Norton Releases Statement Ahead of Today’s Markup of Two D.C. Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her markup statement on a bill introduced by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), as prepared for delivery, ahead of today’s House Oversight Committee markup of two D.C.-related bills. 

The first bill, introduced by Rep. Hageman, would prohibit D.C. from requiring courts and administrative proceedings to defer to the mayor's interpretation of statutes and regulations. The second is Norton’s bill to rename the post office at 3401 12th Street NE after musician and singer Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go.”

“Rep. Hageman’s antidemocratic and paternalistic bill could radically change how local D.C. laws and regulations are interpreted,” Norton said. “For decades, the local D.C. courts have deferred to the D.C. executive branch’s reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes and regulations. The D.C. Council, which was elected by D.C. residents, took the extra step of codifying this deference, which should stand.”

"I am pleased, however, that the Committee is marking up my bill to rename the post office at 3401 12th Street NE after Chuck Brown. As the ‘Godfather of Go-Go,’ he gave D.C. a unique hometown sound that was distinctly our own and brought enjoyment to all who heard him here and throughout the nation. Chuck Brown loved the District, and naming post office after him is a way D.C. can honor him in return.”

Norton’s markup statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Markup of H.R. 3766

December 2, 2025

I strongly oppose this undemocratic and paternalistic bill.  This bill would repeal the District of Columbia’s Review of Agency Action Clarification Amendment Act of 2025 and prohibit D.C. from enacting such a law in the future.  This bill would further restrict D.C.’s authority to enact and carry out local laws and policies.

D.C. local self-government is under unprecedented attack by Republicans in Congress and President Trump.  This Congress, Republicans have introduced nearly 90 bills, amendments and riders to repeal, block or amend local D.C. laws and policies.

The over 700,000 D.C. residents, the majority of whom are Black and Brown, are capable and worthy of governing themselves.  If residents do not like how the members of the D.C. Council vote, residents can vote them out of office or pass a ballot measure.  That is democracy.  If D.C. residents do not like how the 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 joint letter opposing this bill from the D.C. Mayor, the D.C. Council Chairman and the D.C. Attorney General, all of whom were elected by D.C. residents.

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.

This bill could radically change how local D.C. laws and regulations are interpreted.  For decades, the local D.C. courts have deferred to the D.C. executive branch’s reasonable interpretation of ambiguous statutes and regulations. However, after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision last year, which overruled Chevron, a question arose about whether the local D.C. courts would overrule their own longstanding deference precedent, which was similar to Chevron deference. In response, the D.C. Council enacted the Review of Agency Action Clarification Amendment Act, which codified that longstanding local precedent.

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. 

The D.C. statehood bill, H.R. 51, grants D.C. residents full local self-government and voting representation in Congress.  H.R. 51 reduces 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. 3766.  Free D.C.

###