Norton Announces Victories for D.C. in Supplemental Security Appropriations Bill Introduced Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the House's fiscal year 2021 supplemental security appropriations bill, introduced today to respond to the January 6 attack on the Capitol, contains victories for the District of Columbia she sought. The bill provides D.C. $66.7 million to eliminate the long-running deficit in the federally funded D.C. Emergency Planning and Security Fund (EPSF), prohibits the use of funds in the bill to install permanent above-ground fencing at the Capitol complex, and requires Capitol Police officers to wear body cameras. In February, Norton introduced the No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act, which would prohibit the use of funds to install permanent fencing at the Capitol complex. In March, the House passed her Federal Police Camera and Accountability Act, which would require federal police officers to wear body cameras and use dashboard cameras, as part of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021.

"The EPSF pays for the unique public safety and security costs the District incurs as the nation's capital, and is designed to cover the District's costs up front, so that D.C. does not need to expend local funds for such purposes and then seek an appropriation to be reimbursed after the fact," Norton said. "Over the last several years, Republicans have opposed fully funding the EPSF. Whatever their motivations may have been, Congress must never shortchange security in the nation's capital again, as demonstrated on January 6.

"In addition, the bill introduced today fulfills two other causes I've long championed: Requiring the use of body cameras by Capitol Police officers and prohibiting funds from being used to erect permanent fencing around the Capitol, walling off the legislature from the people we represent."