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Norton Gets Changes for D.C. in Rules Adopted by House for the 117th Congress

January 5, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that the rules adopted yesterday in the House for the 117th Congress include changes that she sought for the District of Columbia. The changes give the D.C. mayor House floor privileges, which governors of the states and territories already had, and remove a pre-home-rule rule that set aside special days for D.C. legislation on the House floor. Even though this rule was no longer being used, Norton objected to having special days set aside for D.C. legislation instead of having D.C. treated in the same way as states. Norton thanked Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) for agreeing to these changes.

"As the 117th Congress begins, these important rules changes that were adopted yesterday are a step toward statehood and equal treatment for the District of Columbia," Norton said. "I've introduced legislation to change the D.C. mayor's title to governor, but with these new rules, the mayor will now be able to come on the House floor, just like governors of states and territories. Thank you, Speaker Pelosi and Chairman McGovern, for being champions of D.C. statehood and equality and for making these changes."