Norton to Defeat Bills That Undermine D.C.’s Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) vowed today to defeat two bills recently introduced by Republicans aimed at damaging the District of Columbia's economy.

Congressman Warren Davidson (R-OH) introduced the Drain the Swamp Act of 2021, which would require all executive branch agencies to move their headquarters outside of the D.C. area and to only have 10 percent of their employees in the D.C. area by 2026. Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced the Stop Wasting All our Money on Palaces Act, or the SWAMP Act, which would prohibit the federal government from entering into a contract to construct a new federal building, including one built to be leased by the federal government, in D.C. for two years. The premise of the SWAMP Act is to save money, but the bill doesn't prohibit the federal government from entering into a contract to build a federal building outside of D.C. during the two-year period.

"Once again, Republicans from far-away districts have introduced bills to move federal agencies out of the District and to cease providing space for others," Norton said. "Like it or not, my Republican friends, D.C. is the nation's capital and the seat of the federal government, meant by the Framers to house the headquarters of its agencies. As always, I pledge to defeat these bills."

###