Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During Pride Month, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced her District of Columbia Non-Discrimination Home Rule Act to end the unique applicability of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (RFRA) to the District of Columbia. RFRA, which provides more protection for religious exercise than the First Amendment requires, applies to the federal government, the D.C. government and the territorial governments, but not to state governments. Norton's bill would ensure the District is treated the same as states, while defending LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights in D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of today’s Rules Committee consideration of three anti-D.C. home rule bills, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the bills’ advancement is another example of paternalistic, undemocratic incursions by Congress on the democratically expressed will of more than 700,000 D.C. residents. The Committee will consider a bill introduced by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) to prohibit D.C. residents who are not citizens from voting in local D.C. elections, a bill introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) that would repeal parts of D.C.’s 2022 local police accountability and transparency law, and a bill introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) to nullify locally-enacted D.C. laws, policies and practices regarding D.C. exchanging information about the citizenship and immigration status of individuals. Higgins’ bill 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) said in today’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (COGR) hearing on artificial intelligence that chatbots are no replacement for federal workers, as demonstrated by the current state of the Social Security Administration, where senior citizens now face 98-minute wait times to speak with customer service.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that President Donald Trump's fiscal year (FY) 2026 District of Columbia budget is an affront to D.C. and that she will work to defeat its most harmful provisions, as she has in the past. The FY 26 budget would zero out funding for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG) and impose anti-home-rule riders, including prohibiting D.C. from spending its local funds on abortion and recreational marijuana commercialization. It also proposes reduced spending on certain federal programs that benefit the District.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced her Federal Gift Shop Tax Act today to allow state and local governments to impose a sales tax on purchases at gift shops located on federal property.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation passed their Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act last week without amendments. The bill is co-lead by Congressman Mike Ezell (R-MS) and Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE). This bipartisan bill would equip the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with the necessary tools to protect consumers from fraud perpetrated by scammers in the interstate transportation of household goods. The bill was written to address a growing type of fraud involving entities that charge an up-front fee, pack and hold consumers’ household goods, then demand more funds to deliver or release the items. The companies involved have launched websites with fake 5-star reviews, and when negative reviews become prevalent, the scammers simply close the existing companies and open new ones, repeating the original scheme under a new FMCSA license. Norton and Ezell introduced the House companion bill in January.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a resolution in advance of Memorial Day recognizing District of Columbia servicemembers and veterans. The resolution calls for statehood for D.C. to ensure these servicemembers and veterans – and all District residents – enjoy the full rights of American democracy. D.C. residents have served in every war since the Revolutionary War, all without the full and equal rights that can come only with statehood.