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Norton Blasts Rooney for Introducing Anti-Union Bill Uniquely Targeting D.C. Unions

September 12, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today blasted Congressman Francis Rooney (R-FL) for introducing a bill attacking the District of Columbia's local labor laws. Rooney's bill, the Freedom from Union Violence Act of 2019, would make it a special federal crime to engage in violence during a labor dispute solely within the District, but not solely within states. The bill would also cover violence during labor disputes in connection with interstate commerce or solely within the territories. Norton has defeated this bill numerous times in Congress and vows to do so again in the Democratic majority.

"Representative Rooney is seeking to abuse congressional authority to drag the District of Columbia into his politically motivated attack on organized labor, which would uniquely impact D.C. union workers," Norton said. "As I have done since this bill was first introduced in 1993, I will again defeat this bill, which directly attacks D.C. union workers and our home rule, this Congress."