Norton Statues Bill Goes to House Floor

Norton Statues Bill Goes to House Floor

WASHINGTON, DC - The Committee on House Administration passed today Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) bill, H.R. 5493, to permit two statues honoring the residents of the District of Columbia to be placed in the U.S. Capitol, despite a Republican attempt to reduce the number to one statue, equating the District to a non-federal taxpaying territory.

"I am very grateful to my good friend House Administration Chair Robert Brady, who has been generous every step of the way in working hand-in-hand with me on this bill," said Norton. "I particularly appreciate Chairman Brady's rebuttal to Ranking Member Dan Lungren's failure to distinguish federal taxpaying states from the freedom from such taxes of the territories, noting the ways the District differs from the territories and why we should have two statues like the 50 states."

If the bill is approved by both houses, the D.C. statues placed in the Capitol would likely be of Frederick Douglass and Pierre L'Enfant. Four years ago, D.C. chose and created statues of these two men, known for their contributions to the city as well as the nation.

"Time and time again other members have seized any opportunity to diminish the full citizenship status of the District of Columbia without, I might add, diminishing the billions in federal taxes, which are the second highest per capita, our residents pay to support the U.S. government." Norton continued by stating, "This bill is of great importance to the District but should have received little attention from other Members because it has no effect on them or their districts. It was incredible to see Congressman Lungren reach for the D.C. House Voting Rights Act as a reason to deny the District one of the two statues. While he is interfering, maybe we should let him choose between the Fredrick Douglass and Pierre L'Enfant sculptures too. Our residents want both."

Two Washington area sculptors were hired to complete the Douglass and L'Enfant statues. In 2008, the statues were placed at One Judiciary Square pending passage of this bill.