Norton Releases Statement Ahead of Markup of Anti-Home Rule Bill to Prohibit D.C. from Enacting Congestion Pricing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks ahead of today’s Oversight & Government Reform (OGR) Committee markup of a bill introduced by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) that would amend the Home Rule Act to permanently prohibit the District from enacting congestion pricing, or any charge to enter or pass through D.C.
“Today’s markup is the fifth time this Congress that Republicans have wasted this Committee's time on paternalistic, anti-home rule bills designed to interfere with D.C. traffic policies, a petty fixation Rep. Perry spends much of his time on, to the detriment of his constituents in Pennsylvania,” Norton said. “Rep. Perry has repeatedly used standalone bills, amendments, and riders to block or repeal D.C.'s traffic safety laws, yet not a single one has been enacted. This bill is a particularly vexing one to waste the Committee’s time on, considering that no congestion charge exists in D.C. and no bills or regulations are pending to impose one.
“More importantly, this bill was introduced by a member who wasn’t elected by D.C. residents and who D.C. residents cannot hold accountable by voting out of office. D.C. residents have all the obligations of American citizenship, including paying federal taxes, serving on juries and registering with the Selective Service, yet Congress denies them full local self-government and voting representation in Congress. The only solution to this undemocratic treatment is to grant D.C. statehood.”
Norton’s remarks follow, as prepared for delivery.
Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Markup of H.R. 8801, DC ROADS Act
May 20, 2026
I strongly oppose this undemocratic and paternalistic bill, which is intended to prohibit congestion pricing in the District of Columbia. Specifically, this bill would prohibit D.C. from imposing any charge to enter or pass through D.C. No such charge exists in D.C., and no bills or regulations are pending in D.C. to impose any.
Today’s markup is the fifth this Congress of a bill that would interfere with D.C. traffic policies. Over the last five years, the sponsor of this bill has tried to repeal or block four D.C. traffic policies through standalone bills, amendments and riders. None have been enacted.
The 700,000 D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are capable and worthy of governing themselves. If D.C. residents do not like how members of the D.C. Council vote, residents can vote them out of office. That is democracy. If D.C. residents do not like how members of Congress vote on local D.C. matters, residents cannot vote them out of office. That is the antithesis of democracy.
I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter opposing this bill from D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson.
The substance of this bill should be irrelevant, since there is never justification for Congress to legislate on local D.C. matters, but I will discuss it.
Congestion pricing is based on the economic theory of externalities and is used in New York City and several cities outside the United States. Earlier this year, on the one-year anniversary of congestion pricing in New York City, the governor of New York said “The results are in and it is clear that in just one year, congestion pricing has been an unprecedented success in New York. By every measure, this program has met or exceeded expectations: traffic and gridlock are down substantially, people are moving faster, air quality is improved, streets are safer and our economy is stronger. New Yorkers are benefitting from congestion pricing every day…. And there are even more benefits to come: $15 billion in transit upgrades with major projects already underway, improving the commutes of millions of New Yorkers.”
D.C. residents have all the obligations of American citizenship, including paying federal taxes, serving on juries and registering with the Selective Service, yet Congress denies them full local self-government and voting representation in Congress. The only solution to this undemocratic treatment is to grant D.C. statehood.
Congress has the authority to admit D.C. as a state. The D.C. statehood bill, H.R. 51, would reduce the size of the federal district from 68 square miles to two square miles, consisting of the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the National Mall. The residential and commercial areas of D.C. would be a new state.
I urge members to vote NO on H.R. 8801. Free D.C.
I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record a letter opposing this bill from the Sierra Club and 19 other groups.
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