Norton Challenges Republican Senators to Support Democracy in D.C., Not Just Hong Kong

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After 21 senators sent a letter today to President Obama calling on him to support "universal suffrage and full democracy" in Hong Kong, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) urged the 10 Republican signatories to be consistent in their principles and support suffrage and full democracy in the District of Columbia, as well. Norton noted that every Republican signatory who was in the Senate in 2009 voted against granting D.C. voting rights in the House, and that every Republican signatory has either sponsored or cosponsored legislation that would limit D.C.'s right to govern its own local affairs. Eleven Democrats signed the letter, and every Democratic signatory who was in the Senate in 2009 voted to grant D.C. voting rights in the House. "As a veteran of the civil rights movement, I applaud those in Hong Kong who are demanding their democratic rights," Norton said. "They are an example and reminder to all of the need to fight for our rights. I also commend the 21 senators for supporting democracy in Hong Kong. However, I hope the Republican signatories recognize their inconsistency in supporting democracy abroad while actively opposing it in their own nation's capital."

D.C. has made unprecedented progress this year in its efforts to get statehood, which would give D.C. full voting rights in the House and Senate and the right to govern its own local affairs without congressional interference. President Obama endorsed D.C. statehood in July. Last month, the Senate held its first-ever hearing on D.C. statehood and the first congressional hearing on D.C. statehood in more than 20 years, which hundreds of D.C. residents attended, filling the hearing room and an overflow room, and the House and Senate D.C. statehood bills, the New Columbia Admission Act (H.R. 292/S. 132), sponsored by Norton and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), respectively, each have a record number of cosponsors.

The Republican signatories are: Senators Richard Burr (NC), Thad Cochran (MS), John Cornyn (TX), Ted Cruz (TX), Lindsey Graham (SC), Jim Inhofe (OK), John McCain (AZ), Marco Rubio (FL), John Thune (SD), and Roger Wicker (MS).