Norton Releases Floor Statement on Disapproval Resolution for the Local D.C. Law Allowing Noncitizens to Vote in Local D.C. Elections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks as prepared for delivery from her speech on the House floor yesterday opposing the disapproval resolution to overturn the local D.C. legislation allowing noncitizens to vote in local D.C. elections.
“The subject of this resolution, in addition to the legislative history and merits of the legislation enacted by D.C., are irrelevant to consideration of this resolution,” Norton said. “There is never justification for Congress nullifying legislation enacted by D.C.”
Local D.C. legislation must be transmitted to Congress for a designated review period. If the disapproval resolution is enacted, it overturns the local D.C. law.
Norton’s floor statement follows, as prepared for delivery.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
H.J. Res. 24, Disapproving the Action of the District of Columbia Council in Approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022
I strongly oppose this undemocratic, paternalistic resolution. There is only one question before the House. The question is: Do you believe in democracy? More specifically, should the District of Columbia’s local legislature, whose members are elected by D.C. residents, make the laws for D.C., or should Congress, whose voting members are elected by the residents of the several states, make the laws for D.C.?
What is democracy? The dictionary defines it as a “government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.” Perhaps President Lincoln described democracy best in the Gettysburg Address: “[G]overnment of the people, by the people, for the people.”
D.C.’s local legislature, the D.C. Council, has 13 members. The members are elected by D.C. residents. Eight members are elected by geographic area and five members are elected at-large. If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote, they can vote them out of office.
Congress has 535 voting members. The members are elected by the residents of the several states. None are elected by D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not like how the members vote, even on legislation that applies only to D.C., they can only ask politely for the residents of the several states to vote them out of office.
The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation. Yet, the nearly 700,000 D.C. residents cannot consent to any action taken by Congress, whether on national or D.C. matters, and pay full federal taxes—indeed, D.C. pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more total federal taxes than 23 states.
The legislative history and merits of the legislation enacted by the D.C. Council that is the subject matter of this resolution are irrelevant to the question before the House, but I want to set the record straight.
The D.C. Council passed the legislation on two separate occasions, as required by Congress, by votes of 12-1 and 12-0, after holding a hearing. The legislation is not unprecedented. Indeed, there is a long history in the United States of noncitizens being allowed to vote in local, state, territorial and federal elections.
I will close with two final thoughts. D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and Brown, are worthy and capable of governing themselves. It is true Congress has absolute power over D.C. But might does not make right.
If you believe in democracy, you will vote NO on this resolution.
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