Today I introduced legislation to ensure DC has full access to federal wildlife conservation funds.   The District has more parkland per capita than any U.S. city, and our lands deserve the same protections and support afforded to states.

Ramadan Kareem to all who observe. As this holy month begins, I’m wishing you and your loved ones peace, reflection, and an easy fast.

DC mourns the passing of former DC Shadow Senator Rev. Jesse Jackson, a tireless fighter for civil rights and #DCStatehood.   Rev. Jackson believed in the power of ordinary people to bend history towards justice. His legacy challenges us to continue the work.

Although Frederick Douglass didn’t know his actual birthday, he celebrated it on Valentine’s Day.     My #DCStatehood bill would name our 51st state "Washington, Douglass Commonwealth" to honor his work on equal rights for DC.

If Congress believes in democracy, it must trust the people of the District to manage their own affairs. Interference in locally enacted DC laws only strengthens the case for #DCStatehood.

Too often, “State” goes undefined in federal law — or excludes DC — leaving the District out of key decisions and funding.   I’m pleased T&I adopted my amendment today ensuring DC can participate in critical decisions with GSA involving public buildings.

As the Senate votes today on a resolution to repeal a local DC tax law, Congress is once again moving to overturn legislation duly passed by DC’s elected officials.   This isn’t oversight — it’s overreach.

This week the Senate will vote on a House-passed resolution to repeal a DC tax law.   DC’s CFO warned it would force months-long delays in tax filing and require residents to refile returns.   This isn’t oversight or governance. It’s administrative and fiscal sabotage of the nation’s capital.

I worked for civil rights leader Bayard Rustin when he served as organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.   His leadership deserves special recognition, so @RepRitchie and I reintroduced our bill to create a stamp commemorating his life during Black History Month.

Fifty years ago, President Ford recognized February to honor Black history. Let’s take this month to lift up pioneers like Carter G. Woodson, William Syphax, Anna Julia Cooper, and so many more.

I secured over $10M in funding for projects throughout DC in the final FY 26 THUD bill signed into law and nearly $15M overall in FY 26.   These investments will improve our parks, public safety, and infrastructure throughout the District.

I’m pleased to join the Federal Workforce Caucus to stand with the federal workers who keep our government running — many of whom live in DC.   A strong, merit-based civil service, free from political interference, is essential to public trust and effective government.

I’m appalled by the arrogance of House Republicans, who stood on the floor today and claimed to know how to govern DC better than its locally elected leaders, then voted to overturn a local DC law.   I’ll continue to fight this in the Senate.

Today’s cuts at WaPo are a blow to local transparency and accountability in the nation’s capital.   A strong local press is essential to democracy, especially in DC, where residents already face federal overreach, as evidenced by the resolution the House is voting on today.

The resolution the House is voting on today to repeal a local DC law isn’t governance or oversight.   It’s deliberate sabotage, and the damage will be severe and intentional.   I released my remarks ahead of speaking on the House floor opposing the resolution.

Thank you to Leader Jeffries for whipping members to vote against the anti-DC resolution on the House floor today.   This Republican effort is nothing short of deliberate sabotage of DC, in the middle of its tax filing season.

This resolution is not about oversight or fiscal discipline. It’s about power – who wields it, and who is denied it.   www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

At the start of Black History Month, I introduced a bill to posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to the first 13 Black officers in the U.S. Navy.   These men served their country honorably, including overseeing all-Black units and the training of Black recruits.

The disapproval resolution the House will vote on tomorrow is nothing short of deliberate administrative and fiscal sabotage of the nation’s capital.   I released my remarks ahead of this morning’s press conference with Senator Van Hollen and DC Vote.

New live stream link here: bit.ly/4qaT41Z

Today at 11:00 AM, I’ll speak at a press conference with Senator Van Hollen, DC Vote, and Free DC opposing the House resolution to overturn a locally enacted DC tax law. The House is expected to debate and vote on the resolution tomorrow. Watch live: bit.ly/4a60YUw

Federal workers and contractors – and their jobs – should never be used as leverage in political standoffs.   I'm proud to co-lead a bill to ensure workers are paid and RIFs prohibited during a shutdown in FY 26.   Federal workers shouldn't bear the cost of Congress's failures.

Today at 4:00, the House Rules Committee will consider a resolution that would overturn portions of DC’s tax law – in the middle of tax filing season.   This isn’t governance or oversight. It’s deliberate sabotage, and the damage would be severe and intentional.

As Minnesota’s Chief Federal Judge held, “ICE is not a law unto itself.”   I strongly support an independent investigation into the unjustified killing of Renee Good and voted in committee to subpoena camera footage and related records.   We must have accountability.

I strongly oppose any funding for immigration agencies within DHS until I see proof of meaningful and significant reforms to the current violent, inhumane, and immoral enforcement practices.

Now that the news is out, I’m getting back to work for DC.   Given the Anacostia Community Museum’s importance to DC and the region, I’m pleased to share that the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill, signed Jan. 23, includes over $3 million in funding for this local and national treasure.

With fire in my soul and the facts on my side, I’ve raised hell about the injustice of denying DC the same rights given to residents of the states for 35 years.   Now, with pride in our accomplishments, gratitude to DC, and confidence in the future, I announced I'll retire at the end of this term.

Ahead of this weekend's projected snowstorm, I remind DC residents that I get a provision passed each year to allow sledding on Capitol Hill.   The West Front of the Capitol is one of the best sledding hills in DC, and USCP confirmed this morning it'll be open.

Barring commercial filming at the Capitol, one of the world's most recognizable symbols of democracy, is inconsistent with our country's values.   I introduced my bill to allow commercial filming throughout the grounds of the Capitol complex when the House and Senate are out of session.

I'm pleased the Senate passed funding for two of the community projects I championed:   ✅$1.8m for water infrastructure projects ✅$1m for research equipment at Georgetown   I'll continue to secure federal investments for DC.

Although I was able to get 17/20 anti-DC provisions stripped from the DC approps bill the House passed and secure a historic DCTAG increase, the remaining riders once again impose policies on 700K DC residents without their consent.   The ultimate remedy is #DCStatehood.

Although I’m disappointed that two anti-DC riders remain in the DC appropriations bill passed by Rules yesterday, I’m encouraged that 17 harmful riders were stripped from the House’s original text.   I'll keep fighting to protect DC’s right to govern itself.

The House Rules Committee will consider the DC appropriations bill today ahead of tomorrow's expected House vote.   Watch the hearing at 2:00 pm: bit.ly/4qSeLoy

As neither federal nor DC gov entities, the local DC Courts and Public Defender Service sometimes fall through the regulatory cracks.   I introduced a bill to explicitly apply a local anti-discrimination law to the DC Courts and PDS.

Federal law enforcement should protect communities, not terrorize them.   DC has seen its own troubling ICE actions that jeopardize trust and public safety.   Federal agencies must protect public safety, respect civil rights, and be held accountable when they don’t.

I introduced the District of Columbia Transportation Funding Equality Act to ensure DC is treated fairly in federal infrastructure funding.   The bill would make DC eligible for funding under four specific federal transportation and infrastructure programs, the same way states are.

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the January 6th insurrection. While the Trump administration rewrites history over what transpired, our wounds from what happened that day are as fresh as ever.

After learning that a DC resident had been robbed in the parking lot of a postal facility, I introduced a bill to require security cameras at all USPS facilities. These cameras can deter crime and assist in arrests and prosecutions. More: bit.ly/4pp7Hi3

Merry Christmas, DC. May this season bring you time with loved ones, renewed hope, and the strength of community that makes DC a special place.

Yesterday I introduced my bill to allow DC to set the pay for its Chief Financial Officer.   If every municipality in the nation sets the pay for their local officials, so should DC.

Today, I introduced a bill to expand the reasons a newly separated federal employee can withdraw from their TSP account without a penalty. Nobody should experience financial hardship due to changes in their life.

Happy Chanukkah to everyone in D.C. and around the world who celebrates! May this year’s Festival of Lights bring you joy and happiness.

The House Committee on Natural Resources just passed the Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Act, an anti-D.C. autonomy bill that allows the federal government to meddle in D.C.’s local affairs. I will continue to protect D.C. and defeat this bill.

Congratulations to Shivaj Raman from St. Alban's school, whose app Divendo was chosen to represent DC in this year's Congressional App Challenge!
 Divendo is a personal finance app for younger users to teach them about investing and money management.

Marijuana is legal in 40 states, yet people in federally funded housing can still be evicted for using it.   I introduced a bill with Senator Booker to fix this and align federal law with the 90% of Americans who support legal medical marijuana.

At this morning’s Aviation hearing, I’ll press the FAA Administrator on whether the FAA supports an NDAA provision allowing helicopters near DCA to fly without transponders. 
The helicopter involved in January’s deadly crash near DCA was flying with its transponder off.   Watch at 10:

I was pleased to join my colleagues in calling for full funding of the Federal Defender Services program.    This program is vital to ensuring protections guaranteed by the Constitution, including the Sixth Amendment.

As increasingly more U.S. citizens have been unlawfully detained by ICE, I used today’s Oversight Democratic shadow hearing to raise concern about these unconstitutional violations. As a constitutional lawyer and lifelong civil rights advocate, I am always working to protect the constitution.

I introduced my bill to designate certain areas in DC as Empowerment Zones which would provide tax incentives for businesses and individuals to invest in these neighborhoods. This bill is critical due to the Trump administration’s mass firings of federal employees and budget cuts.

The DC area hosts the largest Uyghur community in the US, yet their loved ones in China continue to face unlawful detention and forced labor. I joined my colleagues in urging Sec. Noem to ensure robust DHS enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.