Norton Says Lack of Statehood Cost D.C. Tens to Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Earmarks in Final Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said the District of Columbia was shortchanged tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks in the final fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills because D.C. has no senators. An earmark is funding requested by members of the House and Senate for local governments and nonprofits to carry out specific projects in members’ respective districts and states.

“Earmarks are yet another way in which D.C.’s lack of statehood has caused financial harm to D.C.,” Norton said. “Without senators to request earmarks, D.C. lost tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks in the final fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills. This unequal treatment is particularly egregious because D.C. pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more federal taxes than 23 states.”

Senators received a wide range of earmarks, with some receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks, in the final FY 2023 appropriations bills. Norton received approximately $21 million in earmarks in the final FY 2023 appropriations bills, which was the typical amount received by House members.

Norton noted another recent example of D.C. being shortchanged. Last Congress, the CARES Act, which was drafted by the Republican-led Senate, treated D.C. as a territory instead of a state for coronavirus fiscal relief, depriving D.C. of $755 million. This Congress, Norton was able to get that $755 million for D.C. restored in the American Rescue Plan.

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