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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that her bill allowing the National Children’s Museum (NCM), a congressionally designated museum, to remain in the federally owned Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in the District of Columbia without charge passed today in the House by voice vote, which will enhance its chances in the Senate. Norton says that the passage will allow the nation’s first combination children’s museum and science center to remain centrally located in the nation’s capital for the benefit of D.C. residents and the many visitors who come annually to the nation’s capital. Norton introduced the bill before the coronavirus pandemic but said the pandemic made the bill’s passage even more urgent. Though the museum remains temporarily closed because of the pandemic, it has continued to provide valuable educational resources virtually.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today vowed to overcome the Senate’s fiscal year 2021 (FY21) District of Columbia Appropriations bill, released this week, which would reduce funding for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG) by $30 million, from $40 million to just $10 million. Despite prior attempts by Republicans to cut DCTAG funding, Norton has been able to get $40 million for DCTAG each of the last four years, even with Republican control of Congress, enough to benefit thousands of D.C. students, and she anticipates similar success this year. The Senate bill also attacks D.C. home rule with riders that would prohibit D.C. from spending its local funds on abortions for low-income women and on commercializing recreational marijuana. It also would appropriate D.C.’s local funds, preempting the Local Budget Autonomy Act. While the bill contains some provisions Norton fought to get for D.C., including $8 million for D.C. Water, $3 million for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, and an exemption for D.C. should the federal government temporarily shut down, Norton vowed to overcome the provision reducing funding for DCTAG, as she has done in the past.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to extend the comment period on a proposed rule restricting public access to the Washington Channel in the District of Columbia and to hold a public meeting on the proposed rule during the extended comment period. Norton’s Southwest Waterfront development legislation has spurred many new forms of travel and recreation in the District. The current comment period for the proposed rule is scheduled to end on November 12th. In her letter, Norton noted that D.C. residents have significant concerns with the proposed rule and that the current deadline does not allow for adequate time for public input.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced her annual Veterans Day resolution honoring the more than 30,000 D.C. veterans and their families, who served their country without voting representation in Congress or complete home rule. The resolution condemns the denial of voting rights in Congress and full home rule for D.C. veterans and their families and calls for statehood for the District to make D.C. veterans and other residents equal.