Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter she sent today to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Michael Carvajal, again asking BOP to investigate conditions at Hope Village, the men’s halfway house in the District of Columbia, after learning a that two residents died there in the last three days. Norton also called on BOP to release as many residents from Hope Village as possible and as would be safe for the residents and the community.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called on Congress to repeal the rider that prohibits the District of Columbia from spending its local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana in the next coronavirus response bill. At a time of increased expenses and decreased revenue, the District should be able to generate tax revenue from recreational marijuana, just like the 10 states that have commercialized recreational marijuana.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today received a response from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to her letter expressing concerns that inmates were possibly not well protected against the coronavirus while making appearances at the District of Columbia. Superior Court. In its response, USMS assured Norton that inmates are screened before being brought to court, that inmates and USMS staff have adequate supplies to e protect them from the coronavirus, that inmate restraints were not being used more than once before being cleaned and that staff are practicing social distancing.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the letter she sent today to Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) Director Leonard R. Olijar asking him to allow BEP police officers hazard pay while working during the coronavirus. Norton sent her letter after receiving notification from the Fraternal Order of Police that BEP officers were not receiving hazard pay.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement thanking 25 senators, including Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thomas Carper (D-DE), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), for sending a letter today to Senate leadership asking that the District of Columbia retroactively receive full coronavirus relief funding. The letter was led by Senators Van Hollen and Carper.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has assured her that Hope Village, the men’s halfway house in the District of Columbia, has enough supplies for all residents and is clean and sanitary. BOP also informed Norton that, as she requested, subsistence fees, which can be up to 25% of a resident’s wages, have been waived at halfway houses nationwide. BOP also said that there are currently no known COVID-19 cases at Hope Village.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), in a conference call today with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials, received assurances that veterans and surviving family members who miss deadlines related to Intent to File (ITF) submissions for their disability or pension benefits will still be able to file after the deadlines, in light of coronavirus. Norton received the assurances in response to her letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie asking him to indefinitely suspend all timely filing deadlines related to ITF submissions for these critical benefits.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she sent a letter to the Acting Director of the National Park Service (NPS), David Vela, asking for answers on measures NPS is taking to protect the safety of U.S. Park Police officers during the coronavirus. Last week, Norton sent a letter to Acting Director Vela asking for answers on measures NPS is taking to protect the safety of NPS staff who work in parks that remain open.