Norton Reintroduces Bill to Make D.C. Eligible for Four Federal Transportation and Infrastructure Grant Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced the District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act, which would make D.C. eligible for three federal programs that support the development and revitalization of public transportation systems in the same manner that states are currently eligible. The bill would also make D.C. eligible for a program to support the replacement and removal of infrastructure that damages the ecosystems of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers.
“D.C. residents pay the same federal taxes as residents of all 50 states,” Norton said. “D.C. should be treated as a state in federal programs since its residents pay more federal taxes per capita than any state. This bill will give D.C. equitable access to four vital grant programs to improve its public transportation systems and infrastructure.”
Norton’s full introductory statement follows.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act
January 6, 2026
Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act. This bill would make the District of Columbia eligible for three federal programs that support the development and revitalization of public transportation systems in the same manner as states are eligible for these programs. It would also make D.C. eligible in the same manner as states are eligible for a transportation program that would support the replacement and removal of infrastructure that damages the ecosystems of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. D.C. residents pay the same federal taxes as residents of the states and therefore D.C. is almost always treated as a state in federal programs.
First, this bill would treat D.C. as a state in the High-Density States Formula for certain grants from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund. Currently, only states are eligible for these grants. Second, this bill would treat D.C. as a state under the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. Under the formula grants for this program, each state is authorized to receive a minimum of $4 million per year, while D.C. is authorized to receive a minimum of only $1 million per year. Third, this bill would treat D.C. as a state under the National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program. Currently, only states and units of local government are eligible for these grants, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has held that D.C. is ineligible, even though D.C. operates as the functional equivalent of a city, county and state. Fourth, this bill would treat D.C. as a state under the Safe Streets for All Program. Cities, counties and political subdivisions of a state are eligible for this program, but DOT has held that D.C. is ineligible.
The programs in this bill fund the modernization of bus and rail fleets, the purchase of zero-emission transit vehicles, the improvement of transit station accessibility for all users, the extension of transit services to new communities, the replacement and repair of culverts and the implementation of roadway safety improvements for all road users.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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