Norton to Deliver a Keynote Address at Netroots Nation 2019 on D.C. Statehood

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will join activists, community leaders and elected officials at Netroots Nation 2019 in Philadelphia this week to discuss the growing national momentum for D.C. statehood. On Wednesday, in a reserved train car, Norton will first ride up with DC Vote members and residents so they can discuss the latest on D.C. statehood. On Thursday, Norton will then join DC Vote's Bo Shuff and take questions from the audience at the D.C. Statehood Caucus event, followed by her Opening Keynote at 5:00 p.m. on the importance of D.C. statehood before a national audience. Norton's D.C. statehood bill already has 213 House voting cosponsors, close to the 218 needed for passage. Less than two weeks away from the July 24th hearing on D.C. statehood, Norton said the Netroots Nation first-of-its-kind national attention can only increase the momentum statehood has gained ever since the Democratic Majority took the House six months ago.

"Netroots Nation is one of the largest gatherings of progressives and a particularly important event for us as we continue to nationalize the fight for D.C. statehood," Norton said. "In two weeks, the House will hold its first hearing on D.C. statehood in 26 years, when I got the first-ever vote on the House floor on a D.C. statehood bill soon after being elected to the House. We are seizing every opportunity we can to win national allies and share our stories with the rest of the nation. As the jurisdiction that pays the highest per capita federal taxes and has always sent our residents to defend our freedoms in the military, we deserve what every state has – equal representation and full self-government."

Media attending may contact jack.miller@mail.house.gov.