Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she will introduce a bill to combat mail theft by clarifying the authority of U.S. Postal Police Officers (PPOs) to protect mail, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) property, and USPS employees. “Mail theft, particularly of checks, which is especially problematic, has been increasing in the District of Columbia and throughout the country recently,” Norton said. “One of the most effective ways we can protect mail, postal property, and postal employees is to clarify the authority of U.S. Postal Police Officers (PPOs). My bill would make it clear that PPOs have the authority to protect mail, postal property, and postal employees wherever they are located.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated House passage of her provisions authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct studies on a secondary drinking water source and additional drinking water storage capability for the District of Columbia, swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers in D.C., and flooding in the Federal Triangle area of D.C. The provisions were included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the Veterans Legal Support Act, which would allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide funding to law school clinical programs that provide pro bono legal services to veterans, including assistance with disability claims and foreclosures. There are at least 22 law schools that have clinics devoted to veterans’ legal needs, including the William & Mary Law School Veterans Benefits Clinic, which serves as a national model for this idea and was the first recipient of a “best practice” certification from the VA. There are many other law schools, such as the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law, that are interested in starting their own VA-certified clinics.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will highlight Republican efforts to overturn the District of Columbia’s gun violence prevention laws at tomorrow’s Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on the nation’s gun violence epidemic. Without statehood, a future Republican Congress could overturn D.C.’s gun violence prevention laws. In previous Congresses, Republicans have introduced legislation to eliminate D.C.’s gun violence prevention laws, including its ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and its universal background checks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, announced the subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine road safety for all users on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. The hearing, titled “Addressing the Roadway Safety Crisis: Building Safer Roads for All,” will include a representative from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association as a witness. The hearing will be livestreamed on the committee’s website.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the House will debate the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA) tomorrow, which contains her provisions authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct studies on a secondary drinking water source and additional drinking water storage capability for the District of Columbia, swimming in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers in D.C., and flooding in the Federal Triangle area of D.C. The House will vote on the bill as soon as tomorrow.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released the response she received from the United States Postal Service (USPS) to her May 16, 2022, letter about the increase in mail theft, particularly of checks, through the use of stolen universal keys. In its response, USPS acknowledged an increase in mail theft in the District of Columbia area, and said postal officials have recently made security modifications and infrastructure upgrades to prevent mail theft and are prioritizing investigations into stolen checks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during National Gun Violence Awareness Month, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) warned that, without statehood, a future Republican Congress could overturn the District of Columbia’s gun violence prevention laws. In previous Congresses, Republicans have introduced legislation to eliminate D.C.’s gun violence prevention laws, including its ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and its universal background checks.