Norton Statement on Markup of Her Bill to Allow Electronic Transmission of D.C. Legislation to Congress and 13 Anti-D.C. Home Rule Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement on committee passage of her bill to allow the chair of the D.C. Council to transmit legislation to Congress in the form of the chair’s choosing, including in electronic form, and 13 bills introduced by Republican members of Congress targeting D.C. laws and policies. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform marked up the bills yesterday. 

"There shouldn't be a congressional review process for local D.C. legislation, period. However, since there is one, we must bring the process into the electronic age," Norton said. "I'm pleased the Committee marked up and passed my bill to allow the chair of the D.C. Council to send D.C. legislation electronically, which would allow both D.C. and Congress to avoid the costs imposed by the current multi-step process to physically bring the legislation to Congress."

The Committee also marked up and passed 13 bills introduced by Republican members of Congress to make it more difficult for D.C. actions to become law, or to repeal or change local D.C. laws and policies. 

“D.C. is enduring an unparalleled wave of attacks on its autonomy and home rule from the federal government, most starkly shown when the president federalized MPD and sent thousands of National Guard troops into our streets. Yesterday’s markup is yet another assault in that barrage,” Norton said. “Republicans, emboldened by President Trump’s unacceptable and unjustified actions, are exploiting their majority to pile on by marking up over a dozen anti-home rule bills.

“Let me be clear: Republican members of Congress, who are not accountable to D.C., have no business dictating the local laws of a city where 700,000 people live, work, and have chosen their own leaders through the democratic process. The people of D.C. are as deserving, as capable, and as prepared to govern themselves as any other Americans. I will fight with every tool I have to stop these attacks in their tracks – and to keep D.C. on its path toward full equality and statehood.”

A list of those bills and a description of each follows, and more information can be found in the Committee’s markup memo.

1. H.R. 5183, District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), would change the congressional review process for bills enacted by D.C. and subject more official actions of D.C. to the congressional review process.
2. H.R. 5103, Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act, introduced by Rep. John McGuire (R-VA), would implement the March 28th executive order from President Trump titled “Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful.”
3. H.R. 5214, District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), would amend D.C. law to require detention pretrial and post-conviction before sentencing for a crime of violence or a dangerous crime.
4. H.R. 5172, District of Columbia Criminal Mandatory Minimums Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), would change the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines in D.C. Code.
5. H.R. 5163, A bill to impose criminal penalties for camping on public property in the District of Columbia, introduced by Rep. William Timmons (R-SC), would make it a crime to live or sleep in public spaces in the District, punishable by a fine of $500, imprisonment for more than 30 days, or both.
6. H.R. 4922, D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safer (D.C. CRIMES) Act, introduced by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), would make several changes to D.C.’s criminal code relating to youth, and require D.C. to publicly disclose youth crime data.
7. H.R.5140, District of Columbia Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX), would lower the age of eligibility for juveniles to be tried as adults in D.C. from 16 years to 14 years of age for certain criminal offenses including murder, first degree sexual abuse, burglary in the first degree, and robbery while armed.
8. H.R. 5181, SOAR Act Improvements Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), would change D.C.’s SOAR Act formula on funding to public, private and charter schools in the District.
9. H.R. 5107, introduced by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), would repeal D.C.’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.
10. H.R. 5143, District of Columbia Policing Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), would allow vehicular pursuit of a suspect fleeing in a motor vehicle, if the officer or supervisor deems it necessary, the most effective means of apprehension, and without unreasonable risk to innocents and bystanders.
11. H.R. 5125, District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), would eliminate the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) and give the President the sole power to make nominations for the D.C. Courts.
12. H.R. 5179, District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX), would grant the President with the power to appoint the Attorney General for D.C., instead of being elected by D.C. voters.
13. H.R. 5242, introduced by Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN), would repeal D.C.'s Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016 and the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022.

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