September 21, 2005: NORTON WANTS D.C. STATUES IN STATUARY HALL OF CONGRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2005

NORTON WANTS D.C. STATUES IN STATUARY HALL OF CONGRESS

Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released floor remarks she gave reminding Congress that District of Columbia citizens deserve the honor of having two statues of history makers in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol as citizens of all 50 states have long enjoyed. Norton took the opportunity to call for statues for D.C. taxpayers as the House today considered a resolution for a statue of Po'Pay, presented by the state of New Mexico. Norton’s full statement follows.

I congratulate the New Mexico delegation and urge the House to approve this resolution placing a second statue honoring a New Mexico citizen in Statuary Hall. I must take this opportunity as well to urge the House to do the same for the District of Columbia. Our citizens do not have even one statue. Surely, the time is overdue for the District to receive at least this small recognition of our citizenship for all to see.

The District of Columbia was born with the nation itself. The city has more than two centuries of its very own rich and uniquely American history. The District boasts distinguished figures in history from whom selections for statues could readily be made. It should go without saying that the almost 600,000 American citizens who live in the nation’s capital deserve the honor of having two of their history makers represented in the Capitol as citizens of New Mexico and all 50 states have long enjoyed. D.C. residents have not yet obtained the same full political equality and voting rights as states, but they have always had every one of the responsibilities of the states, including paying all federal taxes and serving in all wars. Every time we allow the District to be excluded from its place among the 50 states, we undermine our own leadership role for democracy around the world. Authorizing two District statues has special importance for our residents because the statues would be seen by million of visitors every year, reinforcing our proud citizenship and unity with other Americans, whose historical figures are commemorated.

A bill for the District has failed to get the necessary word from the Speaker, which is necessary for hearings, despite my request and the written request from Leader Pelosi. Yet, this recognition for the District of Columbia, whose citizens are serving our country as I speak, in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world is no more controversial—nor should it be—than the New Mexico bill.

New Mexico and its citizens deserve this honor and get it simply because they are American citizens. As we pass this resolution for New Mexico and its citizens today, I ask the House to remember that we are all equal in this country, and that it is time that our legislature and the halls where these statues will stand reflected that equality.