As Pace Quickens for New Vote Norton Thanks Democrats for Continuing Strong Support (3/17/09)

As Pace Quickens for New Vote Norton Thanks Democrats for Continuing Strong Support for a Clean Voting Rights Bill

March 17, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) this morning sent a letter to House Democratic Caucus members, noting their "palpable excitement" and their many questions about when the D.C. House Voting Rights bill is coming to the House floor. She said she was particularly grateful for the, "unity of expression among our Democrats that this bill should come to the floor with a clean Rule, as it did last session." Norton especially thanked the conservative Democrats, who have spoken out for the voting rights bill without the gun amendment. "Our Caucus is united on civil rights issues, none more so than on a vote in this House for taxpaying American citizens who have always fought and died for this country," Norton wrote. She thanked Members for "continuing to show support for the same bill that allowed the House of Representatives to make history last session. I am confident we can repeat this victory again and soon this year."

See full text of the letter below.

We Are Too Close to Another Historic Vote to Give Up Now!

Dear Democratic Colleague:

Ever since this Congress convened, but especially after the Senate passed the D.C. House Voting Rights Act in late February, Democrats (and even some Republicans) have been coming up to me in the halls and on the floor, asking, "When are we going to get the D.C. House Voting Rights Act passed?" There has been palpable excitement in our Democratic Caucus, as in the city itself, for this bill to become law after more than 200 years of congressional disenfranchisement of American citizens living in our nation's capital. Most gratifying has been the unity of expression among our Democrats that this bill should come to floor with a clean Rule, as it did last session, when it won overwhelming support from our Caucus. Almost instinctively our Members have understood that it is wrong to use this bill to accomplish another purpose or to make it unacceptable to those who have worked hard for many years to achieve it.

I especially thank our Members who have spoken out and the Democratic Leaders who are working to maintain the principle of unity for a Leadership Rule while always respecting the great diversity of our Caucus, where all cannot always be expected to vote together on an underlying bill. I am confident that with your help, our Leadership will be able to bring this bill to the House Floor with a clean Rule, as they did last session, soon. Our Caucus is united on civil rights issues, none more so than on a vote in this House for taxpaying American citizens who have always fought and died for their country.

For the 600,000 American citizens of your nation's capital, I thank you for the support you are continuing to show for the same bill that allowed the House of Representatives to make history last session. I am confident we can repeat this victory again and soon this year. Many thanks again!

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton