Norton Pledges to Work to Defeat Comer and Cotton Disapproval Resolutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said today she will work to defeat the disapproval resolution introduced by Congressman James Comer (R-KY), and an additional disapproval resolution that Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) announced he will introduce, to prevent a local D.C. bill allowing noncitizen D.C. residents to vote in local elections from taking effect. The D.C. Council passed the bill in October to allow D.C. residents who are not citizens to vote in local elections by a vote of 12-1.

“Rep. Comer’s disapproval resolution is the third piece of anti-D.C. legislation to be introduced in the first few days of the 118^th Congress. While I do not expect the resolution to pass in the Senate or the president to sign it, I will work to defeat the resolution, along with the resolution Senator Cotton announced he will introduce, starting now,” Norton said. “Local D.C. laws are matters for the duly-elected D.C. Council and mayor, not members of Congress representing far-away districts like Rep. Comer’s in Kentucky and Sen. Cotton’s state of Arkansas.”

Local D.C. laws must be transmitted to Congress for a designated review period before being enacted. If the House and Senate pass the resolution and the president signs it, the resolution can prevent the local D.C. law from taking effect. The resolution is only required to get a simple majority, or 51 votes, to pass the Senate.

As one of his first two bills this Congress, Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) introduced a separate bill that would prohibit District of Columbia residents who are not citizens from voting in local D.C. elections. Pfluger’s bill was the second bill introduced this Congress that would interfere in D.C.'s local election laws.

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