Norton's Statement on Mayor Gray's Press Conference on Voucher Rider and D.C. Autonomy

Norton's Statement on Mayor Gray's Press Conference on Voucher Rider and D.C. Autonomy

April 14, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement earlier today:

"I am on my way to the House floor to seek time on the continuing resolution that, against our will, contains private school vouchers and a prohibition on spending our local funds for abortion services for our low-income women. Otherwise, I would be with Mayor Vincent Gray today in strong support of the city's right to choose how local children are educated and the city's right to spend its own local funds as it chooses.

The Republican majority refused to allow my amendment to be brought to the House floor that would redirect voucher money to D.C. public schools and public charter schools. Yet, the District will have no vote on the House floor on the continuing resolution, in which the District is the only jurisdiction involved. I am grateful to Mayor Gray for his continuous fight for public funding for public education throughout this struggle. Along with the entire city, I am particularly grateful for his leadership in leading civil disobedience on Monday to send an important message from the top of our government -- DC residents will not sit silently while the Congress dismantles our home rule piece by piece or instructs us on how to educate our children."