Congresswoman Norton's Weekly eNewsletter
Norton Statement Supporting and Analyzing the Interim Coronavirus Relief Bill for What it Does and Leaves Undone
Norton released a statement as the House passed the $484 billion interim coronavirus relief bill, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Overall, Norton supported the bill for its funding of small businesses and hospitals, both mainstays of the District of Columbia's economy, but she is already at work on the next bill, which she says must address the mounting needs of individuals and of states and local governments.
Norton Releases Statement, Thanks Supporters, As New Coronavirus Bill Short on Missing Funding, Gives DC Equal Funding
Norton released a statement saying that she was encouraged that the District of Columbia got equal funding with the states in the coronavirus response bill passed by the Senate. She also indicated why she believes the new bill did not include D.C. funds, left out of the third coronavirus stimulus package, which treated the District as a territory instead of a state for funding purposes, as is usually the case, depriving the District of $750 million.
Norton Demands Department of Justice Protect Employees by Allowing Telework
Norton sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr urging him to institute greater protections for the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) employees during the coronavirus crisis. Norton sent the letter after learning that some Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) employees have contracted the coronavirus and that EOIR is not following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Employees are not allowed to telework, despite the almost unanimous recommendations of health experts. Nor are EOIR employees' workspaces adequately cleaned, even after BIA staff have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Norton Requests $26 Million for Union Station in the Next Coronavirus Response Bill
Norton led a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $26 million in the next coronavirus bill to ensure the continued operations of Union Station in the District of Columbia. The letter was cosigned by Representatives C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Donald S. Beyer, Jr., Anthony G. Brown, John P. Sarbanes, David Trone, Jamie Raskin, and Jennifer Wexton.
Norton Announces Federal Bureau of Prisons Releasing as Many D.C. Halfway House Residence as Possible, Following Her Advice
Norton released the response she received from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) concerning Hope Village, the men's halfway house in the District of Columbia. According to the letter, the BOP is responding to Norton's request to release as many Hope Village residents as possible to home confinement during the coronavirus. Norton raised concerns, however, with the few remaining residents who have no place to go and again requested that they be placed in D.C. hotels with appropriate monitoring, such as ankle monitors.
Read the BOP's full response here.
Norton Urges Federal Bureau of Prisons Not to Relocate 30-40 Hope Village Residents Outside of D.C.
After learning that 30-40 District of Columbia residents at Hope Village, the men's halfway house in the District of Columbia, were to be sent to a halfway house in Baltimore after Hope Village's contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) expired last week, Norton sent a letter to BOP reiterating her request to place these individuals, who do not have homes, in the District. The D.C. government has offered its assistance providing housing in the District for these individuals, including options that would be of no cost to BOP.
Norton Calls on U.S. Parole Commission to Release Individuals Incarcerated for Technical Supervision Violations
Norton sent a letter to the United States Parole Commission (USPC) urging USPC to release individuals incarcerated for technical supervision violations, as well as to review the cases of all vulnerable incarcerated individuals and consider them for immediate release. Citing coronavirus outbreaks at Federal Bureau of Prisons and District of Columbia correctional facilities, Norton wrote, "Continued incarceration creates the grave risk and indeed the probability of contracting COVID-19." This follows a letter Norton sent last month urging USPC to protect and in many cases release individuals under USPC's jurisdiction. UPSC, in addition to federal offenders, has jurisdiction over D.C. Code felons.
Norton Statement on Death of Joe Kaplan, Accomplished Labor Law Attorney, President of Hexagon
Norton released a statement expressing her deep sorrow and regrets on the passing of Joe Kaplan from COVID-19. Although Kaplan was an accomplished attorney who focused on employment and labor law for employees and unions, Norton knew Kaplan from his long association with performances at Hexagon, the much-loved spoof on politicians and political life.