Norton Scores D.C. Victories in Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Disappointed D.C. Marijuana and Abortion Riders Remain and DCTAG Award Increase Blocked

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said the fiscal year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill, which was released today, contains many victories for the District of Columbia, but also some disappointments.

"I am very pleased the omnibus appropriations bill provides funding for critical D.C. priorities, but I am deeply disappointed that Republicans, whose votes are necessary to pass the bill, were able to keep the D.C. abortion and marijuana riders in the bill and to block an increase in the annual and lifetime awards for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program," Norton said.

• The bill provides $40 million for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG), which is the seventh year in a row Norton has secured $40 million for the program. The bill does not increase the annual and lifetime DCTAG awards. The president's fiscal year 2022 budget and the original versions of the House and Senate FY 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill would have increased the annual and lifetime DCTAG awards for the first time since Norton got the program created in 1999.
• The bill maintains the two riders that were enacted in the FY 2021 D.C. Appropriations bill: prohibitions on D.C. spending its local funds on abortion and on commercialization of recreational marijuana. The president's FY 2022 budget and the original versions of the House and Senate FY 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill would have removed the abortion rider and the original versions of the House and Senate FY 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill would have removed the marijuana rider.
• The bill provides $100 million for a new Howard University Hospital.
• The bill provides $210 million for the continued consolidation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security headquarters at St. Elizabeths in Ward 8.
• The bill provides an extra $4 million to combat HIV/AIDS in D.C.
• The bill provides $8 million for DC Water for ongoing work to control flooding in D.C. and to clean up the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek.
• The bill provides $600,000 for the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program.
• The bill provides $25 million for the D.C. Emergency Planning and Security Fund (EPSF). However, it does not provide any funding to close the $66 million deficit in the EPSF. The EPSF pays for the unique public safety and security costs D.C. incurs as the nation's capital, but, over the last several years, Republicans have opposed fully funding the EPSF.
• The bill exempts the D.C. government from a federal government shutdown in FY 2023. Norton has gotten D.C. exempted from federal government shutdowns on an annual basis since the federal government shut down in 2013.
• The bill includes an annual Norton provision that allows sledding at the Capitol Complex.
• The bill provides $150 million in capital funding for Metro.

• Norton also secured community project funding, formerly known as earmarks, for 10 D.C. organizations:
  • Faunteroy Community Enrichment Center, $910,000
  • Urban Prosperity Hub Development Project, $3 million
  • SAFE Space Crisis Shelter for Domestic Violence, $570,000
  • Calvary Women's Services, $200,000
  • 11th Street Bridge Park, $3 million
  • District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), $526,730
  • Children's National Hospital, $2 million
  • Capital Clubhouse Inc., $210,000
  • MedStar Washington Hospital Center, $800,000
  • DC Central Kitchen, $500,000

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