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Norton Says D.C.’s Lack of Statehood Cost D.C. $90-200 Million in Earmarks in Omnibus Appropriations Bill

March 14, 2022

D.C.’s lack of statehood denied D.C. Senate earmarks

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said the District of Columbia was shortchanged an estimated $90 million to $200 million in earmarks in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, which the president will sign this week. D.C. did not receive the same amount of funding for earmarks as states because D.C. does not have senators to request earmarks for D.C. The FY 2022 omnibus appropriations bill was the first appropriations bill in more than a decade that included earmarks, or funding requested by members of Congress for governments or non-profits in their districts or states for specific projects. Each member of the House and each senator who requested funding for eligible earmarks received some or all of the funding they requested.

"The return of earmarks is only the latest example in which D.C.'s lack of statehood has caused financial harm to the District," Norton said. "D.C.'s lack of Senate representation cost D.C. an estimated $90 to $200 million in the fiscal year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill. This unequal treatment is particularly egregious because D.C. residents pay the same federal taxes as residents of states, and because D.C. pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more federal taxes than 21 states."

Senators received a wide range of funding for earmarks, with some Senate delegations receiving more than $200 million. Norton received approximately $12 million in earmarks, which was the typical amount received by House members.

Norton noted another recent example of D.C. being shortchanged. Last Congress, the CARES Act, which was drafted by the Republican-led Senate, treated D.C. as a territory instead of a state for coronavirus fiscal relief, depriving D.C. of $755 million. This Congress, Norton was able to get that $755 million for D.C. restored in the American Rescue Plan.

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