Press Releases

Norton Asks Department of Defense to Clarify Policy on Department’s Use of Transponders on Aircraft in the National Capital Region

February 18, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After receiving recent reports that the Department of Defense (DoD) has asserted that ADS-B, a type of transponder used to communicate GPS data and project aircraft trajectory, is enabled on DoD helicopter flights in the National Capital Region, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to reconcile the reporting with contradictory information she received nearly two years ago.

Norton Celebrates Birthday of Frederick Douglass, D.C. Voting Rights Champion

February 14, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated what is recognized as famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass' 206th birthday. Like many enslaved, Douglass did not know his birthday, but he celebrated it on Valentine’s Day. Norton’s D.C. statehood bill would name the 51st state “Washington, Douglass Commonwealth” in honor of Douglass, a longtime D.C. resident committed to the advocacy of equal rights for the District.

Norton Statement on Trump Executive Order Attacking Federal Workforce

February 14, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order to cut federal employees, limit future federal hires to one for every four departing employees, and require federal agencies to work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The order says each agency will now have a "DOGE Team Lead.”

Norton Calls Out Bills to Repeal D.C. Home Rule Act, Says They Show Progress Toward D.C. Statehood

February 11, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said today that news that Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Congressman Andrew Ogles (R-TN) have introduced bills to repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act is a sign of the significant progress that D.C. has made toward statehood.

Norton Introduces Bill to Help Ensure D.C. is Deemed Eligible for Federal Funding Going to States, Counties and Cities

February 11, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced a bill to amend Title 1 of the United States Code to deem D.C. as both a state and political subdivision of a state – such as a city or county – for federal funding eligibility.

Norton Releases Remarks from American Federation of Government Employees Legislative Conference

February 10, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from today’s address to the American Federation of Government Employees Legislative Conference.

Norton’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery follow.

Remarks of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

AFGE Conference Remarks

February 10, 2025

Norton, Booker Reintroduce Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medal to the 200,000 African Americans Who Fought to Preserve the Union in the Civil War

February 10, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced their bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the approximately 200,000 African Americans who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War. The bill introduction coincides with Black History Month.

Norton Releases Remarks on Federal Employees from House Floor

February 6, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from yesterday’s speech on the House floor in defense of federal employees, who are suffering continued attacks from the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress.

“The Trump administration seems intent on dismantling much of the federal government, in violation of the Constitution, federal statutes and federal regulations,” Norton said. “The administration has relentlessly attacked federal employees, subjecting them to chaos and fear.

Norton Releases Remarks from Department of Labor Rally to Protest DOGE Interference

February 5, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from today’s rally to protest the Department of Governmental Efficiency interference at the Department of Labor.

Norton, Moran, Peters Introduce Bill to Remove Offensive “R-word” Slur from the D.C. Code

February 5, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Gary Peters (D-MI) today introduced the Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act, which would remove the term “retarded” from Title 11 of the District of Columbia Code and replace it with more appropriate and respectful terminology. Under the D.C. Home Rule Act, only Congress can amend Title 11 of the D.C. Code.