Lankford Begins His Second Attack on D.C.’s Death with Dignity Law

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has launched his second attack on the District of Columbia's new medical aid-in-dying law, the Death with Dignity Act (DWDA). Yesterday, Lankford, in his capacity as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over D.C., sent a letter to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requesting information on the implementation of the DWDA. In January, Lankford introduced a disapproval resolution during the congressional review period to nullify the DWDA, which was the first bill he introduced this Congress. The disapproval resolution was never considered in the Senate.

"Despite the failure of his disapproval resolution, Senator Lankford has continued to attack the Death with Dignity Act, including speaking on a Heritage Foundation panel against the law," Norton said. "I regret that he abusing his chairmanship by making inquiries about the implementation of a purely local law. I am not aware of Senator Lankford sending similar letters to the governors of the six states where medical aid-in-dying is legal. Congress has no legitimate role in investigating state and local laws, including the District's. I have worked well with Senator Lankford on federal matters affecting D.C., and I will make every effort to continue to do so, but he cannot expect me to tolerate inference in local D.C. laws."

President Trump's fiscal year 2018 budget would block D.C. from spending its local funds to implement the DWDA. Representative Andy Harris (R-MD), who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, has threatened to block the DWDA during the appropriations process. Lankford serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

While the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved a disapproval resolution to nullify the DWDA, the full House did not consider it, likely because 24 House Republicans, including two members of leadership, are from states where medical aid-in-dying is legal.