Norton to Continue Efforts to Pass Bill Prohibiting Restrictions on Access to Washington Channel Despite Army’s Pause on Proposed Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that, despite the Army's announcement that it is "pausing" its proposed rule to restrict public access to the Washington Channel in the District of Columbia, she will continue working to get the proposed rule formally withdrawn and to pass her bill blocking the proposed rule and any other rule that restricts access to the Channel. Norton hosted a public meeting on the proposed rule last year, where D.C. residents overwhelmingly opposed the restrictions.

"I am pleased the Army has announced it will pause its proposed rule restricting access to the Washington Channel," Norton said. "This rule is arbitrary, capricious and unnecessarily restricts recreational and commercial access to the Channel without providing any benefits to Fort McNair. Moreover, I will continue working to get the Army's proposed rule formally withdrawn and to pass my bill prohibiting such restrictions. Congress passed my bills to redevelop the Southwest and Southeast waterfronts, and the Wharf in particular would be one of the sites most affected by the proposed rule. My Southwest and Southeast waterfront redevelopment bills have reinvigorated community engagement on the waterfront and have generated considerable tax revenue for the District. Moreover, the Army's proposed rule is unnecessarily restrictive, and even when given the opportunity, military officials have not addressed the question of whether less restrictive measures could provide the same security."

Last year, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed the congresswoman's Washington Channel Public Access Act (H.R. 1765), which would prohibit the Army from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the proposed rule, or any other rule that restricts public access to the Washington Channel.

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