Norton Introduces Bill to Exempt D.C. Courts, CSOSA, PDS from Federal Government Shutdowns

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a bill to exempt from federal government shutdowns agencies that have jurisdiction only over District of Columbia matters but are exclusively or primarily funded by the federal government and not under the District's control. Following the longest government shutdown in history, Norton emphasized that these agencies are essentially D.C. agencies that have nothing to do with federal issues or congressional shutdown matters. They provide critical criminal and civil justice services to the District and should continue to function during a shutdown for the safety and well-being of D.C. residents.

This bill includes agencies that are exclusively funded by the federal government, with one exception, and are not under the District's control: the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, D.C. Courts, D.C. Public Defender Service, D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission, and D.C. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, which is primarily but not exclusively funded by the federal government.

"These are criminal and civil justice agencies whose focus is exclusively on District of Columbia matters but are funded by the federal government," Norton said. "As a local jurisdiction, the District is a bystander to the federal issues involved in shutdowns and should not be caught up in congressional shutdown fights."

Since the 2013 federal government shutdown, Norton has gotten a provision enacted each year exempting the D.C. government from federal government shutdowns.