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Press Releases

Norton Releases Floor Statement Before Today’s Historic House Vote on D.C. Statehood

Apr 22, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the House is voting on Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's D.C. statehood bill, H.R. 51, paving the way to finally receive voting representation in Congress for the residents of the nation's capital. With 216 cosponsors, the bill is virtually assured House passage, which will mark the second time in history a chamber has passed the D.C. statehood bill. The first was when the House passed the bill last year.

House Passes D.C. Statehood Bill in Historic Vote

Apr 22, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) celebrated House passage today of her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51). The bill passed by a vote of 216-208. The bill had 216 cosponsors, virtually guaranteeing passage. This was only the second time a chamber of Congress had ever passed the D.C. statehood bill. The first was when the House passed the bill last June.

Norton Announces Timing of Tomorrow’s House Debate and Vote on D.C. Statehood Bill

Apr 21, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tomorrow, the House will debate and vote on Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's (D-DC) District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51), paving the way for D.C. residents to finally receive voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. With 216 cosponsors, the bill is virtually assured House passage, which will mark the second time in history a chamber has passed the D.C. statehood bill. The first was when the House passed the bill last year.

Norton Releases Her Remarks from Today’s Press Conference Ahead of Tomorrow’s House Vote on D.C. Statehood Bill

Apr 21, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from today’s press conference ahead of tomorrow’s historic House vote on her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51). Norton joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), and Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) at the press conference. With 216 cosponsors, the bill is virtually assured House passage tomorrow, which will mark the second time in history a chamber has passed the D.C. statehood bill. The first was when the House passed the bill last year.

House Passes Rule for D.C. Statehood Bill, Norton Speaks on House Floor

Apr 20, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) spoke on the House floor today during the debate on the rule that will govern Thursday’s House floor debate on her D.C. statehood bill (H.R. 51). The bill has 216 cosponsors, virtually guaranteeing House passage on Thursday. This will be only the second time a chamber of Congress has passed the D.C. statehood bill. Last year, the House passed the bill for the first time.

Norton Releases Her Rules Committee Testimony on D.C. Statehood Bill

Apr 20, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) testified this morning at the House Rules Committee hearing on her D.C. statehood bill today on behalf of House Democrats. Immediately after the hearing, the committee will vote on a rule that will govern consideration of the bill when it comes to the House floor later this week. The general public can watch the hearing live at rules.house.gov.

Norton Thanks Biden Administration for Issuing Statement of Administration Policy Strongly Supporting D.C. Statehood Bill

Apr 20, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) thanked the Biden administration for issuing today a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) strongly supporting her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51). President Biden has long supported D.C. statehood, but the SAP is the administration’s formal position on H.R. 51. The House will vote on H.R. 51 on Thursday, when it is expected to pass.

Norton Says Army Report on Use of D.C. National Guard Helicopters Against D.C. Residents Latest Reason D.C. Should Have Control Over D.C. National Guard

Apr 16, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that the report released this week by the Army finding that the District of Columbia National Guard had a “lack of understanding” about the “employment and command” of the helicopters used to disperse protesters in the District last June after the death of George Floyd is the latest evidence that the District needs control over the D.C. National Guard.

Norton to Testify at Rules Committee Hearing on D.C. Statehood Bill on Behalf of Democrats, D.C. Residents Ahead of Floor Vote Next Week

Apr 16, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she will testify on Tuesday on behalf of House Democrats at the Committee on Rules hearing on her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51). Members of Congress will be the only witnesses at the hearing. Immediately after the hearing, the committee will vote on a rule that will govern consideration of the bill on the House floor next week. The hearing, which will consider three bills, including H.R. 51, will begin at 9:30 a.m. and can be watched at rules.house.gov.

Ahead of D.C. Statehood Vote Next Week, Norton Introduces Resolutions Recognizing D.C. Emancipation Day, Pearl Attempted Slave Escape

Apr 16, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reintroduced her resolutions commemorating Emancipation Day and the attempted slave escape that occurred in D.C. on April 16, 1848, on the ship the Pearl. Emancipation Day, which is today, is an official holiday in D.C. honoring the day in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln freed the 3,100 slaves in the District, nine months ahead of the Emancipation Proclamation.