford a Certificate of Citizenship or a Replacement Certificate of Naturalization, which cost $1,170 and $555, respectively;\nWhereas since the Shelby County decision, at least 2 States have imposed more stringent requirements on nongovernmental organizations that help register and engage citizens in voter participation;\nWhereas restricting nongovernmental voter participation organizations directly affects people of color, low-income citizens, and the elderly, as these organizations are particularly likely to reach and engage these populations;\nWhereas since the Shelby County decision, at least 5 States have passed laws making it more difficult to vote by absentee ballot;\nWhereas reducing absentee voting disproportionately affects low-income, minority voters, who are more likely than other citizens to have inflexible work- and childcare-related schedules;\nWhereas in addition to State-level voter suppression laws, political subdivisions have also passed new laws that suppress minority voters, including reducing the number of polling places and offering insufficient language assistance for non-English-speaking voters;\nWhereas following the Shelby County decision, there were at least 868 fewer polling places in the 2016 election than in past elections;\nWhereas insufficient language assistance at polling places could possibly threaten eligible Latino voter turnout in the 2020 Presidential election;\nWhereas since the Shelby County decision, courts have struck down restrictive voting laws in at least 4 States, demonstrating the discriminatory nature of voting restrictions that have proliferated post-Shelby County;\nWhereas had a preclearance formula been in effect, the Department of Justice and Federal courts would have been able to prevent discriminatory voter suppression laws from being passed;\nWhereas the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives has favorably reported the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 (H.R. 4), to update and restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and\nWhereas many unjust voter laws that were passed or went into effect after the Shelby County decision threaten to affect a significant number of minority voters in the upcoming elections: Now, therefore, be it\nResolved,That the House of Representatives condemns the use by States and political subdivisions of the voter suppression laws and techniques described in the preamble of this resolution.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-hold-affordable-housing-community-forum-tuesday", "Norton to Hold Affordable Housing Community Forum, Tuesday", "2019-11-18", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a D.C Affordable Housing Community Forum on Tuesday, November 19th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. Norton's forum will convene experts to help address questions from residents and discuss possible solutions to housing issues. This community forum builds on Norton's work in making federal land available to the District for affordable housing as part of her work that has revitalized many neighborhoods, including the Wharf, NoMa, the Capital Riverfront, and Walter Reed.\nAffordable housing is a top issue for D.C. residents, Norton said. The unique height limits for buildings in the nation's capital (because of the presence of the nation's memorials) and lack of capacity of the city to expand put D.C. at the top of the list on scarcity of affordable housing. This forum will give residents an understanding of the complexities as well as ways to improve affordable housing options here.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton holds affordable housing community forum\nWHEN: Tuesday, November 19th at 6:00 PM\nWHERE: Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, 4606 16th Street NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-second-anniversary-of-bijan-ghaisar-s-death-sunday", "Norton to Speak at Second Anniversary of Bijan Ghaisars Death, Sunday", "2019-11-16", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at the second anniversary of the killing of Bijan Ghaisar by U.S. Park Police this Sunday, November 17th, at 3:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Memorial. This week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would not pursue legal action against the officers who shot and killed Ghaisar. Norton, along with Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), released a letter yesterday urging the U.S. Park Police to open an internal investigation into the killing.\nIn the letter, they write: With the conclusion of the Department of Justice review, U.S. Park Police must open an internal investigation. We ask that the investigation consider personnel sanctions, including possible termination, for the two officers in question. The investigation should review the Park Police's policies and practices for body and dashboard cameras, vehicle pursuits and use of force. The Park Police owe the results of this investigation to the Ghaisars, Congress and the public.\nSince the shooting, Norton and Beyer have introduced bills to require uniformed federal police officersto wear body camerasand to require federal police officers toparticipate with local and state task forces, regardless of whether those local forces wear body cameras. Since the latter bill was introduced, the Justice Departmentannounced a pilot programfor body-worn cameras by federally deputized task force officers.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks on the second anniversary of Bijan Ghaisar's killing\nWHEN: Sunday, November 17th at 3:00 PM\nWHERE: The Lincoln Memorial, 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW, Washington DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-beyer-wexton-urge-park-police-internal-investigation-on-killing", "Norton, Beyer, Wexton Urge Park Police Internal Investigation on Killing of Bijan Ghaisar", "2019-11-15", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), and Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) released a letter today urging the U.S. Park Police to open an internal investigation into the killing of Bijan Ghaisar. Yesterday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it would not pursue legal action against the officers who shot and killed Ghaisar. They request a response in writing no later than December 5th on whether the Park Police will conduct an internal investigation, its scope, the duty status of the officers, and any investigation's expected completion date.\nIn the letter, they write: With the conclusion of the Department of Justice review, U.S. Park Police must open an internal investigation. We ask that the investigation consider personnel sanctions, including possible termination, for the two officers in question. The investigation should review the Park Police's policies and practices for body and dashboard cameras, vehicle pursuits and use of force. The Park Police owe the results of this investigation to the Ghaisars, Congress and the public.\nSince the shooting, Norton and Beyer have introduced bills to require uniformed federal police officersto wear body camerasand to require federal police officers toparticipate with local and state task forces, regardless of whether those local forces wear body cameras. Since the latter bill was introduced, the Justice Departmentannounced a pilot programfor body-worn cameras by federally deputized task force officers.\nThe full text of the letter is below.\nNovember 15, 2019\nGregory Monahan\nActing Chief\nUnited States Park Police\n1100 Ohio Drive SW\nWashington, DC 20024\nDear Acting Chief Monahan:\nWe ask that you open an internal investigation into the shooting death by U.S. Park Police of 25-year-old Virginian Bijan Ghaisar, and we request an update on the status of officers Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard.\nPolice officers are charged with protecting public safety. The public places trust in local law enforcement to keep them safe from harm. Because of the actions documented on video by Fairfax County, Virginia police on November 17, 2017, the public cannot trust that officers Alejandro Amaya and Lucas Vinyard will keep them safe, and that they will protect the community from harm. Consequently, the local community deserves to know the status of the officers in question and whether there is a plan to return law enforcement powers to these officers.\nWith the conclusion of the Department of Justice review, U.S. Park Police must open an internal investigation. We ask that the investigation consider personnel sanctions, including possible termination, for the two officers in question. The investigation should review the Park Police's policies and practices for body and dashboard cameras, vehicle pursuits and use of force. The Park Police owe the results of this investigation to the Ghaisars, Congress and the public.\nPlease respond in writing no later than December 5, 2019, on whether the Park Police will conduct the internal investigation, the scope of the investigation, the duty status of the officers during the investigation and the expected date of completion of the investigation.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\nDonald S. Beyer, Jr.\nJennifer Wexton\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-statement-on-killing-of-bijan-ghaisar-no-charges-filed-by-doj", "Norton Statement on Killing of Bijan Ghaisar, No Charges Filed by DOJ", "2019-11-14", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today issued a statement on the Justice Department's announcement that it would not charge the U.S. Park Police officers involved in the November 2017 killing of Bijan Ghaisar.\nBased on the publicly available information, the shooting appears completely unjustified, Norton said. Bijan did not appear to pose a threat to the officers when they shot him. I urge the Park Police to immediately begin an administrative investigation into the shooting to determine whether these officers should be disciplined or fired.\nSince the shooting, Norton and Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) have introduced bills to require uniformed federal police officers to wear body cameras and to require federal police officers to participate with local and state task forces, regardless of whether those local forces wear body cameras. Since the latter bill was introduced, the Justice Department announced a pilot program for body-worn cameras by federally deputized task force officers.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-thanks-national-organizations-for-supporting-dc-s-right-to", "Norton Thanks National Organizations for Supporting D.C.s Right to Commercialize Recreational Marijuana", "2019-11-14", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked 18 national organizations that wrote to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees urging Congress to remove the rider that prohibits the District of Columbia from using local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana. The letter, released yesterday, notes that the District overwhelmingly voted in 2014 to legalize recreational marijuana, but that Congress has blocked D.C. from using its local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana. The letter also notes that regulating recreational marijuana would free up law enforcement resources to focus on reducing violent crime. In June, Norton led the House in passing its historic FY 2020 D.C. Appropriations bill, which for the first time in history contained no anti-home-rule riders, including the prohibition on using local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana.\nIt is beyond unreasonable that congressional interference keeps only the District of Columbia from commercializing recreational marijuana while all other jurisdictions are free to do so, Norton said. Thank you to the 18 national organizations for their leadership and for their advocacy on behalf of D.C.'s 700,000 residents, who should have the right to govern themselves, as residents of all states and cities do.\nIn their letter, the coalition writes: The District of Columbia is one of a dozen jurisdictions that have voted to legalize marijuana for adult use. Yet, the District is the only jurisdiction that cannot regulate marijuana sales. Congress and the Department of Justice have allowed other states like Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and California, among others, to exercise their sovereign right to set policy and function as laboratories of democracy; the District of Columbia should be allowed to use local taxpayers' funds to support local needs as well.\nThe letter concludes: There are more than 700,000 residents living in the District of Columbia; Congress should follow the spirit of the Home Rule Act, and allow them to set their own local laws. It is time for Congress to support the District of Columbia's right to self-determination and lift the rider prohibiting them from regulating marijuana.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-memorialize-women-during-world-war-ii", "Norton Introduces Bill to Memorialize Women During World War II", "2019-11-13", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act today, commemorating the efforts of the 18 million American women who kept the home front running during World War II. Women are dramatically underrepresented in our memorials. A 17-year-old District of Columbia resident, Raya Kenney, the founder of the non-profit Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation, brought the idea to Norton to honor the women on the home front who supported the World War II effort. This bill would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish the memorial to honor these women. The memorial is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on the important roles women played during World War II.\nIn her introductory statement, Norton writes: Women have largely been ignored in the memorials on federal land in the nation's capital, even though they played a key role in World War II. Millions of American women took jobs to support their families and the country at large during World War II, redefining what women's work' looks like. In light of these contributions, it is important that women who worked on the home front be properly recognized in the nation's capital.\nThe bill is cosponsored by Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Andre Carson (D-IN), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Deb Haaland (D-NM), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujn (D-NM), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Darren Soto (D-FL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Susan Wild (D-PA).\nNorton's full introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act \nNovember 13, 2019\nToday, I introduce the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act, which would authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia commemorating the efforts of the 18 million American women who kept the home front running during World War II. Women are dramatically underrepresented in our memorials.\nA 17-year-old constituent, Raya Kenney, the founder of the non-profit Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation, came up with the idea to honor the women on the home front who supported the World War II effort. Raya wondered why the women on the home front, whose efforts were so instrumental in maintaining the stability of the country during World War II, have not received much recognition for their contributions, compared to the men who fought bravely in World War II. This bill would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish the memorial to honor these women. The memorial is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on the important roles women played during World War II.\nBetween 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 one in four married women worked outside of the home. The work done by women on the home front opened doors for women in the workplace generally and had a profound effect on the job market going forward. As a result of their efforts, women on the home front redefined many occupations that were previously considered men's work.\nJust as women were working on the home front, many played critical roles in support of the war effort. More than 10,000 women served behind the scenes of World War II as codebreakers. Due to the classified nature of their work, they did not receive recognition for their tireless efforts until recently. Women were also trained to fly military aircraft so male pilots could leave for combat duty overseas. More than 1,100 female civilian volunteers flew nearly every type of military aircraft as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program. WASP flew planes from factories to bases, transported cargo and participated in simulation strafing and target missions. These women were not given full military status until 1977, and it was not until 2010 that they were recognized with the Congressional Gold Medal.\nWomen have largely been ignored in the memorials on federal land in the nation's capital, even though they played a key role in World War II. Millions of American women took jobs to support their families and the country at large during World War II, redefining what women's work looks like. In light of these contributions, it is important that women who worked on the home front be properly recognized in the nation's capital.\nI urge my colleagues to support this bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-host-quarterly-meeting-with-national-park-service-thursday", "Norton to Host Quarterly Meeting with National Park Service, Thursday", "2019-11-13", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she looks forward to Thursday's meeting at 6:00 p.m. with the National Park Service (NPS) at the U.S. Park Police Anacostia operations facility, which will be the second in an ongoing series of regular meetings between District of Columbia residents and NPS. Nortonannounced in Maythat NPS had committed to hosting regular public meetings with D.C. residents to hear directly from the community regarding our national parks, which constitute almost all of the District's parks.\nThe National Park Service is necessarily one of my priorities because almost all parkland in the District of Columbia is owned by NPS and funded by the federal government, Norton said. These regular meetings throughout the city have been popular with D.C. residents, who love our parks and have taken full advantage of these meetings to bring their concerns directly to NPS. NPS has important local responsibilities in our city, making frequent communication and transparency as essential for residents as for D.C.'s own services. NPS is not a local agency, but when it comes to our neighborhood parks, that's exactly what they must be. I am grateful NPS has agreed to the important step of hearing from the community on a regular basis to prioritize their needs.\nThis meeting follows the enactment ofNorton's billin March that clarified that the District and NPS could enter into cooperative management agreements to rehabilitate, operate, and maintain NPS parks in D.C., such as the revitalization of Franklin Park.\nMedia attending may RSVP tojack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT:Congresswoman Norton hosts NPS community meeting\nWHEN:Thursday, November 14th at 6:00 PM\nWHERE:U.S. Park Police Anacostia operations facility, 1901 Anacostia Drive SE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-asks-for-action-to-strengthen-public-safety-during-turkish", "Norton Asks for Action to Strengthen Public Safety During Turkish Presidential Visit", "2019-11-12", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today expressed her deep concern regarding President Trump's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the District of Columbia tomorrow, November 13th, and urged that federal security personnel, including U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division Police and State Department Diplomatic Security assist the District's Metropolitan Police Department with public safety. Norton said that President Erdogan should not have been invited to Washington in light of unprovoked violence in 2017 by Turkish security officials who brutally attacked peaceful protestors outside the Turkish Ambassador's residence here and were indicted on felony counts of assault. Prosecutors have dropped the cases against all but four of the guards because of possible immunity and the difficulty getting Turkey to extradite them. At the time, Norton condemned the 2017 attack and wrote Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asking him to bar any Turkish official who committed, encouraged, facilitated or otherwise participated in the assaults from reentering the United States. Norton also asked Tillerson to expel any such official who remains in the country.\nMoreover, Norton warns that the recent foreign policy decision by President Trump to leave our Kurdish allies without any U.S. protection and allow Turkey to invade their territory will only heighten tensions as President Erdogan visits D.C. Following this offensive, there were reports of Turkish militias committing war crimes.\nTwo years ago, President Erdogan's security forces beat and injured peaceful U.S. protestors in the nation's capital, Norton said. Erdogan brought with him tactics he uses in his own country to the world's oldest democracy, which prides itself on protecting protests against U.S. policy and the policy of other countries. Erdogan certainly did not deserve an invitation at this time when recent actions by Turkey against the Kurds and its atrocities in the region have inflamed world opinion, and Congress has just passed a resolution for the first time recognizing the Armenian Genocide. When you come to the nation's capital, you respect our residents, our values, and our freedom of speech. World leaders who fail to do so should never be invited back.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-green-to-lead-special-order-on-detention-of-dc-resident-austin", "Norton, Green to Lead Special Order on Detention of D.C. Resident Austin Tice, This Evening", "2019-11-12", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Al Green (D-TX) will lead a Special Order this evening around 7:15 pm on the House floor on the injustice of Austin Tice, a D.C. resident, being held for seven years in detention in Syria. In August 2012, Austin was detained in Syria and continues to be held under uncertain terms. Austin, a Marine Corps veteran, entered Syria as a freelance journalist. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, a National Merit Finalist and an Eagle Scout. U.S. officials believe Austin is still alive.\nFor unmercifully long, Austin Tice's family has waited without word of their son, Norton said. With this Special Order we seek to heighten attention to his detention in Syria and to encourage Congress and the administration to bring this young Marine veteran home.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-micromobility-coalition-scooter-demonstration", "Norton to Speak at Micromobility Coalition Scooter Demonstration, Tomorrow", "2019-11-12", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, will speak at the Micromobility Coalition's e-scooter safety demonstration on Capitol Hill tomorrow, November 13th, at 3:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post #8 at 224 D Street SE. As chair, Norton has championed alternative modes of transportation and held a roundtable on Mobility on Demand (MOD), featuring innovative approaches to transportation systems to relieve congestion and to promote convenience for travelers. These systems couple real-time data with travelers and their transit options to help find the most efficient way for travelers to get where they need to go, including using public transit, shuttle services, ride-sharing, and alternative modes of transportation like bikes and scooters.\nAs my subcommittee writes the surface transportation reauthorization bill, it focuses for the first time on new modes of transportation that are radically changing how Americans commute and travel, Norton said. Electric scooters have quickly established themselves as a convenient, cost-effective way for people to navigate, especially in congested cities and suburbs. This event will be a perfect opportunity to understand safe riding practices and the many benefits of the micromobility industry.\nMedia attending can RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the Micromobility Coalition e-scooter demonstration\nWHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 13th at 3:00 PM\nWHERE: American Legion, Kenneth H. Nash Post #8, 224 D Street SE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-appear-on-pbs-to-the-contrary-6", "Norton to Appear on PBS To The Contrary", "2019-11-08", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) can be seen on this week's airing of the national PBS series To The Contrary, locally here on Friday at 5:30 p.m. on WETA; Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WHUT; and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on WETA. The panel will discuss abortion rights, changing norms in marriage, and women's evolving role in the military. Norton is a frequent panelist.\nThe program, which airs nationally, is shown at different times depending on the local station and includes two conservative and progressive panelists who discuss hot topics of the day. Local listings can be foundhere.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-veterans-for-dc-statehood-rally-receive-award-monday", "Norton to Speak at Veterans for D.C. Statehood Rally, Receive Award, Monday", "2019-11-08", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at a rally sponsored by Veterans for D.C. Statehood this Monday, November 11th, at 2:00 p.m. on Veterans Day in Freedom Plaza. Norton will accept the DC Statehood Freedom Award for her work fighting for D.C. equality.\nResidentsof this place we now call the nation's capital fought in the Revolutionary War that created the United States of America, Norton said. Yet for 218 years, our veterans have lived as unequal citizens in their nation's capital, despite fighting in every U.S. war, bringing equal rights throughout the world. On Veterans Day, we remember that no Americans have given more to their country or received less than veterans from the District of Columbia.\nNorton's D.C. statehood bill (H.R. 51) has 223 cosponsors in the House. The companion bill in the Senate (S. 631), introduced by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), has 35 Senate cosponsors.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at D.C. Statehood rally for veterans\nWHEN: Monday, November 11th at 2:00 PM\nWHERE: Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/before-veterans-day-weekend-norton-to-introduce-veterans-legal-support", "Before Veterans Day Weekend, Norton to Introduce Veterans Legal Support Act", "2019-11-07", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today she will introduce the Veterans Legal Support Act of 2019, which would allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide financial support to law school clinical programs that provide pro bono legal services to veterans, including assistance with disability claims and foreclosures. There are at least 22 law schools that have clinics devoted to veterans' legal needs, including the William & Mary Law School Veterans Benefits Clinic, which serves as a national model for this idea and was the first recipient of a best practice certification from the VA. There are many other law schools, such as the University of the District of Columbia's David A. Clarke School of Law, that are interested in starting their own VA-certified clinics.\nIn her introductory statement, Norton writes: More than 400,000 veterans are waiting for their disability claims to be processed by the VA. With the assistance of lawyers and law professors, clinical programs provide free legal resources to assist veterans in processing their claims. My bill would merely build on what some law schools have begun to do for the last several years. More needs to be done to sustain and increase these programs.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-quiet-skies-caucus-release-letter-to-faa-administrator-on", "Norton, Quiet Skies Caucus Release Letter to FAA Administrator on Nationwide Aircraft Noise", "2019-11-07", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), co-chairs of the Quiet Skies Caucus, released a letter today to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Stephen Dickson requesting answers on aircraft noise mitigation efforts. The letter, also signed by Caucus vice chairs Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), expresses serious concerns regarding airplane and helicopter noise and the FAA's lack of responsiveness to impacted communities.\nIn the letter, they write: Aircraft noise has caused sleep deprivation, homes to shake and health problems, such as increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Because you only recently began your service, we hope that this meeting can be the start of renewed engagement between the FAA, Congress and our constituents, and will lead to concrete steps to mitigate this noise.\nThe Caucus requested a response within 30 days to more than 45 specific questions regarding the FAA's efforts to reduce noise pollution. The full letter can be found here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-celebrates-unanimous-senate-passage-of-resolution-honoring", "Norton Celebrates Unanimous Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Nationals World Series Win", "2019-11-06", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated the unanimous passage last night of a resolution in the Senate honoring the Washington Nationals for winning the first World Series in franchise history. The Nationals beat the Houston Astros in seven games, winning all four road games.\nIn one word  history!Norton said. Congratulations to the Washington Nationals on this achievement and thank you to all the coaches, players, trainers, and especially fans who believed in our underdog team. Whether it's the Capitals, the Mystics, or the Nationals  or the historic momentum for D.C. statehood  the District has been on a roll lately and has established itself as a true big-time sports city.\nNorton introduced the companion resolution in the House.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-host-census-2020-event-for-dc-residents-tonight", "Norton to Host Census 2020 Event for D.C. Residents, Tonight", "2019-11-06", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Census 2020 event for District residents tonight, November 6th, at 6:00 p.m., to encourage D.C. residents to participate in the Census process to help the District get the federal funding residents need, which is contingent on the number of residents in each jurisdiction. Norton says residents may not know that documented and undocumented people alike are counted in the Census and that the Census protects the privacy of all residents and their families. Norton will be joined by Census experts, including U.S. Census 2020, D.C. Census 2020, the Office for East of the River Services, and the office of Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray. Norton is holding Census meetings in the four Wards where there was an undercount in the last Census, Wards 1, 5, 7, and 8.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts Census 2020 event\nWHEN: Tonight, November 6th at 6:00 PM\nWHERE: Ron Brown College Preparatory High School, 4800 Meade Street NE, Washington, DC\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-introduce-congressional-record-statement-honoring-alex-graham", "Norton to Introduce Congressional Record Statement Honoring Alex Graham", "2019-11-06", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today she will introduce a congressional record statement remembering and honoring the life of District of Columbia firefighter Alex Graham, who died after suffering a heart attack while on duty. Graham was named the 2018 D.C. Firefighter of the Year for his decades of service to the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.\nIn her statement, Norton writes: He was a humble and dedicated public servant and technician. As a firefighter with Engine 21 in Adams Morgan, known as the Alley Rats, he worked to protect the lives of D.C. residents. Graham was known to go above and beyond, ensuring that fire station equipment was top grade. He meticulously worked behind the scenes, researching equipment issues and fixing them, which at times meant traveling from firehouse to firehouse restringing 500 ladders.\nThe full statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nHonoring Alex Graham\nNovember 8, 2019\nMs. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in remembering the life of the District of Columbia 2018 Firefighter of the Year, Alex Graham, a 17-year veteran of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, who died in the line of duty.\nAlex Graham suffered a heart attack while on duty, and later died on October 27, 2019, surrounded by family at George Washington University Hospital.\nGraham was raised in Annapolis, Maryland, and attended Bowie High School. He was a humble and dedicated public servant and technician. As a firefighter with Engine 21 in Adams Morgan, known as the Alley Rats, he worked to protect the lives of D.C. residents. Graham was known to go above and beyond, ensuring that fire station equipment was top grade. He meticulously worked behind the scenes, researching equipment issues and fixing them, which at times meant traveling from firehouse to firehouse restringing 500 ladders.\nFor his efforts repairing fire trucks, maintaining ladders and managing water flow, Graham was named Firefighter of the Year in 2018. While the limelight did not come naturally, the award was undeniably well-deserved.\nGraham is an irreplaceable member of Engine 21. He will be remembered for his skills, dedication and humility. His death sheds light on the tireless work of the department's men and women to protect D.C. residents.\nMadam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the life of Alex Graham and his dedication to the safety of District of Columbia residents. We remember him with tremendous gratitude for his service.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-read-to-first-graders-at-bruce-monroe-elementary-school", "Norton to Read to First Graders at Bruce Monroe Elementary School, Tomorrow", "2019-11-06", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will read to a classroom of first graders at Bruce Monroe Elementary School this Thursday, November 7th, at 12:15 p.m. as part of the national Teach A Girl to Lead campaign led by the Center for American Women at Rutgers University. Norton, an alumna of Bruce Monroe Elementary School, is one of several elected women visiting their local elementary schools and reading Grace Goes to Washington by Kelly DiPucchio and LeUyen Pham. The book describes how government operates and the importance of civic engagement in your community.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton reads to Monroe Elementary First Graders\nWHEN: Tomorrow, November 7th at 12:15 PM\nWHERE: Bruce Monroe Elementary School, 3560 Warder Street NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-with-fort-dupont-civic-association-tomorrow", "Norton in Your Neighborhood with Fort Dupont Civic Association, Tomorrow", "2019-11-04", "2019", "2019-11", "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 conversation with the Fort Dupont Civic Association tomorrow, November 5th, at 7:15 p.m.\nNorton will speak to residents about recent congressional actions, including the historic momentum for her D.C. statehood bill that has developed in the House and Senate. This September 19th, the House held its first hearing on D.C. statehood in over 25 years. Norton will also discuss her successful efforts to secure a clean D.C. Appropriations bill from the House Appropriations Committee, her success in getting$40 million for DCTAG, and her record in passing bills for D.C priorities, including bills that are rebuilding neighborhoods.\nBecause of Norton's record passing bills last Congress in the minority, the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Nortonthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congress.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts a Norton in Your Neighborhood' with the Fort Dupont Civic Association\nWHEN: Tuesday, November 5th at 7:15 PM\nWHERE: Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, 100 42nd Street NE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-explains-views-on-house-impeachment-inquiry-vote", "Norton Explains Views on House Impeachment Inquiry Vote", "2019-11-01", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her congressional record statement on the House impeachment vote taken yesterday. Until statehood is achieved, Norton cannot vote on impeachment nor on final passage of bills, despite representing over 700,000 American citizens who pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the nation.\nIn her statement, Norton stressed the importance and the need for fairness in the impeachment inquiry: Was there an attempt made to hold security funding hostage to the president's concern about a political rival? If this question is deemed not to be worthy of the inquiry  investigation  we authorize today, it would be difficult to ever again define any conduct that deserves an impeachment inquiry.\nThe full statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nRemarks Regarding House Impeachment Resolution\nNovember 1, 2019\nTo its credit, the House is demonstrating the seriousness of steps that could lead to the impeachment of a president. In my judgment, shameful breaches of conduct (and Trump has committed many), such as President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky, were not impeachable because official duties were not implicated. For impeachment, the Constitution requires high Crimes and Misdemeanors. An affair with an intern is disgraceful, not criminal.\nThe people are ahead of the Congress on impeaching this President, or at least on the inquiry we formalize, if consistent indications from polls can be counted as evidence. The House is taking the right step in ratifying the inquiry process that will lead to the necessary open hearings.\nAs a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee, I have been sitting in on closed hearings from witnesses whose testimony is part of the prescribed process. The prosecutor, the House, is conducting an inquiry, which is like a grand jury proceeding or a U.S. Attorney investigation to determine if there has been a violation of law. These procedures are always closed to protect the innocent parties in case the decision is made that there is not enough evidence to move forward. So far, witnesses have come forward to corroborate evidence indicating that Trump used his office as president to seek a favor, an investigation of his most prominent opponent in the forthcoming election, by a foreign power who had life or death dependence on the appropriated U.S. funds.\nWas there an attempt made to hold security funding hostage to the president's concern about a political rival? If this question is deemed not to be worthy of the inquiry  investigation  we authorize today, it would be difficult to ever again define any conduct that deserves an impeachment inquiry.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-explains-views-on-house-impeachment-inquiry-vote-0", "Norton Explains Views on House Impeachment Inquiry Vote", "2019-11-01", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her congressional record statement on the House impeachment vote taken yesterday. Until statehood is achieved, Norton cannot vote on impeachment nor on final passage of bills, despite representing over 700,000 American citizens who pay the highest federal taxes per capita in the nation.\nIn her statement, Norton stressed the importance and the need for fairness in the impeachment inquiry: Was there an attempt made to hold security funding hostage to the president's concern about a political rival? If this question is deemed not to be worthy of the inquiry  investigation  we authorize today, it would be difficult to ever again define any conduct that deserves an impeachment inquiry.\nThe full statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nRemarks Regarding House Impeachment Resolution\nNovember 1, 2019\nTo its credit, the House is demonstrating the seriousness of steps that could lead to the impeachment of a president. In my judgment, shameful breaches of conduct (and Trump has committed many), such as President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky, were not impeachable because official duties were not implicated. For impeachment, the Constitution requires high Crimes and Misdemeanors. An affair with an intern is disgraceful, not criminal.\nThe people are ahead of the Congress on impeaching this President, or at least on the inquiry we formalize, if consistent indications from polls can be counted as evidence. The House is taking the right step in ratifying the inquiry process that will lead to the necessary open hearings.\nAs a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee, I have been sitting in on closed hearings from witnesses whose testimony is part of the prescribed process. The prosecutor, the House, is conducting an inquiry, which is like a grand jury proceeding or a U.S. Attorney investigation to determine if there has been a violation of law. These procedures are always closed to protect the innocent parties in case the decision is made that there is not enough evidence to move forward. So far, witnesses have come forward to corroborate evidence indicating that Trump used his office as president to seek a favor, an investigation of his most prominent opponent in the forthcoming election, by a foreign power who had life or death dependence on the appropriated U.S. funds.\nWas there an attempt made to hold security funding hostage to the president's concern about a political rival? If this question is deemed not to be worthy of the inquiry  investigation  we authorize today, it would be difficult to ever again define any conduct that deserves an impeachment inquiry.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-progressive-caucus-send-letter-urging-back-pay-for-federal", "Norton, Progressive Caucus Send Letter Urging Back Pay for Federal Contractors", "2019-11-01", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus senta bipartisan letter,signed by 87 members of the House of Representatives, to bicameral leadership urging the inclusion of retroactive compensation for federal contractors affected by the 2018-2019 government shutdown in any year-end spending deal.\nThe letter was led by the Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), as well as Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC).\nAs the Senate and House negotiate appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2020 we strongly encourage you to include  consistent with House-passed legislation  backpay for workers who were employed by federal government contractors and who did not receive pay during the most recent federal government shutdown which ended in January 2019, the letter reads. Federal contractors work alongside government employees performing critical jobs that include food service, engineering, security, maintenance, electrical work, and much more. For many contract workers, missing even one paycheck can leave their family unable to pay rent, mortgage payments, or grocery bills.\nThe House of Representatives previously approved back pay for federal contractors in H.R. 3055, a minibus of five FY 2020 spending bills. Several CPC members have also introduced standalone legislation to ensure compensation for impacted federal contractors, including the Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Federal Contractor Employees Act from Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Tina Smith, the Fairness for Federal Contractors Act led by Congressman Norcross and Congressman Chris Smith, and the Low-Wage Federal Contractor Employee Back Pay Act from Congresswoman Norton.\nFederally contracted workers, and their families, bear no responsibility for the shutdown, but ultimately, they continue to pay for it, the letter notes. This represents a moral failure on the part of Congress.\nThe full letter is available here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-progressive-caucus-send-letter-urging-back-pay-for-federal-0", "Norton, Progressive Caucus Send Letter Urging Back Pay for Federal Contractors", "2019-11-01", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus senta bipartisan letter,signed by 87 members of the House of Representatives, to bicameral leadership urging the inclusion of retroactive compensation for federal contractors affected by the 2018-2019 government shutdown in any year-end spending deal.\nThe letter was led by the Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), as well as Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC).\nAs the Senate and House negotiate appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2020 we strongly encourage you to include  consistent with House-passed legislation  backpay for workers who were employed by federal government contractors and who did not receive pay during the most recent federal government shutdown which ended in January 2019, the letter reads. Federal contractors work alongside government employees performing critical jobs that include food service, engineering, security, maintenance, electrical work, and much more. For many contract workers, missing even one paycheck can leave their family unable to pay rent, mortgage payments, or grocery bills.\nThe House of Representatives previously approved back pay for federal contractors in H.R. 3055, a minibus of five FY 2020 spending bills. Several CPC members have also introduced standalone legislation to ensure compensation for impacted federal contractors, including the Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Federal Contractor Employees Act from Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Tina Smith, the Fairness for Federal Contractors Act led by Congressman Norcross and Congressman Chris Smith, and the Low-Wage Federal Contractor Employee Back Pay Act from Congresswoman Norton.\nFederally contracted workers, and their families, bear no responsibility for the shutdown, but ultimately, they continue to pay for it, the letter notes. This represents a moral failure on the part of Congress.\nThe full letter is available here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-reminds-residents-dc-health-link-open-enrollment-starts-today", "Norton Reminds Residents: DC Health Link Open Enrollment Starts Today!", "2019-11-01", "2019", "2019-11", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today welcomed the official start of Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage in the District of Columbia. The District has one of the most robust open marketplaces in the nation, where residents can find affordable health insurance plans that meet their needs. Norton said that even residents who already have health insurance should visitDCHealthLink.com to browse other available health insurance plans, as some options may have changed or they could find better coverage.\nThe Trump administration's efforts to undercut the Affordable Care Act have not worked in the District, Norton said. D.C. residents, no matter their income level, can find health care plans that fit their needs and their budget. Many low-income residents are also eligible for low-cost, and in some cases free, health insurance coverage. I urge residents to go to DCHealthLink.com to view their options and sign up for a plan today. Don't delay getting covered!\nDespite a long open enrollment period, Norton urges residents to sign up soon. Open Enrollment in the District of Columbia is from November 1, 2019, until January 31, 2020.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-make-dc-eligible-for-federal-forestry-funds-0", "Norton Introduces Bill to Make D.C. Eligible for Federal Forestry Funds", "2019-10-31", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) this week introduced a bill, the McIntire-Stennis District of Columbia Equality Act, to make the District of Columbia eligible for federal forestry funds. The McIntire-Stennis Act currently provides U.S. states and territories with formula funds to support state-designated institutions' cooperative forestry research programs but omits D.C. from eligibility. Norton said that the District is treated as a state under virtually all federal programs and that the District's omission from the legislation was likely an oversight from before the District had home rule or a Member of Congress.\nNorton said her bill would make D.C. eligible for funding that is necessary to support research at the University of the District of Columbia's (UDC) College of Agriculture, Urban Stability, and Environmental Science, a program that complements the city's ongoing forestry efforts. UDC is the nation's only urban land-grant university. Norton got her provision to enable UDC to receive federal funding for forestry research under the McIntire-Stennis Act included in the Senate-passed 2013 Farm Bill.\nSix years ago, my provision for UDC to receive forestry research funding was included in the Senate version of the Farm Bill, Norton said. That should be no surprise, as D.C. residents pay the highest taxes per capita in the nation and, for the most part, D.C. is eligible for the programs states qualify for, including these critical federal forestry funds. UDC, our urban land-grant university, needs funds for their programs in the District. I have already gotten D.C. treated as a state for virtually all federal funding. This legislation is no different.\nNorton's full introductory statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the McIntire-Stennis Act District of Columbia Equality Act\nOctober 28, 2019\nMs. Norton. Madam Speaker.\n Today, I rise to introduce the McIntire-Stennis Act District of Columbia Equality Act, which would amend the McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Act (Act) to make the District of Columbia eligible for funding. The District is treated as a state under federal programs, with a few exceptions, most of them simply oversights or failures to update. This legislation would rectify the exception in this Act, ensuring equitable treatment for the District and allowing the District to benefit from the funding opportunities available under the Act.\n The Act provides U.S. states and territories with formula funds to support state-designated institutions' cooperative forestry research programs. The Act defines State to include Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. The District's notable, but faulty, absence from this definition makes it ineligible for grant funds that would support research at the District's state-supported university, the University of the District of Columbia's (UDC) College of Agriculture, Urban Stability, and Environmental Science, a program that complements the city's ongoing forestry efforts. UDC is the nation's only urban land-grant university.\n We appreciate that Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam are included under the definition of State, even though, unlike the District of Columbia, their residents do not pay federal income taxes. It would be particularly troubling if the District, whose residents pay the highest amount per capita in federal taxes, which support farm and other federal programs, were to continue to be excluded.\n It has been argued that the District should be excluded because of its lack of local timber production. However, the Act says, [i]n making such apportionments, consideration shall be given to pertinent factors including local timber production. Proximity to timber is, therefore, only one in a non-exclusive list of factors that are part of the larger analysis regarding the apportionments. Excluding the District from the definition of State merely because it is not located in an area with a timber industry runs counter to the intent of the Act. While timber production can be a factor in determining the amount of state allocations, there is no reason that the District should be excluded from the Act.\n We believe, therefore, that the omission of the District must have been the result of an oversight during the original drafting of the Act. However, as you can imagine, this omission has serious consequences for the District, rendering UDC ineligible for these formula grant funds. Passage of this bill would allow students and researchers in the nation's capital to take part in this important forestry program.\n I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-warner-cardin-kaine-and-van-hollen-celebrate-washington-nationals", "Norton, Warner, Cardin, Kaine, and Van Hollen Celebrate Washington Nationals, Will Introduce Resolution Honoring World Series Win", "2019-10-31", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced they will introduce a resolution honoring the Washington Nationals' first World Series title in franchise history. Beating the Houston Astros in Game 7 last night, the Nationals won all four away games to clinch the series.\nIn one word  history! Norton said. Congratulations to the Washington Nationals on this achievement and thank you to all the coaches, players, trainers, and especially fans who believed in our underdog team. Whether it's the Capitals, the Mystics, or the Nationals  or the historic momentum for D.C. statehood  the District has been on a roll lately and has established itself as a true big-time sports city.\n\"The 2019 Washington Nationals fought with incredible heart and passion all season long to become World Champions, Warner said. Coming back from their 19-31 start to win elimination game after elimination game, these Nationals refused to give in or give up. I want to congratulate every single member of the team, from Mad Max to Childish Bambino to Virginia's own original National, Ryan Zimmerman. Enjoy this well-deserved honor -- you made history. And if you figure out how to get Baby Shark to stop playing on repeat in your heads, please let me know.\"\n\"The Washington Nationals have shown the world what it means to never give up on yourself or your team, Cardin said. Fans watched as the Nats put the fun back in baseball. Their shark-filled energy fueled a remarkable, record-breaking rise all the way to their first franchise world championship. Congratulations to Manager Dave Martinez and every team member who contributed to this win of all wins on the field and in the clubhouse. Thank you for setting such an incredible example for sport and for life.\n\"At a time of so much division, the Washington Nationals gave everyone something to cheer for together, Kaine said. Who could've predicted they would revive their season after such a dreary start? Who could have called Howie Kendrick hitting not one but multiple series-winning home runs? And who on earth could've imagined that Baby Shark would be their theme of the year? These Nats had fun, and we had fun watching them all year. This victory will be remembered and treasured for a long, long time.\"\n\"A huge congratulations to the Nationals, our 2019 World Champs! The Nats beat all the odds for this hard-fought win, Van Hollen said. From the players, to the coaches, to the staff, we're proud of this victory and the effort you put in along the way. I also want to give a shout-out to the great fans across the entire DMV who poured their hearts and souls into this team. Today is a great day for our Nation's Capital, and I look forward to celebrating the win!\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-applauds-nps-scrapping-of-proposed-regulation-limiting-free", "Norton Applauds NPS Scrapping of Proposed Regulation Limiting Free Speech", "2019-10-29", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today applauded the National Park Service (NPS) decision to withdraw a proposal to revise protest and special event permitting regulations in the District of Columbia, which would have significantly limited free speech and the ability to protest. In a statement, NPS said they had received over 140,000 comments from the public and stakeholders. As a former law professor, Norton expressed serious concerns on NPS's plan, which she argued could restrict free expression.\nRaising barriers for citizens to protest and let their voice be heard is wrong, Norton said. I am grateful for the hundreds of thousands of citizens and groups who submitted public comments and thank NPS for this decision, which will strengthen our democracy and free expression.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-beyer-applaud-justice-department-s-new-body-camera-policy", "Norton, Beyer Applaud Justice Departments New Body-Camera Policy, Coinciding with Their Bills", "2019-10-29", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) applauded the Department of Justice (DOJ) announcement yesterday of a pilot program for body-worn cameras by federally deputized task force officers. Under the new pilot program, federally deputized task force officers [will] use body-worn cameras while serving arrests warrants, or other planned arrest operations, and during the execution of search warrants. The DOJ said the program will go into effect in selected cities on November 1, 2019.\nNorton and Beyer had raised concerns after the Washington Post reported that federal authorities were prohibiting local police from participating in joint federal and local task forces if they wear body cameras and, as a result, several police departments have pulled out of these task forces. Norton and Beyer introduced two bills to address these issues. The first bill would require all uniformed federal police officers to wear body cameras and have dashboard cameras in police vehicles. The second bill would prohibit the federal government from refusing to work with local police departments that require their officers to wear body cameras.\nI am grateful to the DOJ for recognizing the importance of body cameras and for moving to begin implementing them, Norton said. In effect, the pilot program is almost where our two bills would take the body camera issue. Further, the pilot program shows that the DOJ has administrative authority to proceed with body camera implementation on its own. The experience of jurisdictions that already use body cameras prove that the pilot program' the DOJ has just begun should be expanded. Body cameras have already definitively been shown to be effective for law enforcement and residents alike to increase transparency as well as trust in the police. All the DOJ needs to do now is to go the full way.\nIt is good that the Justice Department is taking this step, but far more action is required, Beyer said. DOJ should not only stop hindering police departments from adopting body cameras, but aggressively promote their use among local, state, and federal officers. Congress should lead in this area by passing our legislation, which would help pave the way to more transparent policing in this country.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-stresses-her-seniority-qualifications-for-oversight-chair", "Norton Stresses Her Seniority, Qualifications for Oversight Chair", "2019-10-29", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who is second in seniority on the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said today that she is supporting seniority, but that she will seek the position of Chair if Acting Chair Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who outranks Norton in seniority on the committee, withdraws from consideration.\nCongresswoman Maloney is next in seniority to chair the Oversight and Reform Committee, and for that reason, I will not challenge my friend's seniority, Norton said. However, I have served on the Committee for over 20 years and, given my legal background as a tenured professor of law with broad experience on the committee, I will seek to become chair should Congresswoman Maloney choose not to pursue the chair. As the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, I had jurisdiction over federal agencies, a major component of the committee's jurisdiction. I have chaired and/or served on 18 separate Oversight subcommittees, which reinforces my current work on the closed-door impeachment inquiry depositions in progress. In his absence, Chairman Elijah Cummings designated me the chair of the hearing on D.C. statehood held on September 19th, as I have filled the chair for numerous other hearings.\nI believe I have a strong case to make to leadership and members should I choose to run.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-congratulates-dave-chappelle-on-the-mark-twain-award-will-honor", "Norton Congratulates Dave Chappelle on the Mark Twain Award, Will Honor Chappelle Today", "2019-10-28", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) congratulates Washington, D.C. native Dave Chappelle on receiving the Mark Twain Award for his lifetime contributions to American humor and will speak today at Duke Ellington School of the Arts at a ceremony honoring Chappelle at 4:00 p.m. The Mark Twain award recognizes satirists and creators who startled and outraged many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. Chappelle grew up in the District and attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts, the city's premier performing arts high school. Chappelle, most known for his critically acclaimed TV series Chappelle's Show, has two Emmy Awards and two Grammy Awards for his performances and has been considered among the best stand-up comedians of all time. Norton will introduce a statement in the congressional record today honoring Chappelle's achievements.\nIn her statement, Norton writes: Dave has never forgotten D.C. as his home. He has gone back to Duke Ellington to speak and inspire students, often reflecting on his own time at the school. He graciously gave the school his Emmy in 2017, impressing on the students that fighting the odds is possible. He is an advocate for equal rights for D.C. residents, and D.C. residents returned the love in 2017 when Chappelle was painted, alongside other well-known African American Washingtonians, on the wall of Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street.\nNorton's full statement is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nCongratulating Dave Chappelle\nOctober 23, 2019\nMs. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Dave Chappelle for receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor this year.\nOn October 27, 2019, Dave Chappelle will be the recipient of the 22nd annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He will be the first District of Columbia-born recipient of this award, making D.C. residents exceedingly proud of his recognition.\nChappelle, who graduated from Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Duke Ellington), the city's premier performing arts high school, attributes a great deal of his success to his upbringing in the Nation's Capital and to Duke Ellington. At Duke Ellington, he was inspired by his older peers to do better and take risks in artistic expression.\nAfter graduating from Duke Ellington, Chappelle committed to standup comedy. He later went on to produce and star in his own show, the Dave Chappelle Show, and earn an Emmy for his performance on Saturday Night Live. His collection of awards now includes two Emmys and two Grammys.\nChappelle has never forgotten D.C. as his home. He has gone back to Duke Ellington to speak and inspire students, often reflecting on his own time at the school. He graciously gave the school his Emmy in 2017, impressing on the students that fighting the odds is possible. He is an advocate for equal rights for D.C. residents, and D.C. residents returned the love in 2017 when Chappelle was painted, alongside other well-known African American Washingtonians, on the wall of Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street.\nThe Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is an annual award given to individuals who have impacted society in ways similar to 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain). Like Mark Twain, Chappelle is an intense observer of society. I could not agree more with Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter when she said, Dave is the embodiment of Mark Twain's observation that against the assault of humor, nothing can stand.'\nAs a recipient of the Mark Twain Prize, Chappelle follows in the footsteps of America's best comedians, most recently, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Letterman, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy and Jay Leno.\nMadam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise today to honor Dave Chappelle for his contributions to the art of humor, for his contributions to the District of Columbia through his comedy and advocacy, and for receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-with-park-morton-community-today", "Norton in Your Neighborhood with Park Morton Community, Today", "2019-10-28", "2019", "2019-10", "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 conversation with the Park Morton Community today, October 28th at 6:00 p.m.\nNorton will engage the community in a conversation on recent congressional actions, including the historic momentum for her D.C. statehood bill that has developed in the House and Senate. This September 19th, the House held its first hearing on D.C. statehood in over 25 years. Norton will also discuss her successful efforts to secure a clean D.C. Appropriations bill from the House Appropriations Committee, her success in getting$40 million for DCTAG, and her record in passing bills for D.C priorities, including bills that are rebuilding neighborhoods.\nBecause of Norton's record passing bills last Congress in the minority, the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Nortonthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congress.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts a Norton in Your Neighborhood' with Park Morton Community\nWHEN: Monday, October 28th at 6:00 PM\nWHERE: Bruce Monroe Elementary School, 3560 Warder Street NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-bill-to-address-implicit-bias-in-schools", "Norton Introduces Bill to Address Implicit Bias in Schools", "2019-10-28", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced she has introduced the Combating Implicit Bias in Education Act, which would create a $30 million grant program for schools to train teachers, principals and other personnel on implicit bias. Norton says the program would cover both actual or perceived race, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. This year, a report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that students of color with disabilities received far more severe and frequent punishment than their white counterparts. In December, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos eliminated the Obama Administration's guidance seeking to curb exclusionary discipline, undermining key steps toward dismantling discriminatory disciplinary practices in classrooms.\nStudy after study confirms that the effects of implicit bias can be seen in school discipline and academic achievement, Norton said. My bill would give school districts the right tools to address this bias and help implement corrective feedback. Every student deserves the opportunity and support to succeed in class, and my bill will help correct these harmful biases.\nUnder Norton's bill, the Institute of Education Sciences under the Department of Education would be tasked with evaluating and reporting on the effectiveness of the training.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-receive-2019-dc-chamber-choice-award-saturday", "Norton to Receive 2019 D.C. Chamber Choice Award, Saturday", "2019-10-25", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will receive the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Choice Award on Saturday, October 26th, at 7:30 p.m. Supporting the District's businesses and its economy has been a top priority for Norton throughout her service in Congress. Her work in securing land for the District to develop new businesses, entertainment amenities, and housing brings hundreds of millions in additional tax revenue annually and has transformed parts of the city. Most recently, Norton helped launch Phase II of her bill that has led to the redevelopment of the Wharf. Phase I is already complete. Norton bills also provide the land for ongoing development of the Capitol Riverfront, NoMa, and Walter Reed.\nMedia may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov or to Margaret Singleton at msingleton@dcchamber.org.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton receives the 2019 D.C. Chamber Choice Award\nWHEN: Saturday, October 26th at 7:30 PM\nWHERE: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-walk-to-end-hiv-saturday", "Norton to Speak at Walk to End HIV, Saturday", "2019-10-25", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at the District of Columbia Annual Walk to End HIV, which begins at Freedom Plaza, this Saturday, October 26th, at 8:15 a.m. Confronting HIV/AIDS has been a major Norton priority in Congress. House Republicans tried often and failed to reimpose a rider banning D.C. from spending its own local funds on needle-exchange programs after Norton got it removed more than 10 years ago. The needle-exchange rider was attached to the D.C. Appropriations bill for a decade and was responsible for the District's distinction as the jurisdiction with one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the United States. Since its removal, there has been a significant reduction in injection-related HIV cases. Norton also recently secured in the House-passed fiscal year 2020 D.C. Appropriations bill an extra $5 million to combat HIV/AIDS in the District, an increase of $2 million from the enacted FY 19 level.\nThe District has come a long way since I got the deadly needle-exchange rider removed, significantly reducing the HIV/AIDS rate in the city, Norton said. However, our residents remain an at-risk population. If we are serious about continuing to reduce the HIV epidemic here, D.C. residents should be tested both for themselves and as an example for their children and neighbors.\nMedia attending may RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at the D.C. Walk to End HIV\nWHEN: Saturday, October 26th at 8:15 AM\nWHERE: Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-with-randle-highlands-civic-association", "Norton in Your Neighborhood with Randle Highlands Civic Association, Tomorrow", "2019-10-23", "2019", "2019-10", "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 conversation with Randle Highlands Civic Association tomorrow, October 24th, at 7:30 p.m.\nNorton will engage District residents in a conversation on recent congressional actions, including the historic momentum for her D.C. statehood bill that has developed in the House and Senate. This September 19th, the House held its first hearing on D.C. statehood in over 25 years. Norton will also discuss her successful efforts to secure a clean D.C. Appropriations bill from the House Appropriations Committee, her success in getting$40 million for DCTAG, and her record in passing bills for D.C priorities, including bills that are rebuilding neighborhoods.\nBecause of Norton's record passing bills last Congress in the minority, the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Nortonthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congress.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts a Norton in Your Neighborhood' with Randle Highlands Civic Association\nWHEN: Thursday, October 24th at 7:30 PM\nWHERE: DC Dream Center, 2826 Q Street SE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-slams-hawley-blackburn-bill-moving-federal-agencies-out-of-the", "Norton Slams Hawley, Blackburn Bill Moving Federal Agencies Out of the National Capital Region", "2019-10-23", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today slammed a bill introduced by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would move most federal agencies outside of the National Capital Region.\nWe can have a discussion on ways to make government work better for the American people, but harmful bills introduced for cheap talking points should not be part of that discussion, Norton said. According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 85 percent of federal employees work outside of the Washington, D.C. metro area. Hundreds of federal employees and their families have already been impacted by attempts to relocate agencies, which directly hurts their operations. Congress cannot do its job without the unvarnished facts and briefings that nonpartisan agencies give the House and Senate almost daily. I have already gotten language in appropriations bills that would block politically motivated moves outside the National Capital Region, and I will continue to fight these relocations with every tool at my disposal.\nAt one agency targeted for relocation, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), nearly ninety-five percent of staff are already employed outside the National Capital Region, while those who do work at headquarters keep Congress and the President informed of BLM activities. In fact, in the 1990s, the BLM moved its wildfire staff out West, only to move them back when Congress demanded briefings on new wildfires.\nIt is abundantly clear that these unprecedented moves are not about saving taxpayer money or draining the swamp'  they are solely about generating inaccurate talking points. And I will promise you this: this harmful bill will go nowhere in the House.\nEarlier this year, the Trump administration began relocating the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, outside of the National Capital Region. Reports quickly emerged thattop scientists are deserting the USDA in high numbers,devastating the agency's scientific work. Norton had warned that unless measures are taken to stop the sabotage of these agencies, she fears the same outcome could await others.\nNorton has introduced a bill to prohibit the relocation of any federal department or agency headquarters outside of the National Capital Region without congressional approval.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-cbc-oppose-menashi-s-nomination-to-second-circuit", "Norton, CBC Oppose Menashis Nomination to Second Circuit", "2019-10-22", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Karen Bass (D-CA) today released a letter sent to Senate leadership in strong opposition to Steven Menashi's nomination to be a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Norton is the chair of the CBC Judicial Nominations Task Force. In the letter, the CBC wrote of its concerns that, like many Trump judicial nominees, Menashi has devoted much of his career to attacking minorities, women and members of the LGBTQ community. Menashi, opposed by both of his home-state senators, has written specifically against the importance of diversity and inclusiveness. The letter was signed by Bass and Norton, as well as all the members of the CBC representing districts covered by the Second Circuit  Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), and Antonio Delgado (D-NY).\nThe Congressional Black Caucus is committed to supporting judicial nominees who believe in Equal Justice Under Law for all Americans. Unfortunately, Mr. Steven Menashi's legal writings show a willingness to discriminate against minorities, women, and the LGBTQ community, Bass said. This is a lifetime appointment and anyone who expresses discriminatory views against minorities does not deserve the privilege to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.\nSteven Menashi represents the most recent in a long list of unacceptable nominees to lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary, Norton said. Menashi's refusal to answer many questions at his confirmation hearing, for which even Republicans chided him, and opposition by both of his home state U.S. senators should be reason enough not to confirm him to the Second Circuit. Menashi has devoted his writing and his career to attempting to dismantle vital protections for women, minorities and members of the LGBTQ community, which should disqualify him from a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.\nThe CBC's full letter follows:\n\nThe Honorable Lindsey Graham  The Honorable Dianne Feinstein\nChairman  Ranking Member\nJudiciary Committee  Judiciary Committee\nUnited States Senate  United States Senate\nWashington, DC 20510   Washington, DC 20510\nDear Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Feinstein:\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the nomination of Steven Menashi to the Second Circuit. Menashi's writings show a willingness to discriminate against minorities, women and the LGBTQ community. Menashi, who has consistently spoken against diversity and inclusiveness, does not deserve a lifetime position on one of the most important appellate courts in the country. While many of his most egregious statements stem from his writings in college, there is every reason to believe that he has carried these views forward into his legal career, where he has continued to express extremely problematic views against a diverse and inclusive society.\nAs members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), we are particularly concerned about Menashi's troubling writings on race and ethnicity. For example, while in college, Menashi wrote that merely collecting students' racial data constituted a subversion of the liberation of mind promised by education, and connected the practice, required by federal law, to the Nuremberg laws. He defended a fraternity at his college for throwing a ghetto party, where participants wore Afros and held toy guns. He claimed this was harmless and ultimately unimportant and the response was an unnecessary uproar. He likewise has written that charges of racism are typically overblown and [a]cademic multiculturalism has been exposed as thoroughly bankrupt. If Menashi believes mocking African Americans is harmless and ultimately unimportant, we see no reason to believe he would be objective as a judge in meeting his duty to fairly view important civil rights protections for minorities and others while on the court. He also wrote out against the elaborate distortion of the law that resulted in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 being used as a tool for imposing equality of results rather than equal opportunity, and bemoaned that Title VII is used to advance the civil rights of those who have suffered decades of discrimination and their descendants, and not to protect the apparently now disfavored group[] that is white men, as he put it.\nMenashi's views denigrating diversity continued after he graduated from college. In 2002, Menashi wrote that when then-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi talked of the superiority of our civilization in contrast with Islamic countries,' Mr. Berlusconi did nothing other than state the obvious. As a practicing attorney, he wrote in a law review article that ethnonationalism remains a common accepted feature of liberal democracy that is consistent with current state practice and international law Ethnic ties provide the groundwork for social trust and political solidarity and, universalist aspirations notwithstanding, continue to do so. He was further dismayed that [b]ecause it embraces a principle of universalistic human equality, modern democratic thinking cannot justify the particularistic national context in which liberal democracy was nurtured and continues to thrive. The difficulty with the modern attitude is that it assumes human equality exists prior to political society and that liberal democracy springs logically from this preexisting fact. He further concluded that the solidarity underlying democratic polities rests in large part on ethnic identification. Surely, it does not serve the cause of liberal democracy to ignore this reality. These are shocking views, and they are not from a nave college student  they were written after Menashi had completed law school. While serving in the Department of Education (Department), Menashi provided legal advice that aimed to delay implementation of regulations to assist students with disabilities, who the Department had identified as being disproportionately racial minorities, admitting that he was responsible for all legal advice to policymakers within the Department. The Department also limited the scope of its investigations, refusing to conduct systemic review of institutional practices when receiving a complaint of discrimination, and increased the circumstances in which a discrimination complaint could be dismissed. It also rolled back guidance concerning affirmative action and the use of race in college admissions, a policy the Supreme Court has upheld for decades.\nMenashi has also devoted much energy to demonizing the LGBTQ community. For example, Menashi criticized the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), one of the most significant pro-equality organizations in the country, for incessantly exploit[ing] the slaying of Matthew Shepard for both financial and political benefit, and criticized HRC for not focusing on two gay men who raped and murdered a child, Jesse Dirkhising. LGBTQ individuals, of course, are frequently targeted for violence, especially because of their sexual orientation, a special focus of organizations like HRC.\nIn an article from 2000, Menashi criticized tony colleges for the apparent hypocrisy of having optional LGBTQ living areas while simultaneously criticizing the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. He failed to see that separate, optional, housing for LGBTQ individuals to respect their privacy while avoiding discrimination and bullying was different from Don't Ask Don't Tell, a policy that resulted in discrimination against the LGBTQ community, later overturned by Congress. Under his tenure, the Department of Education decided it would no longer investigate discrimination cases filed by transgender students, banned from using the restroom corresponding to their gender identity. It is difficult to see how Menashi could be expected to objectively consider matters affecting LGBTQ individuals.\nMenashi has similarly deprecated the notion that women experience discrimination. He criticized the prevailing view among educators that girls are disadvantaged, and systematically victimized, in American schools. In the same article, Menashi wrote that Darmouth's well-financed Women's Resource Center rails against the heteropatriarchal gynophobes, and that marches against sexual violence merely charge the majority of male students with complicity in rape and sexual violence where every man's a potential rapist He further argued that men are given no leeway, was critical that [o]ffhand remarks or jokes can create a hostile environment' or stigmatize' women  and can be punished through official disciplinary action, and complained that women are treated analogously to an oppressed minority. In another article, Menashi wrote that after fraternity members yelled racist and sexist comments to a female student, students who rightfully protested against the fraternity had vomited the usual charges of racism, in their hysteri[a]. He further called verbal attacks on women silly, and reduced them to unimportance because the perpetrators spoke words, even as the victims cower[] behind a veil of namelessness. This anti-woman language fails to recognize the impact of racist and misogynistic actions and is completely unacceptable for a nominee to one of the nation's most important courts. Continuing with this ideology in his career, Menashi helped oversee the Department's roll back of key Title IX sex discrimination rules to help fight college campus sexual harassment and assault.\nThere is also no reason to believe that Menashi would respect a woman's right to choose. He mockingly criticized supporters of the law and choice as supporting abortion as a fundamental right, no less, and wrote of an alleged consensus that opposes the radical abortion rights advocated by campus feminists and codified in Roe v. Wade and subsequent decisions A woman's right to make this choice is a constitutionally recognized right that has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court and does not deserve mockery. A person who so disrespects precedent (indeed admitting that the decision has been reaffirmed) and mocks fundamental rights does not deserve a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.\nMenashi represents only the latest in a long line of completely unacceptable nominees coming from this Administration. We must do better. The CBC will continue to fight these nominees as vigorously as possible. Out of respect for Americans deprecated by this nominee, we strongly urge you to reject the nomination of Steven Menashi to a lifetime appointment in the federal judiciary.\nSincerely,\nKaren Bass\nChair, Congressional Black Caucus\nEleanor Holmes Norton\nChair, CBC Judicial Nominations Working Group\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-challenges-sheila-jackson-lee-on-world-series-bets-on-a-nationals", "Norton Challenges Sheila Jackson Lee on World Series, Bets on a Nationals Victory", "2019-10-22", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today threw down the gauntlet to her friend Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), betting that the Washington Nationals will prevail in the World Series against the Houston Astros. Following recent championships by the Washington Capitals and the Washington Mystics, Norton believes the District of Columbia is well positioned to win yet another championship  the first World Series in franchise history. Norton bet Jackson Lee that if the Washington Nationals win the World Series, Jackson Lee and her staff would have to take a photo wearing D.C. statehood t-shirts to spread the word about statehood in Texas. If the Astros win, Norton will pose with Jackson Lee in an Astros jersey.\nWhether it's the historic win of the Capitals, the Mystics, or the unprecedented support we have for D.C. statehood, momentum is clearly on D.C.'s side, Norton said. After serving with my friend Congresswoman Jackson Lee for years, I am thrilled to bet on our Nats as they take on the Astros.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-introduces-resolution-honoring-two-postal-workers-and-three-0", "Norton Introduces Resolution Honoring Two Postal Workers and Three Other Americans Killed in Anthrax Attacks", "2019-10-22", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.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. Morris and Curseen died on October 21, 2001, and October 22, 2001, respectively. Norton's 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 United States.\nEach Congress, I introduce this resolution to honor the lives of Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., who were tragically lost in the 2001 anthrax attacks, to ensure that they, along with Bob Stevens, Kathy Nguyen, and Ottilie Lundgren, are never forgotten, Norton said. Even eighteen years later, it is important that Congress and the nation continue to recognize these victims and the entire U.S. Postal Service workforce for serving the nation in the face of unpredictable risks.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-requests-meeting-with-bureau-of-prisons-director", "Norton Requests Meeting with Bureau of Prisons Director", "2019-10-21", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter today to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Kathleen Hawk Sawyer requesting a meeting to discuss the unique needs of the District of Columbia. In particular, Norton wants to discuss how the First Step Act applies to D.C. Code felons, if at all, as well as concerns with the ongoing process for the federal residential reentry center (RRC) contract in the District. Norton notes in her letter that the BOP Acting Director had previously offered to meet. Norton has requested information from the BOP several times this year, but the BOP has, in some cases, not provided the appropriate information or not responded at all.\nIn her letter, Norton writes: I find it unacceptable that the most recent information I have been able to receive on this important issue is from public reporting, and not from the BOP itself. It is vitally important that D.C. returning citizens actually be able to return to an RRC in the District so that they can be close to home. This is all the more important given that many of them are D.C. Code felons, who, if they were in a state system, would almost certainly be in a halfway house in their home state.\nThe full text of the letter is below.\nOctober 18, 2019\nThe Honorable Kathleen Hawk Sawyer\nDirector\nFederal Bureau of Prisons\n320 First Street NW\nWashington, DC 20534\nDear Director Hawk Sawyer:\n First, congratulations on your appointment to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) again. Given the unique situation of the District of Columbia, where D.C. Code felons are the only local offenders mandated by Congress to be housed by the BOP, I write to request a meeting with you to discuss several ongoing issues facing these inmates.\n First, I wrote to BOP in February requesting a list of all federal laws, rules, regulations, programs and policies related to federal offenders in BOP custody that do not apply in the same manner to D.C. Code felons in BOP custody Sonya D. Thompson, Acting Assistant Director for Information, Policy and Public Affairs, wrote back, requesting, instead, to meet with me to discuss this issue. BOP indicated that the meeting would take place only after BOP had determined how, if at all, the First Step Act applied to D.C. Code felons. The intent of the drafters of the First Step Act was that it would apply to D.C. Code felons. My staff has been told for several months now that the BOP and the Department of Justice were working on the requested analysis. Given this length in time to get a final response, I am requesting to meet with you to discuss this critically important issue to D.C. residents.\nSecond, I write to again raise my profound concerns with the process for the federal residential reentry center (RRC) contract in the District. For months now, the BOP has been engaged in reviewing competing bids for the contract. As you may know, the contract was initially granted to CORE DC, but, following a bid protest by Hope Village, who has held the contract for a number of years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended reopening the RRC bid competition. I wrote in August requesting an update on this situation, and the response merely stated that the Bureau is evaluating all of the responses to the [Request for Proposal]. It has been publicly reported that CORE DC may have lost its ability to gain a lease in D.C. and therefore may also have dropped its bid for the contract. I find it unacceptable that the most recent information I have been able to receive on this important issue is from public reporting, and not from the BOP itself. It is vitally important that D.C. returning citizens actually be able to return to an RRC in the District so that they can be close to home. This is all the more important given that many of them are D.C. Code felons, who, if they were in a state system, would almost certainly be in a halfway house in their home state. Therefore, I would like to meet with you to discuss this issue as well.\nI appreciate your attention to these matters and look forward to meeting with you within the next 30 days.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-thanks-schumer-for-recommending-almo-carter-for-us-parole", "Norton Thanks Schumer for Recommending Almo Carter for U.S. Parole Commission", "2019-10-21", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today thanked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for recommending, at Norton's request, Almo Carter to President Trump to fill a vacancy on the U.S Parole Commission (USPC). Carter is a staff attorney for the D.C. Public DefenderService (PDS). Over three quarters of offenders under the jurisdiction of the USPC are D.C. residents. Norton had previously recommended Carter to President Obama, but Carter's nomination was never voted on by the Senate. Like President Clinton, President Obama granted Norton senatorial courtesy for certain Senate-confirmed positions such as USPC. Norton originally recommended Carter from a number of candidates screened by her Federal Law Enforcement Nominating Commission, which was comprised of D.C. residents from all eight wards. Trump nominated Carter on October 17.\nI deeply appreciate Leader Schumer's recommendation of D.C. resident Almo Carter for the USPC, Norton said. Ms. Carter will bring valuable expertise and management experience that prepares her to be successful in her work for D.C. residents on the U.S. Parole Commission. I look forward to supporting her nomination to ensure she is quickly confirmed by the Senate.\nCarter has served as a Staff Attorney for PDS since 1999. After graduating from Howard University School of Law in 1998, Ms. Carter clerked for a judge on the D.C. Superior Court. Prior to law school, she worked as associate director of a children's advocacy and service provider for three years. Ms. Carter received a B.A. from the University of Maryland. Ms. Carter is a long-time D.C. resident.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-gets-dc-equality-provision-passed-in-presidential-pension-bill", "Norton Gets D.C. Equality Provision Passed in Presidential Pension Bill", "2019-10-18", "2019", "2019-10", "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 Presidential Allowance Modernization Act (H.R. 1496), which passed the House on Wednesday, removes a provision in current law that treats the District of Columbia government as a part of the federal government for purposes of presidential pensions. The bill updates the 1958 Former Presidents Act by treating employment of former presidents and the widow or widower of former presidents by the District government in the same manner as employment by any other local or state government. Under current law, former presidents and the widows or widowers of former presidents are prohibited from collecting pensions during any period in which they work for either the federal or D.C. government. The law has not been updated to recognize D.C. as an independent jurisdiction with a locally elected and funded government, which was established by the Home Rule Act of 1973. The bill applies to future former presidents and widows. The bill makes this equality correction as the House moves toward House passage of Norton's D.C. statehood bill (H.R. 51).\nIn 1958, the District had no elected local government. Instead, the D.C. government was governed by three presidentially appointed commissioners, all locally raised D.C. funds were deposited in the U.S. Treasury, and the federal government paid the employer contribution of the pensions of D.C. government employees. However, the Former Presidents Act became outdated as to the D.C. government after Congress passed the Home Rule Act and the District was no longer part of the federal government.\nI thank my colleagues for supporting it on the House floor this week, Norton said. The 1958 law was designed to keep former presidents or their widows or widowers who worked for the D.C. government from double dipping by collecting both a federal pension and salary from the D.C. government. Yet today, D.C., of course, is an independent jurisdiction that places its locally raised funds in its own accounts, making the double dipping rationale for that provision in the law an anachronism. I have long insisted that the District be treated like other jurisdictions up to and including statehood. This small but significant change puts treatment of D.C. on equal footing with the states.\nThe Home Rule Act granted D.C. a locally elected government. Under the Home Rule Act, D.C. local funds, consisting of local taxes and fees, are deposited in D.C. government accounts, not the U.S. Treasury. Under the Home Rule Act, former presidents and widows of former presidents would not be double dipping by collecting both a federal pension and a salary from the D.C. government, because they are funded by different governments.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-honors-the-washington-blade-on-50th-anniversary", "Norton Honors The Washington Blade on 50th Anniversary", "2019-10-18", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today congratulated The Washington Blade on its 50th anniversary and announced she has introduced a congressional record statement celebrating the Blade's success.The Blade has built itself into the leading voice in the LGBTQ community nationwide, energetically contributing to the success we have achieved for LGBTQ Americans in Congress.\nIn her congressional record statement, Norton said: The Blade remains, for many in our nation's capital, including me, a weekly must-read. It continues, according to The New York Times, to be one of the most influential publications written for a gay audience.'\nThe full text is below.\nStatement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\nRecognizing The Washington Blade\nOctober 18, 2019\nMs. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing The Washington Blade on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. \nOn October 5, 1969, Richard M. Nixon was President, John W. McCormick was Speaker of the House, Richard Russell, Jr. was Senate President pro tempore, Americans were listening to Sugar Sugar by The Archies, and the 91st Congress was in weekend recess. However, a few LGBTQ Washingtonians read the first edition of The Gay Blade, created by Nancy Tucker and Lilli Vincenz.\nThe Gay Blade survived controversy, epidemic and bankruptcy to thrive as America's LGBTQ newspaper of record, The Washington Blade. On October 18, 2019, The Blade celebrates its 50th anniversary with a gala at the Wharf.\nSince its inception, The Blade continued as a monthly one-sheet newsletter until it expanded to four pages in June 1972. By April 1974, it grew to eight legal-sized sheets, and in July of the following year, The Gay Blade moved to newsprint.\nDuring the 1970s, The Gay Blade changed its name to The Blade. Don Michaels became the editor. Michaels took The Blade out of the closet by prohibiting pen names, and he increased its frequency to biweekly. By the decade's end, the newspaper added Washington to its masthead.\nThe Washington Blade entered the 1980s with headline, Rare, Fatal Pneumonia Hits Gay Men, one of the earliest newspaper articles on the disease that became AIDS. The Blade promoted Don Michaels to publisher, a position he held for two decades. By the decade's end, the newspaper adopted computer layout that led to its online edition in 1995.\nWindow Media, LLC purchased The Blade in 2001. The paper's staff unionized, and in 2008, The Blade published the first interview ever given by a Republican presidential candidate to an LGBTQ newspaper. The Blade grew steadily until November 16, 2009.\nThat Monday, Window Media filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Blade's staff found its offices locked. Former staff volunteered to produce a new publication, DC Agenda, by the following Friday.\nPublisher Lynne Brown, editor Kevin Naff, sales executive Brian Pitts and other former Blade staff members pooled their resources to form Brown Naff Pitts Omnimedia. This company published DC Agenda weekly until April 2010, when it acquired The Blade's assets from the bankruptcy court. Like a phoenix, The Washington Blade rose from the ashes on April 30, 2010.\nThe Blade remains, for many in our nation's capital, including me, a weekly must-read. It continues, according to The New York Times, to be one of the most influential publications written for a gay audience.\nIn closing, I remind the House of Representatives that the 700,000 residents of the District of Columbia have yet to read, and The Blade, despite its many scoops and breaking news stories, has yet to publish the banner Washington, D.C. the 51st State.\nMadamSpeaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating The Washington Blade on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-quiet-skies-caucus-meet-with-faa-administrator", "Norton, Quiet Skies Caucus Meet with FAA Administrator", "2019-10-18", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), co-chairs of the Quiet Skies Caucus (Caucus), announced today that the Caucus met this week with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Stephen Dickson to discuss FAA and Caucus priorities. The Caucus Co-Chairs and Vice-Chairs Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY) and Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) invited Administrator Dickson to address the Caucus. During the hour-long discussion, the Caucus emphasized four priorities: dispersing flight patterns to alleviate airplane noise levels, completing and releasing studies on the impacts of airplane noise on residents, creating an accessible central repository of resident complaints, and conducting increased community outreach.\nI appreciate our meeting with Administrator Dickson to discuss many of our priorities, Norton said. Recognizing that he has only recently been confirmed, we wanted the administration to know that we are concerned that the FAA has not fully engaged with our communities on addressing noise pollution. Despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has already agreed to study noise pollution by helicopters in the National Capital Region, we must make sure that FAA stays responsive and collaborates with the Caucus on matters that impact our constituents.\nDespite my extreme displeasure with the FAA's complete lack of involvement and concern over how airplane noise impacts communities, I do appreciate Administrator Dickson's willingness to speak with us in depth about this ongoing issue, Lynch said. As the new Administrator, I can appreciate he may not have been fully aware of the gravity of the situation, but I do believe he now understands our concerns and the urgency of the matter. I look forward to next steps in this process in hopes we will begin a new working relationship with the FAA to ensure they properly address the debilitating airplane noise that so many communities have had to endure with NexGen-RNAV in recent years.\nI am very frustrated with the FAA, Souzzi said. It is a failed bureaucracy that is unresponsive to the needs of my constituents. I would like to thank Administrator Dickson for meeting with my colleagues and me. Now that there is a permanent Administrator at the helm, the FAA must advance concrete actions that will address and mitigate the aircraft noise that has been impacting our communities for so long.\nThe FAA's failure to address the concerns of the community around O'Hare and other communities like it has been completely unacceptable, Quigley said. From the astonishing delay in producing their report on the impact of jet noise on communities to the lack of explanations provided to me and other Members of Congress, the FAA's handling of this issue has been appalling. I sincerely hope that the new FAA Administrator takes this issue more seriously and does a much better job than his predecessors in addressing these concerns.\nMembers were given the opportunity to ask Administrator Dickson questions about aircraft noise concerns in their districts and Administrator Dickson promised more collaboration between the FAA and the Quiet Skies Caucus to address the issues raised.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-appear-on-pbs-to-the-contrary-5", "Norton to Appear on PBS To The Contrary", "2019-10-18", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) can be seen on this week's airing of the national PBS series To The Contrary, locally here on Friday at 5:30 p.m. on WETA; Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WHUT; and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on WETA. The panel will discuss Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) leadership of the House, the next steps in the #MeToo Movement, and the impact of transgender athletes in sports. Norton is a frequent panelist.\nThe program, which airs nationally, is shown at different times depending on the local station and includes two conservative and progressive panelists who discuss hot topics of the day. Local listings can be foundhere.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-statement-on-passing-of-elijah-cummings", "Norton Statement on Passing of Elijah Cummings", "2019-10-17", "2019", "2019-10", "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 passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD):\nThis is a shockingly sad day for the House of Representatives and for the nation. My heart goes out to Maya and the family.\nThose of us who called Elijah a close friend will remember him for the irony of his commanding presence in a man with such a gentle spirit. His tenacity in serving his district and the nation was always on display as he led the Oversight and Reform Committee with rare bipartisan support in today's polarized Congress. But Elijah's service was never the full story. He held deep respect for, and maintained friendships with, Republican and Democratic Members alike.\nI am especially thankful to Elijah for his unceasing and principled efforts towards statehood for the residents of the District of Columbia, which he was carrying forward as chair of the committee of jurisdiction. The District, his neighbor down the road from Baltimore, also held a special place in his heart after attending Howard University. As the nation remembers Elijah Cummings, may we all seek to follow Elijah's lead and example during these polarizing times.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-statement-on-the-nationals-win", "Norton Statement on the Nationals Win", "2019-10-17", "2019", "2019-10", "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 today on the Washington Nationals victory:\nI choose to believe that it is no coincidence that the Washington Nationals have won the National League pennant just as our D.C. statehood bill is soon to go to the floor of the House of Representatives. Many have wondered if the Nats would ever win a pennant, just as many have wondered if the House would ever pass a statehood bill. Well, the stars have aligned.\nGone should be the controversy about the District's financing of the Nationals Baseball Stadium. Most of the fans come from Maryland and Virginia, yielding $300 million a year in new tax revenue that D.C. would otherwise not have.\nHappily, the Nats victory comes at a time when efforts are well underway to revive enthusiasm about baseball among youngsters in Washington. Almost 10 years ago, I got federal land transferred to the District for the new Fort Dupont Baseball Academy.\nI expect the Nats win will spark even more interest in baseball by the city's youth. And there's more to come. Just wait until the Nats win the World Series!\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-host-rotc-and-service-academy-night-tonight", "Norton to Host ROTC and Service Academy Night, Tonight", "2019-10-17", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) and Service Academy Night at Once Judiciary Square at 6:00 p.m. today. The event will be an opportunity for high school students, some already in the JROTC program, to learn more about scholarship options and the Service Academies, ranked among the best higher education schools in the nation. Currently, the JROTC program in the District has approximately 1,500 students participating.\nThe ROTC scholarships gives students a chance to attend college and serve their nation, Norton said. With thousands of young District residents currently serving in the ROTC preparing to serve their country, tonight will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about scholarship programs available to ROTC students as well as opportunities at the various Service Academies.\nMedia can RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT:Congresswoman Norton hosts ROTC and Service Academy Night\nWHEN:Thursday, October 17th at 6:00 PM\nWHERE:One Judiciary Square, 441 Fourth Street NW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-van-hollen-resolution-congratulating-washington-mystics-on", "Norton, Van Hollen Resolution Congratulating Washington Mystics on Historic WNBA Title Passes the Senate", "2019-10-17", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced that their joint resolution congratulating the Washington Mystics for winning the 2019 WNBA Finals passed the U.S. Senate today. The Mystics' championship marks their first title after competing deep into the playoffs in 2017 and 2018. Norton and Van Hollen released the following statement.\nThe Washington Mystics' historic WNBA championship deserves the full congratulations of the U.S. House and Senate.For over 20 years, the Mystics have battled adversity and built one of the top-tier WNBA teams in the nation.As we celebrate this milestone, we must also continue to shine a light on the need for pay-parity for female athletes and work together to that end.\nTo all the coaches, players, trainers, and fans, we look forward to commemorating this victory both with Congress' recognition and at the parade in our nation's capital.Go Mystics!\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-in-your-neighborhood-with-potomac-job-corps-today", "Norton in Your Neighborhood with Potomac Job Corps, Today", "2019-10-16", "2019", "2019-10", "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 conversation with Potomac Jobs Corps at their headquarters today, October 16th, at 6:15 p.m.\nNorton will engage program participants and employees in a conversation on recent congressional actions, including the historic momentum for her D.C. statehood bill that has developed in the House and Senate. This September 19th, the House held its first hearing on D.C. statehood in over 25 years. Norton will also discuss her successful efforts to secure a clean D.C. Appropriations bill from the House Appropriations Committee, her success in getting$40 million for DCTAG, and her record in passing bills for D.C priorities, including bills that are rebuilding neighborhoods.\nBecause of Norton's record passing bills last Congress in the minority, the Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked Nortonthe most effective House Democrat in the last Congress.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts a Norton in Your Neighborhood' with Potomac Jobs Corps\nWHEN: Wednesday, October 16th at 6:15 PM\nWHERE: Potomac Jobs Corps, 1 DC Lane SW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-statement-on-the-retirement-of-lowey", "Norton Statement on the Retirement of Lowey", "2019-10-16", "2019", "2019-10", "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 decision of House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) to retire:\nThe nation will always be grateful that Congresswoman Nita Lowey served our country and the Congress with unusual distinction, whether in the majority or the minority, just as she always served the needs of her district, for more than three decades. As the first-ever woman to chair the Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Lowey holds a unique place in our nation's history. Her support was particularly critical this Congress in passing a historic D.C. Appropriations bill, which for the first time since the Home Rule Act of 1973 did not appropriate D.C.'s local funds, but let stand the budget enacted by the D.C. Council. Moreover, the bill contained no anti-home-rule riders and provided $40 million for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG), which now sends D.C. students to public colleges and universities in virtually all the states. I have particular reasons to be grateful for Congresswoman Lowey's service, along with the many districts that have benefited from her service to be United States.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-chair-highways-and-transit-hearing-on-transportation", "Norton to Chair Highways and Transit Hearing on Transportation Innovations, Wednesday", "2019-10-15", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), chair of the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said the subcommittee will hold a hearing on the future of transportation network companies tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16th, at 10:00 a.m. in Rayburn 2167. This hearing is an important opportunity to hear from experts and transportation network companies on burgeoning transportation services that provide ride-sharing, bikes, and scooters, and the challenges they face.\nAs state and local governments struggle to integrate new modes of transportation into their networks, Congress must take an active role ensuring safety and accountability for the needs of the traveling public, Norton said. These innovations also raise new questions on best practices, convenience, congestion, accessibility, labor practices, and appropriate oversight and regulation to ensure these companies compete and grow. This hearing will be a much-needed opportunity to air all these issues as we continue to work on a new reauthorization of the surface transportation bill.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton chairs Highways and Transit subcommittee hearing on transportation network companies\nWHEN: Wednesday, October 16th at 10:00 AM\nWHERE: Rayburn HOB (Room 2167), 45 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-introduce-bill-to-increase-dc-juror-pay", "Norton to Introduce Bill to Increase D.C. Juror Pay", "2019-10-15", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced she will introduce the District of Columbia Juror Pay Parity Act to increase the pay of D.C. Superior Court jurors. Currently, Superior Court jurors are paid $40 per day, and, under the Home Rule Act, only the D.C. courts and Congress have the authority to increase Superior Court juror pay. The bill would require that Superior Court jurors receive the same pay as federal jurors. The bill would also match the enhanced pay federal jurors receive for lengthy service. In 2018, Norton worked to successfully increase federal juror pay to $50 per day.\nThis raise for D.C. jurors is long overdue, Norton said. There is no good reason why the jurors controlled by the federal government in the District should have different pay. Jurors are just as indispensable to the D.C. justice system as they are to the federal justice system and deserve the same fair compensation.\nUnder the 1997 Revitalization Act, Congress took over responsibility for paying for the D.C. courts and many state-like functions. The D.C. courts, however, have always been under the control of Congress, even when D.C. funded them.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-appear-on-pbs-to-the-contrary-this-weekend-and-online", "Norton to Appear on PBS To The Contrary This Weekend and Online", "2019-10-12", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) can be seen on this week's airing of the national PBS series To The Contrary, locally here on Friday at 5:30 p.m. on WETA; Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on WHUT; and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on WETA. Norton is a frequent panelist. The program, which airs nationally, is shown at different times depending on the local station and includes two conservative and progressive panelists who discuss hot topics of the day. Local listings can be foundhere.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-van-hollen-to-introduce-resolution-congratulating-washington", "Norton, Van Hollen to Introduce Resolution Congratulating Washington Mystics on Historic WNBA Title", "2019-10-11", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today announced they will introduce a congressional resolution congratulating the Washington Mystics for winning the 2019 WNBA Finals. The win marks the first championship for the Mystics after competing deep into the playoffs in 2017 and 2018. Norton and Van Hollen released the following statement.\nThe Washington Mystics' historic WNBA championship deserves the full congratulations of the U.S. House and Senate.For over 20 years, the Mystics have battled adversity and built one of the top-tier WNBA teams in the nation.As we celebrate this milestone, we must also continue to shine a light on the need for pay-parity for female athletes and work together to that end.\nTo all the coaches, players, trainers, and fans, we look forward to commemorating this victory both with Congress' recognition and at the parade in our nation's capital. Go Mystics!\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-announces-bill-to-create-national-commission-to-combat-sexual", "Norton Announces Bill to Create National Commission to Combat Sexual Harassment", "2019-10-10", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today she will introduce a bill to create a national commission on combating sexual harassment in all the nation's major industries and workplaces. The commission would report to Congress on recommended changes in law or regulations and is modeled on legislation Congress enacted to combat other national problems. Specifically, the commission would recommend best practices for preventing, training, investigating, responding to, and punishing sexual harassment in the private and public sectors. Norton, the first woman to chair the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), issued the first federal guidelines holding sexual harassment to be a violation of equal employment laws, later upheld by the Supreme Court.\nSexual harassment is a pervasive problem that impacts every part of our society, Norton said. In the last few years, the country has made tremendous strides in calling out and confronting sexual harassment. However, unlike the high-profile cases of Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and Congress itself, this commission would focus on average American women who face even greater challenges in private employment, especially in industries such as the hospitality and retail sectors, where the personnel are disproportionately women and the managers are men.\nDiscrimination and the hierarchy of power in the workplace mean that men still hold positions that enable them to take advantage of female subordinates or ignore them, Norton said. A national commission would help expose pervasive sexual harassment in private sector workplaces to focus on what the average worker experiences. Importantly, a national commission would not have to wait for women to take the risk of coming forward, but would be charged with taking affirmative steps to look at workplaces that receive too little attention in our country today.\nCongress has created similar national commissions on other national areas, such as gambling, preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-hosts-hispanic-entrepreneurs-capping-celebration-of-hispanic", "Norton Hosts Hispanic Entrepreneurs, Capping Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month", "2019-10-10", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) hosted leaders of Hispanic-owned businesses in the District of Columbia today, capping several events Norton hosted celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th to October 15th. According to American University's Latino Immigrant Entrepreneurs study, Latino-owned businesses nationally have more than doubled since 2002, and from 2012 to 2015 increased at 15 times the national rate, although immigrants often face barriers to employment due to language proficiency, education and training, as well as recognized credentials, which often leads to self-employment. Most importantly, the study notes that the success of a small business depends in large part on entrepreneurs' access to financial and social capital, which in many immigrant communities could be lacking. In the meeting, entrepreneurs and small business owners shared their ideas on ways the federal government can support minority-owned businesses. Norton has previously introduced legislation to require that federal agencies report on their advertising spending with small disadvantaged businesses as well as businesses owned by women and minorities. Norton has also successfully added similar language to 11 of 12 House-passed Appropriations bills for FY 2020.\nHispanic Americans in the District have a thriving small business community that adds to the rich diversity of the District, Norton said. The District's Hispanic population also continues to grow each year, demonstrating families are moving to the District and contributing everywhere in the nation's capital. It was an honor to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with residents these past few weeks, and I am grateful we could showcase the contributions that make the Hispanic community in the District unique.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-announces-bill-aimed-at-recruiting-new-federal-workers", "Norton Announces Bill Aimed at Recruiting New Federal Workers", "2019-10-09", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced she will introduce the Federal Employee Recruitment Act of 2019, which would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to develop a plan for recruiting new workers into federal service within three months of the bill's enactment. The average age of federal employees has steadily increased over the course of the last two decades. In the private sector, 54% of workers are over 40 years old, while in the federal workforce, that number is 69%. Startlingly, just six % of the federal workforce is under 30 years old. As lifelong public servants retire, the federal government risks losing much of its institutional knowledge if federal agencies cannot find replacements.\nNorton also released a letter today she sent to OPM Director Dale Cabaniss urging OPM to begin taking steps to increase federal recruitment even before Norton's bill is enacted, as there are important steps OPM can take immediately to address this issue.\nIn her letter, Norton writes: Possible solutions to the problem of a graying workforce include increased federal recruitment at college and university campuses, increased technological innovation in how applications are submitted, and a greater number of internships. Improved benefits, including paid family leave, increased telework, and short-term disability insurance allowing coverage for non-work-related injury or illness or pregnancy, can also likely increase recruitment and retention of employees by the federal government.\nThe full text of the letter is below.\nOctober 8, 2019\nThe Honorable Dale Cabaniss\nDirector\nOffice of Personnel Management\n1900 E Street NW\nWashington, DC 20415\nDear Director Cabaniss:\nI write regarding the urgent need to recruit and retain new workers into federal service. With the aging of the federal workforce, it is more important than ever that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) direct resources and efforts to recruiting new workers into public service.\nAs you know, the average age of federal employees has steadily increased over the course of the last two decades, hitting 47.5 years in 2017. In the private sector, 54% of workers are over 40 years old, while in the federal workforce, that number is 69%. At the end of last year, only 6% of the federal workforce were under 30, while almost a quarter of private-sector employees were under 30.\nThere are numerous consequences to an aging federal workforce. For example, as older federal employees opt to retire, the government risks permanently losing much of its institutional knowledge if federal agencies cannot find adequate replacements.\nPossible solutions to the problem of a graying workforce include increased federal recruitment at college and university campuses, increased technological innovation in how applications are submitted, and a greater number of internships. Improved benefits, including paid family leave, increased telework, and short-term disability insurance allowing coverage for non-work-related injury or illness or pregnancy, can also likely increase recruitment and retention of employees by the federal government.\nI will be introducing legislation to direct OPM to develop a recruitment plan. However, I believe that there are important steps OPM can and should be taking immediately, even before enactment of my bill.\nI appreciate your attention to this matter and request that you respond to this letter, in writing, within 30 days.\nSincerely,\nEleanor Holmes Norton\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/as-supreme-court-begins-term-norton-introduces-resolution-urging-court", "As Supreme Court Begins Term, Norton Introduces Resolution Urging Court to Adopt Ethics Guidelines", "2019-10-08", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a resolution calling on Supreme Court Justices to make themselves subject to the existing and operative ethical guidelines set out in the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges or create their own rules.\nEach year, the Supreme Court has the last and final word on the nation's most important issues, from Brown v. Board of Education, barring state-sponsored racial discrimination, to Obergefell v. Hodges, recognizing the right to marriage equality, Norton said. Their rulings often make the nine justices more powerful than the president and the Congress. Yet the justices, who do not hesitate in their rulings to opine on the ethics of others, do not submit to even the ethical standards required of other federal judges. In one instance, Justice Neil Gorsuch gave a speech at the Trump International Hotel, which was involved in litigation alleging violation of the Constitution and which may reach the Supreme Court for decision. Adopting ethical standards would guard against ethical concerns and would strengthen public trust. Supreme Court justices, who are unelected and serve lifetime appointments, should avoid even the appearance of being above the law.\nThe full text of the resolution follows.\nRESOLUTION\nExpressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the justices of the United States Supreme Court should make themselves subject to the existing and operative ethics guidelines set out in the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, or should promulgate their own code of conduct.\nWhereas section 455 of title 28, United States Code, establishes the circumstances under which any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself or herself from a case;\nWhereas under chapter 16 of title 28, United States Code (relating to complaints against judges and judicial discipline), the judicial circuits may prescribe rules and procedures for the conduct of proceedings under that chapter, including regarding complaint, investigative, and review procedures for certain decisions of judges and magistrate judges of the United States not to recuse themselves from cases;\nWhereas litigants can seek legal recourse through the United States courts to enforce section 455 of title 28, United States Code, and challenge the disposition of the underlying case, and complainants have administrative procedures under chapter 16 of title 28, United States Code, against a judge or magistrate judge of the United States, but there are no comparable enforcement mechanisms against the justices of the United States;\nWhereas the Judicial Conference of the United States adopted a Code of Conduct for United States Judges, which uses language identical to the relevant portion of section 455 of title 28, United States Code, that a judge or magistrate judge of the United States must abide by when deciding whether to recuse himself or herself from a case, but the Code does not apply to a justice of the United States Supreme Court;\nWhereas justices of the United States Supreme Court are not bound by any written code of conduct;\nWhereas justices of the United States Supreme Court each have unreviewable authority to determine whether there is an appearance of bias, conflict of interest, or other ethical justification sufficient for withdrawal from hearing, partaking in deliberations in, or joining in the resolution of, a case or controversy;\nWhereas the Federal Judicial Center has concluded that `balancing the duty to decide' with `the duty to disqualify' precludes judges from using recusal as an excuse to shirk their duties by avoiding difficult or unpleasant cases;\nWhereas the United States Constitution vests judicial power in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish;\nWhereas the separation of powers of the coordinate branches of government, as well as the independence of the judiciary, or the appearance of independence, may be compromised by extensive legislative or executive interference into that branch's functions;\nWhereas James Madison argued in Federalist Paper Number 10 that `[n]o man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity'; and\nWhereas the United States Supreme Court has acknowledged in Republican Party of Minnesota v. White, and reiterated in Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co., that `[t]he citizen's respect for judgments depends . . . upon the issuing court's absolute probity' and that `[j]udicial integrity is, in consequence, a state interest of the highest order':\nNow, therefore, be it\nResolved,That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the justices of the United States Supreme Court should make themselves subject to the existing and operative ethics guidelines set out in the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, or should promulgate their own code of conduct.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/byte-back-brings-national-digital-inclusion-week-to-dc-with", "Byte Back Brings National Digital Inclusion Week to D.C. with Congresswoman Norton and Mayor Bowser", "2019-10-08", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Local residents and nationally known digital inclusion leaders are celebrating National Digital Inclusion Week October 7 to 11. Though Washington, D.C. is a capital of innovation and technology, the District is still working to close its digital divide.\nByte Back is a nationally recognized tech nonprofit that has led digital inclusion in the D.C. area for more than 20 years. This year, the organization is hosting its 3rd annual D.C. Community Tech Day, leading D.C.'s National Digital Inclusion Week activities. The event will feature U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and tech career workshops for Byte Back students, alumni, and other community members.\nThe fourth annual National Digital Inclusion Week includes about 40 events around the country and is organized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, which has more than 385 members representing 44 states and the District. Byte Back's participation is part of a nationwide effort to close digital gaps, from California to the Carolinas.\nEVENT: DC COMMUNITY TECH DAY \nWhen: Wednesday, October 9, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.\nWhere: Byte Back, 899 North Capitol Street NE Suite 850, Washington, DC 20002\nWhat: This event brings together adult learners for an introduction to tech careers, job skills, and networking practice.\nWho:\n \nU.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton\n\tD.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser\n\tElizabeth Lindsey, Byte Back executive director  national digital inclusion thought leader, recently recognized in The Root 100 most influential African Americans\n\tAbout 80 students and alumni, who are gaining tech skills for living-wage careers that use technology (Note: Students and program alumni will be available for press interviews)\n \nMedia Contact: Please contact Yvette Scorse, communications director, yscorse@byteback.org, (301) 456-4699, to arrange in-person interviews and/or filming on location. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-announces-her-participation-in-impeachment-inquiry-interviews", "Norton Announces Her Participation in Impeachment Inquiry Interviews", "2019-10-07", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Using her senior position on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, one of the three committees primarily responsible for the ongoing impeachment inquiry, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced she will attend two impeachment inquiry transcribed interviews this week.\nTomorrow, Norton will attend the transcribed interview of Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union (E.U.). Sondland, who has no jurisdiction relevant to Ukraine, was a participant in several troubling text exchanges concerning conditioning federal funding to Ukraine on Ukraine's commitment to investigate one of President Trump's rivals in the 2020 presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden, despite no evidence of wrongdoing by Biden. In 2017, Sondland donated $1 million to the President's inauguration committee. The following year, Trump nominated him to be Ambassador to the E.U.\nOn Friday, Norton will attend the transcribed interview with former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Masha Yovanovitch. Trump removed Yovanovitch from her position as Ambassador to Ukraine after months of lobbying from Rudy Giuliani, who said she was undermining efforts to persuade the Ukrainian government to investigate Biden.\nWe now have multiple instances and substantial evidence that President Trump and his administration have reached out to foreign governments to ask for their interference with the upcoming 2020 election, and have worked to cover up that request for interference, Norton said. However, it is essential that our committees work carefully and methodically to get all of the facts, particularly considering that new revelations are coming in almost every day.\nToday, the three committees subpoenaed documents from Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought related to the impeachment inquiry. The request to the Department of Defense concerns, among other things, the President's telephone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, including documents related to Trump's July 25th call during which he solicited Zelensky's assistance in investigating Biden. The request to OMB concerns the administration's delay of bipartisan appropriated funds, including those for foreign and security assistance, to Ukraine.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-host-dc-educators-reception-focusing-on-congressional", "Norton to Host D.C. Educators Reception Focusing on Congressional Resources, Programs for Students", "2019-10-07", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a District of Columbia Educators Reception tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8th at 4:00 p.m. Congress has a number of programs and opportunities to engage high school students in the District, including the Congressional App Challenge, the Congressional Art Competition, the Congressional Award, and Service Academy nominations. Norton will host educators, principals, and guidance counselors and outline the many ways they can engage their students in these programs.\nOur students and teachers always appreciate the many resources, educational and fun programs we offer for high school students, Norton said. This reception will be a great way to hear their feedback and spread awareness of these educational programs\nMedia attending can RSVP to jack.miller@mail.house.gov.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton hosts D.C. Educators Reception\nWHEN: Tuesday, October 8th at 4:00 PM\nWHERE: One Judiciary Square, 441 Fourth Street, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-dc-marijuana-justice-rally-tomorrow", "Norton to Speak at D.C. Marijuana Justice Rally, Tomorrow", "2019-10-07", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at D.C. Marijuana Justice's (DCMJ) rally tomorrow, at noon on the East Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, about her effort that has gotten the House to remove the prohibition on the District of Columbia using local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana. Norton has long tried to free the District from the congressional rider that keeps only D.C. from commercializing the sale of marijuana, earn taxes and other revenue, and protect residents from unregulated sale. Norton said that the House-passed FY 2020 D.C. spending bill does not include any riders, but the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed D.C. spending bill does include the marijuana and abortion riders. Norton is fighting to remove the riders in the final spending bill.\nIt is beyond unreasonable that congressional interference keeps only the District from commercializing recreational marijuana, Norton said. Ten states have successfully done so without the slightest interference from the House or Senate. I do not intend to leave D.C. with an unregulated market and risks for residents. I will fight until I am able to remove this prohibition.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton speaks at DCMJ rally\nWHEN: Tuesday, October 8th at 12:00 noon\nWHERE: East Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-to-speak-at-supreme-court-on-lgbtq-equality-tomorrow", "Norton to Speak at Supreme Court on LGBTQ Equality, Tomorrow", "2019-10-07", "2019", "2019-10", "Democrat", "House", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will join the ACLU, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, and other LGBTQ equality advocates tomorrow to speak outside the Supreme Court at 10:30 a.m. on several cases before the court. In July, Norton joined 150 Members of Congress, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in submitting an amicus brief urging the court to clarify the law under judicial rulings and find that LGBTQ people are protected against workplace discrimination. Norton, the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), believes that both sexual orientation and gender identity are essential parts of a person's sex and therefore should be protected under Title VII.\nWhen I chaired the EEOC, we issued nationwide sexual harassment guidelines that were later affirmed by the Supreme Court, Norton said. Consistent with the Court's traditional broad interpretation of anti-discrimination laws, sexual orientation and gender identity are inseparable from a person's sex, and should therefore be protected against discrimination under Title VII.\nWHAT: Congresswoman Norton and advocates speak on LGBTQ equality\nWHEN: Tuesday, October 8th at 10:30 AM\nWHERE: U.S. Supreme Court, 1 First Street NE, Washington, DC\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 403, "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": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 403, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 403, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "DC", "label": "DC", "count": 403, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 403, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2019-10-07,https~3A~2F~2Fnorton~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fnorton-to-speak-at-supreme-court-on-lgbtq-equality-tomorrow", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=DC&year=2019&_next=2019-10-07%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fnorton~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fnorton-to-speak-at-supreme-court-on-lgbtq-equality-tomorrow&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 73.11883708462119, "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"}