Norton to Host Press Conference with Bowser, Mendelson to Defend D.C.’s Death with Dignity Act Ahead of Disapproval Resolution Markup, Tuesday

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will host a press conference with District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson to defend D.C.'s medical aid-in-dying bill, the Death with Dignity Act, from congressional interference tomorrow, Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. in 421 Cannon House Office Building. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a markup of a disapproval resolution to nullify the Death with Dignity Act on Thursday, February 2, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

"Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are charging full steam ahead with their undemocratic attempt to overturn an entirely local law, debated and passed by the D.C. Council, without even giving D.C. officials the opportunity to defend it," Norton said. "Mayor Bowser, Chairman Mendelson, and I will stand united in defense of D.C.'s right to self-government to send a clear signal that D.C.'s local laws are not toys for Members of Congress to play with. Since the Committee would not allow D.C. officials to defend the law, I am bringing them to Capitol Hill to allow them to make clear the city's opposition to this undemocratic assault on D.C. home rule."

According to Gallup, a majority of Americans (69% in 2016) have supported medical aid in dying since 1973.

Congress passed the Home Rule Act in 1973 to give D.C. authority over its local laws, but all D.C. bills must be transmitted to Congress for a review period before they can take effect. The Death with Dignity Act was transmitted for a 30-legislative-day review period on January 6, 2017. A bill takes effect at the expiration of the review period unless a resolution of disapproval is enacted into law during that period. Norton has prevented a disapproval resolution from being enacted into law since 1991.