Norton Raises Voice on House Floor for D.C. Servicemembers, Veterans, and Residents, But Denied a Vote on Military Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today protested on the House floor that she could speak, but not vote, on a resolution to remove troops from Iraq and Syria, unless the President determined it would be unsafe, no later than December 2015 unless troops are authorized. I protest, Mr. Speaker," Norton said on the House floor. "I protest continuing to demand full citizenship costs from D.C. residents, while denying them the vote that comes with those costs and is granted to all other Americans."
Norton said that D.C. residents have fought in every war in our nation's history, and the District has outpaced many states in casualties in the nation's wars, yet they are still denied the right to vote on whether to go to the very wars they serve in.
"What an outrage, especially to our veterans," Norton said on the House floor. "That outrage is amplified considering that District residents pay $12,000 annually per capita more in federal taxes than residents of any state in the country to support our government in war and peace. Regardless of what is decided on this resolution, Mr. Speaker, District residents will be there for America as they have been for every war since our nation was created. It is time that the Congress was there for District residents."
Norton's full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on H.R.Con.Res.55, 2015
June 17, 2015
As the United States has increasingly drifted into war without the usual congressional authorization, I appreciate that today's resolution, H.Con.Res. 55, permits the House to assert its appropriate role. I ask only that the residents of the District of Columbia be permitted to be heard in the same way as other Americans. My colleagues will not only speak today. They will vote the will of their constituents. Although District residents are already serving in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere, I am limited to speaking without a vote.
What an outrage, especially to our veterans. That outrage is amplified considering that District residents pay $12,000 annually per capita more in federal taxes than residents of any state in the country to support our government in war and peace. Regardless of what is decided on this resolution, Mr. Speaker, District residents will be there for America as they have been for every war since our nation was created. It is time that the Congress was there for District residents.
Nearly 200,000 D.C. residents have fought for America's freedom in times of war, yet D.C. residents, including our veterans, are still denied a vote in the national legislature that sent them to war. In fact, D.C. servicemembers fought and won the vote for citizens in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet our veterans came home without the same voting rights themselves. Our nation willingly accepts their sacrifices and demands their tax dollars, but denies them representation in Congress.
D.C. residents have not only given their lives for the country since its creation as a nation, they died at disproportionate rates during all the 20th century wars. Yet these veterans, among the 650,000 Americans who live in the District of Columbia, still have no vote on national security, no vote on defense spending, no vote in the decision to send their country to war, or on anything.
I protest, Mr. Speaker. I protest continuing to demand full citizenship costs from D.C. residents, while denying them the vote that comes with those costs and is granted to all other Americans.