Norton Secures Victories in Final Fiscal Year 2023 D.C. Appropriations Bill, Disappointed D.C. Abortion and Marijuana Riders Remain and DCTAG Awards Not Increased

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said the final fiscal year (FY) 2023 District of Columbia Appropriations bill, which was released Monday evening, contains many victories for D.C., but also significant disappointments.

“I am very pleased the D.C. Appropriations bill provides funding for critical D.C. priorities, but I am deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans, whose votes are necessary to pass the bill, were able to keep the D.C. abortion and marijuana riders in the bill and to block improvements to the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program,” Norton said.

Norton secured the following victories:

• The bill provides $40 million for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG).
• The bill exempts the D.C. government from federal government shutdowns in FY 2024.
• The bill provides $8 million for DC Water for ongoing work to control flooding in D.C. and to clean up the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek.
• The bill provides $4 million to combat HIV/AIDS in D.C.
• The bill provides $600,000 for the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program.
• Authorizes the local D.C. courts to increase the pay of court-appointed lawyers and investigators.

Norton is disappointed the bill:

• Prohibits D.C. from spending its local funds on abortions and commercializing recreational marijuana. The original House and Senate FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bills would have removed these riders. The president’s FY 2023 budget proposed removing the abortion rider but maintaining the marijuana rider.
• Does not increase the annual or lifetime DCTAG awards or maximum family income eligibility for DCTAG. The original House FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bills would have increased the annual and lifetime awards and maximum family income eligibility. The original Senate FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bill would have increased the annual and lifetime awards, but not the maximum family income eligibility. The president’s FY 2023 budget proposed increasing the annual and lifetime awards, but not the maximum family income eligibility.
• The bill appropriates D.C.’s local funds, meaning that it effectively preempts the Local Budget Autonomy Act. The original House and Senate FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bills would not have appropriated D.C.’s local funds.
• Does not prohibit the president from federalizing the D.C. police department. The original House FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bill would have prohibited the president from doing so.
• Norton is disappointed the bill does not require schools participating in the D.C. private school voucher program, which Congress created, to comply with federal civil rights laws. The original House and Senate FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bill would have required participating schools to do so.

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