Norton Releases Floor Remarks on Continuing Resolution, as Prepared for Delivery
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks, as prepared for delivery, from her upcoming speech on the House floor today, expected around 12:30 P.M., opposing the recently released continuing resolution that slashes D.C.’s local budget.
“This cut to D.C.’s local budget would not save the federal government any money, because D.C.’s local budget consists entirely of locally raised revenue, such as taxes and fees. This is nothing but fiscal sabotage for the District of Columbia,” Norton said.
“The CR also fails to exempt D.C. from a federal government shutdown in fiscal year 2026. Since the 2013 federal government shutdown, Congress has exempted D.C. because it recognized that shutting down a city of more than 700,000 people was harmful to the operations of both D.C. and the federal government.”
Norton’s full remarks follow.
Floor Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Rule for H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025
March 11, 2025
I strongly oppose this rule and the full-year continuing resolution (CR). The CR is not clean. The CR is a radical departure from two decades of congressional practice that would have devastating consequences for D.C. The CR is an act of fiscal sabotage against D.C., and is an abuse of power over a disenfranchised jurisdiction—the consequences be damned.
For the last twenty years, D.C. has been able to operate under the local budget enacted by D.C. for the next fiscal year for the duration of every CR, including full-year CRs and the first two fiscal year 2025 CRs. The CR under consideration would not allow D.C. to do so.
Instead, the CR would effectively repeal the fiscal year 2025 local budget enacted by D.C., which D.C. has been operating under since October 1, 2024, and restore the fiscal year 2024 local budget enacted by D.C., which D.C. stopped operating under on September 30, 2024. This unprecedented budget substitution would result in an immediate cut of more than $1 billion from D.C.’s $21 billion budget six months into D.C.’s fiscal year.
Let’s be clear. This cut to D.C.’s local budget would not save the federal government any money, because D.C.’s local budget consists entirely of locally raised revenue, such as taxes and fees.
This cut would likely force D.C. to immediately terminate programs and to lay off or furlough police officers, firefighters, other first responders and teachers. This cut would likely lead to a downgrade of D.C.’s bond rating, increasing D.C.’s borrowing costs. The CR would call into question the validity of contracts D.C. executed under the fiscal year 2025 local budget enacted by D.C.
The CR also fails to exempt D.C. from a federal government shutdown in fiscal year 2026. Since the 2013 federal government shutdown, Congress has exempted D.C. from federal government shutdowns. Congress recognized that shutting down a city of more than 700,000 people was harmful to the operations of both D.C. and the federal government. Congress also recognized that the mere threat of a federal government shutdown was costly for D.C. D.C. had to develop contingency plans before each possible federal government shutdown, and D.C. had to pay a premium for goods and services because companies did not know whether they would be paid during a shutdown. I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a memorandum from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office detailing the impacts of this CR on D.C.
Last night, the Committee on Rules blocked my amendment that would have restored the longstanding provisions to allow D.C. to operate under the fiscal year 2025 local budget enacted by D.C. and to exempt D.C. from a federal government shutdown in fiscal year 2026.
I urge my colleagues to vote NO on this rule and the CR.
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