Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As ranking member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that it conduct a comprehensive study on the causes and effects of railway noise pollution. Additionally, Norton asked GAO to propose ways that the federal government can reduce the negative effects of railway noise pollution. The request is similar to a bill Norton reintroduced in April to require the GAO to submit recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the District of Columbia Zoning Commission Home Rule Act today, which would give D.C. the authority to appoint all members of the D.C. Zoning Commission (Commission). Even though the Commission has no authority over federal property, it currently consists of two federal officials (the Architect of the Capitol and the Director of the National Park Service), in addition to three members appointed by D.C.’s mayor with the D.C. Council’s approval. Despite the D.C. Home Rule Act, which gave D.C. authority over local matters, 40 percent of the members of the Commission are federal officials who are unaccountable to nearly 700,000 D.C. residents.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the District of Columbia Zoning Commission Home Rule Act today, which would give D.C. the authority to appoint all members of the D.C. Zoning Commission (Commission). Even though the Commission has no authority over federal property, it currently consists of two federal officials (the Architect of the Capitol and the Director of the National Park Service), in addition to three members appointed by D.C.’s mayor with the D.C. Council’s approval. Despite the D.C. Home Rule Act, which gave D.C. authority over local matters, 40 percent of the members of the Commission are federal officials who are unaccountable to nearly 700,000 D.C. residents.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of Flag Day, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to add the Mayor of the District of Columbia to the list of principals for whom the president shall order the nation’s flag be flown at half-staff. Current law states that the president shall order the flag to be flown at half-staff “upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory.” Norton said D.C. mayors, who perform many of the same functions as state and territorial governors, clearly qualify as principals and should receive equal recognition.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a statement regarding President Trump's military parade in the District of Columbia, scheduled for tomorrow. Each year, Norton secures a federal payment to the District to cover emergency planning and security costs of large-scale events and demonstrations, including the presidential inauguration.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement after the House passed its third anti-D.C. home rule bill this week. The bill, introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), would nullify locally-enacted D.C. laws, policies and practices regarding D.C. exchanging information about the citizenship and immigration status of individuals. It would require D.C. to comply with requests by the Department of Homeland Security regarding immigration detainers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from the House floor where she spoke today in opposition to the District of Columbia Federal Immigration Compliance Act of 2025, an anti-home rule bill the House will vote on tomorrow. The bill would nullify locally enacted D.C. laws, policies and practices regarding D.C. exchanging information about the citizenship and immigration status of individuals and would require D.C. to comply with requests by the Department of Homeland Security regarding immigration detainers.