Norton Introduces Bill to Require Federal Officials Serving D.C. to Live in the City, Putting D.C. in the Same Position as States and Territories

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to require certain federal officials who serve the District of Columbia to live in the city. The bill is part of Norton's "Free and Equal D.C." series of legislation, which insists on equal rights for D.C. residents wherever deficiencies are found as Norton strives for statehood, the District's ultimate goal. In nearly every jurisdiction in the United States, U.S. Marshals, federal district court judges, and U.S. Attorneys are required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointed—but no such residency requirement exists for officials serving in the District. Even in the U.S. territories that have such officials, the officials must live in those districts, other than the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal appointed for the Northern Mariana Islands, who at the same time are serving in the same capacity in another district. The only other exceptions exist for officials appointed to the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York, which are the only districts that serve different parts of the same city.

Requiring these officials to live in the District is especially important now, given that President Trump has not yet granted Norton the courtesy to either consult or make recommendations on the appointments of the U.S. Attorney, federal district court judges, and other Senate-confirmed law enforcement officials who serve D.C. President Clinton and President Obama granted her senatorial courtesy to make recommendations, while President George W. Bush granted her courtesy to consult. All of the Congresswoman's recommendations to Presidents Clinton and Obama committed to living in the District of Columbia, but Norton believes that such residency should be a matter of law for the District, as it is elsewhere.

"We are trying to clear away all the ways the residents of the District of Columbia are unfairly treated, and the lack of residency requirements for federal officials who are responsible for public safety and law enforcement is surely one of them," Norton said. "It is critical for federal officials who serve a district to actually live there and directly experience the policies they make or enforce. D.C. is a hometown, not a federal city. Residency requirements ensure that local federal law enforcement officials are engaging with the local community and forging bonds with the people they serve. My bill is a simple way to ensure that D.C. residents receive the same community involvement as other jurisdictions across the nation."

Norton's full introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act

April 26, 2017

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act, a bill that would amend federal law to require certain federal officials who serve the District of Columbia to actually live within its boundaries. In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United States, federal district court judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals are required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointed—but these same officials appointed to serve the people of the District are not bound by these same requirements. Even in the territories that have such officials, the officials must live in those districts, other than the U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal appointed for the Northern Mariana Islands who at the same time are serving in the same capacity in another district. The only other exceptions exist for such officials appointed to the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York, which are the only districts that serve different parts of the same city. My bill would put D.C. on equal footing with almost every other jurisdiction by ensuring that our Marshals, judges, and U.S. Attorney live among the residents they have been appointed to represent.

Clearly, the idea that these federal officials ought to live in the jurisdictions they serve is a significant one—which is why the residency requirement for other jurisdictions is enshrined in federal law. Yet, D.C. was exempt from this requirement based on the now-outdated notion that the District is too congested and small to house these appointed officials. The District is a vibrant and bustling city with a diverse populace who deserve direct engagement on the part of its federal judges, U.S. attorney, and Marshals. My bill recognizes the fact that D.C. deserves the same type of community involvement by these federal officials as nearly every jurisdiction.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.