Norton to Launch Special Call for D.C. Statehood on House Floor Leading Up to D.C. Emancipation Day with Speech on D.C. Casualties of War, Today

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today, Tuesday, April 14, at 10:00 a.m., will take to the House floor for the first of three speeches dedicated to advocating for statehood for the District of Columbia leading up to D.C. Emancipation Day on Thursday, April 16. D.C. Emancipation Day commemorates April 16, 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln freed 3,100 enslaved African Americans in the District. In today's speech, Norton will focus on official government figures that show the District has outpaced many states in casualties in the nation's wars, although D.C. residents have no vote in the House and no Senators. She also will highlight some of the D.C. residents who have made unusually distinguished contributions to the armed services, and will speak of the fight even D.C. members of the armed forces have had to make for equal recognition. The speech can be viewed on television on C-SPAN or online at https://www.c-span.org/video/?325336-2/morning-hour.

"There is no greater sacrifice an American citizen can make than to give their life for their country, and more District residents have died in our nation's war than residents of many states," Norton said. "Brave men and women from the District of Columbia have fought around the world to protect and promote democracy, but in their home town they are denied representation in Congress. The only way to fully honor their commitment is to provide D.C. residents with the inherent American rights afforded by statehood."

Norton will also go to the floor on Wednesday during morning debate at 10:00 a.m., and on Thursday afternoon.