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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who yesterday met with the National Zoo, the National Park Service (NPS), and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) to discuss the Zoo Loop Trail’s limited hours, today said she was disappointed the zoo rejected her request to extend the hours. Norton said she will explore legislative options to extend the hours and continue to have discussions with the zoo, NPS, DDOT, and the community on options for extending the hours.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) wrote the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) requesting permanent removal of the name Francis Griffith Newlands in Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park located both in D.C. and Maryland. The lawmakers have introduced legislation in the House and Senate, respectively, to remove the name.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Quiet Skies Caucus (QSC) Co-Chairs Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Vice Chairs Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Congressman Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) led QSC members in sending a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg expressing disappointment that candidates from groups that represent communities living under NextGen corridors appeared to be ineligible to apply to fill current and future vacancies on the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC). The members requested that, if correct, the solicitation for nomination be reopened and that such individuals be made eligible.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Congresswoman Brenda L. Lawrence (D-MI), Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) received a response from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to their letter expressing concerns about the gender-based disparities in traffic injuries and fatalities that are in part attributable to the absence of accurate female crash test dummies in the  motor vehicle crash test system. NHTSA informed the Members that they have accelerated the development of new, more advanced female crash test dummies for use in the New Car Assessment Program and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, with the goal of issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking in 2023.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she will meet with the National Zoo and the National Park Service (NPS) to explore options to extend the hours of the Zoo Loop Trail in Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia. The trail, which recently reopened to the public, is only open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These limited hours prompted Norton to contact the zoo and NPS for an explanation. The zoo explained that the trail hours are tied to the zoo’s hours of operations to maintain accreditation with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, since the trail runs through the zoo’s secondary animal containment perimeter.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a statement on the explanation she received from the National Zoo and the National Park Service (NPS) on the limited hours of the Zoo Loop Trail in Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia. The Zoo Loop Trail, which reopened to the public two weekends ago, is only open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These limited hours prompted Norton to contact the zoo and NPS for an explanation. The zoo explained that the trail hours are tied to the zoo’s hours of operations to maintain accreditation with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, since the trail runs through the zoo’s secondary animal containment perimeter. NPS stated that all other trails in Rock Creek Park remain open from sunrise to sunset.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today condemned a bill introduced by Representative August Pfluger (R-TX) that would prohibit District of Columbia residents who are not citizens from voting in local D.C. elections. Last week, the D.C. Council passed a bill that would allow D.C. residents who are not citizens to vote in local elections by a vote of 12-1. The Council must vote on the bill a second time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) praised President Biden for issuing pardons today for federal and District of Columbia offenses for simple possession of marijuana, but called on the Biden administration to end its support for the rider that prohibits D.C. from spending its local funds on commercializing recreational marijuana and to endorse giving D.C. the authority to grant clemency for crimes under D.C. laws. Currently, the president exercises the authority to grant clemency for D.C. crimes, though, until today, it had almost never been used in at least decades.