Norton to Introduce Bill to Require Federal Officials Serving D.C. to Live in the City

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that when Congress returns from recess next week, Norton will introduce a bill to require certain officials who serve the District of Columbia to live in the city. In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United States—with the exception of New York City, which is the only jurisdiction divided between two federal districts—U.S. Marshals, federal district court judges, and U.S. Attorneys are required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointed—but no such residency requirement exists for officials serving in the District.

"Federal officials who serve the District of Columbia have an obligation to live in our city with the policies they make or enforce and to directly engage with the people they serve in order to form a strong bond with the community and keep on top of their concerns," Norton said. "My bill is a simple way to eliminate another element of inequality that D.C. residents uniquely experience. D.C. deserves the same community involvement as other jurisdictions across the nation."

Norton's full introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act of 2015

Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act of 2015, a bill that would amend federal law to require certain officials who serve D.C. to actually live within its boundaries. In nearly every other jurisdiction in the United States, federal district court judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals are required by federal law to reside within the jurisdictions where they have been appointed—but these same officials appointed to serve the people of the District are not bound by these same requirements. The only other jurisdictions where these officials are not required to live within their appointed jurisdictions are the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York. However, this is because New York City is the only city in the country that is divided between two federal districts—but the District is not similarly situated. My bill would put D.C. on equal footing with almost every other jurisdiction by ensuring that our Marshals, judges, and U.S. attorney live among the residents they have been appointed to represent.

Clearly, the idea that these federal officials ought to live in the jurisdictions they serve is a significant one—which is why the residency requirement for other jurisdictions is enshrined in federal law. Yet, D.C. was exempt from this requirement based on the now-outdated notion that the District is too congested and small to house these appointed officials. The District of Columbia is a vibrant and bustling city with a diverse populace who deserve direct engagement on the part of its federal judges, U.S. attorney, and Marshals. My bill recognizes the fact that D.C. deserves the same type of community involvement by these federal officials as nearly every jurisdiction.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.