Press Releases

U.S. Representative Eleanor Norton was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives by the House Speaker on January 3rd, 2021.

The First Session of the 117th U.S. Congress will commence on January 3rd, 2021 in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that she introduced the District of Columbia statehood bill at the opening of the 117th Congress today with 202 original cosponsors, shattering the previous record of 155 original cosponsors of the bill, which she set in 2019. The House passed the bill overwhelmingly in June, which was the first time either chamber of Congress had passed the bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that the proposed rules for the House in the 117th Congress, which starts tomorrow, include changes that she sought for the District of Columbia. The changes will give the D.C. mayor House floor privileges, which governors of the states and territories already have, and remove a pre-home-rule rule that set aside special days for D.C. legislation on the House floor. Even though this rule was no longer being used, Norton objected to having special days set aside for D.C. legislation instead of having D.C. be treated in the same way as states. The House will vote on the rules on January 4, 2020. Norton thanked Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) for making these changes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today expressed her deepest condolences to her friend and regional partner Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and his wife, Sarah, upon hearing of the loss of their son, Tommy. Norton said that words are insufficient to express her deep sorrow for the unfathomable loss of their promising son.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) led a letter this week urging President-elect Joe Biden to appoint Federal Aviation Administration officials who will use creative approaches to solve noise problems from aircraft.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) listed the D.C. victories in the final fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, which the House and Senate are expected to approve soon. Among other wins, Norton was able to secure $40 million for the District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG), $8 million for D.C. Water, and $7 million to begin work on a new Howard University Hospital. In addition, Norton was able to get language recognizing Union Station’s importance as a multimodal transportation hub for the National Capital Region and instructing the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to continue working with D.C. on the station’s expansion, and directing Capitol Police not to enforce the law prohibiting sledding on Capitol Hill. Norton also got the Long Bridge Act of 2020 included.