Norton to Fight to Retroactively Fix D.C. Treatment in Next Coronavirus Response Bill, Treatment of D.C. Intentional
Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that the third coronavirus response bill, which the Senate passed last night and the House is expected to pass tomorrow, defies longstanding precedents in treating the District of Columbia as a territory instead of as a state for federal funding under the $150 billion coronavirus relief fund for states and territories, depriving D.C. of an estimated $750 million. Norton tried to get the bill amended after a draft was released yesterday morning, but Republicans, who refused to do so, led the bill in the Senate.
Norton, who is now working to retroactively fix the treatment of the District in the next coronavirus bill, said that she appreciated remarks in opposition to the treatment of D.C. in the Senate bill by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at her press conference this morning, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on the Senate floor last night, and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). D.C. is treated as a state for virtually all federal funding.
"We now know that Republicans intentionally gave D.C. less money than states under the relief fund, even though D.C. pays more in federal taxes than 22 states and more federal taxes per capita than any state," Norton said. "This was not an oversight or drafting error, as I had hoped. While Republicans routinely try to interfere in D.C.'s local affairs, it is rare for Republicans to insist that D.C. be treated as a territory for purposes of federal funding. Congress is spending, not saving or denying money, in this bill because this is a national emergency in our country. It is unconscionable to try to deprive the residents of the nation's capital of the funding D.C. must have during this national emergency."
Under the fund, each state is entitled to a minimum of $1.25 billion. D.C. and the territories will split $3 billion, which will be allocated based on population.
Norton thanked D.C Mayor Muriel Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and the other members of the Council for insisting on equal treatment for the District.
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