March 8, 2005: NORTON PREDICTS HOUSE & SENATE PASSAGE OF D.C. SUPPLEMENTAL FOR BASEBALL & WASA FUND

Washington, DC--The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the House Appropriations Committee this evening passed its annual supplemental bill for the Congress, including a D.C. supplemental allowing the District to spend its own local funds on baseball, WASA, and other items. After speaking with the chair of the full committee, Jerry Lewis (R-CA), and the subcommittee chair, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), Norton said she is confident that the supplemental will have no problems on the floor. She said she was also pleased that both Chairman Lewis and Chairman Knollenberg have said they are looking into ways to reimburse the region for homeland security funds that were used to fund the January inaugural costs. Rep. Jim Moran offered an amendment for reimbursement but withdrew it after Chairman Lewis indicated that he was working with Norton on the issue.

Norton said, “The appropriations process is working just as I thought it would under two chairmen who have splendid records of helping the District and respecting home rule.”

Norton also spoke with Rep. Knollenberg about the possibility of allowing the District to spend its local supplemental funds, using its own process, perhaps with some guidance from Congress, so that the District can meet its own emergencies and is not required to wait until the emergency supplemental of the Congress passes each year. Norton is working on a proposal to see if agreement can be reached and said that she is hopeful, considering that the supplemental request of the District to spend its own funds is never denied or changed.