Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter to House Democrats asking for their support in her run for chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) in the 118th Congress and outlining her priorities for the committee. Norton is the most senior member of T&I after retiring Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of its largest subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, and has served on all of its subcommittees.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), and Representative Anthony Brown (D-MD) sent a letter urging the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to give the District of Columbia mayor control over the D.C. National Guard in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA). The governors of states and territories control their National Guards, while the president controls the D.C. National Guard. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– After learning today that Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), will not run for re-election, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she will run for chair or ranking member of T&I for the 118th Congress. Norton is currently the most senior Democrat on the committee after DeFazio and chair of its largest subcommittee, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Norton has served as chair and ranking member of another of T&I’s subcommittees and has served on almost all the other T&I subcommittees.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that the Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR) will mark up her District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at 10 a.m. The bill would allow judicial appointments to the local District of Columbia courts to take effect after a 30-day congressional review period, unless a joint resolution disapproving an appointment is enacted into law during that period. Currently, nominees to the local D.C. courts require Senate confirmation. The bill would make the congressional review process for appointments the same as the one currently used for legislation passed by the D.C. Council. The markup, which was rescheduled due to reasons unrelated to the bill, can be viewed on COR’s website.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the possibility of a federal government shutdown on Friday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reminded District of Columbia residents that a provision she got included in the fiscal year (FY) 2021 D.C. Appropriations bill exempts the D.C. government from a federal government shutdown in the current fiscal year (FY 2022). Norton has gotten the D.C. government exempted from federal government shutdowns each year since FY 2015. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that she will introduce a resolution congratulating the Washington Spirit on winning National Women’s Soccer League championship. The team overcame adversity off the field this season, including its head coach being fired after a harassment investigation. The championship is the first for the team since it was founded in 2012.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she will introduce a bill this week to repeal the authority of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) over the District of Columbia. GAO, a federal agency that conducts investigations and audits for Congress, has the same authority over D.C. that is has over federal agencies. GAO’s authorizing statute defines D.C. as a federal agency. In addition, GAO’s authorizing statute and the D.C. Home Rule Act require GAO to engage in specific types of oversight of D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the Build Back Better Act, which the House passed today, contains historic victories for the District of Columbia. The landmark legislation creates good-paying jobs, invests in affordable housing, cuts middle-class taxes, and lowers the costs of health care, child care and family care – all fully paid for by requiring the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations to pay their fair share. In particular, the bill empowers Medicare to negotiate lower drug costs for seniors, reduces the cost of child care, addresses the climate crisis, lowers health care costs, and increases the cap on the state and local tax deduction.