The release of the FY 27 DC appropriations bill text that includes unacceptable anti-home rule riders today, on Emancipation Day, is a cruel irony.   House Republicans have chosen today to remind us that Congress can still impose its own will on DC without the consent of its 700K residents.

DC residents were the first to be freed from slavery, 9 months before the Emancipation Proclamation, yet we are the last to continue facing the injustice that sparked America's founding: Taxation without representation.   It is time to end this historic wrong. #DCStatehood #EmancipationDay

The Potomac River was named America's most endangered river for 2026. The Potomac is DC’s sole drinking water source, unlike other metro areas which have a backup. Congress must increase investments in wastewater infrastructure & identify a secondary water source for the nation’s capital.

Inspectors general play a key role in detecting and preventing the fraud Republicans claim they want to root out, yet the Trump admin has fired 19 IGs. I'll highlight this glaring inconsistency in today's Gov Ops Subcommittee hearing, happening now.   bit.ly/4sD9CRH

I introduced my Emancipation Day resolution to honor the 3,100 enslaved people freed in DC 9 months before the Emancipation Proclamation.   I'll continue to defend DC from a federal legislature that actively sabotages it while denying DC autonomy over its own local budget.

Black women die in childbirth at 2-3x the rate of white women, yet 80% of maternal deaths in the US are preventable.   I'm proud to cosponsor a resolution led by Rep. Alma Adams, Rep. Lauren Underwood + Senator Cory Booker designating April 11-17 Black Maternal Health Week.

A safe water supply is vital to the environment, National Security, and the stability of daily operations in DC, yet the President's budget proposes $0 to fund DC Waters’ Clean Rivers Project.   I secured $8m in funding the last time he tried this, and I'll fight to fund this program again in FY27.

As the federal tax filing deadline nears, I remind the public that DC residents pay more federal taxes per capita than any state in the nation and more overall than 26 states – while being denied voting representation in Congress.   This travesty must end. Pass #DCStatehood.

The President's FY ‘27 budget proposal would zero out funding for DCTAG, which makes up the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for DC residents attending state schools.   There's no justification for attacking DC students' futures. I'll fight to protect DCTAG.

I'm a proud graduate of Dunbar High School in DC, the nation's first public high school for African Americans.   Today I introduced my bill to mint coins in honor of its namesake, Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the most influential African American poets in our nation.

I introduced a bill to require health insurers to reimburse custodial parents directly for a child’s medical expenses when a court orders the non-custodial parent to provide the child’s health insurance.   Parents shouldn’t have to fight for reimbursement they’re entitled to.

As the first woman to chair the EEOC and the attorney who represented a group of underpaid women who reported for Newsweek which you might’ve heard about from a series called “Good Girls Revolt,” I've fought my entire career for fair workplaces.   Pay equality is worth fighting for.   #EqualPayDay

At this morning’s Transportation & Infrastructure Committee markup of the ALERT Act, I’ll support strengthening ADS-B transponder requirements — tech that shares GPS data & aircraft trajectories.   Strengthening these safeguards saves lives.   Watch at 10: bit.ly/4dc6Q1E

Today the House passed a bill to create a federal Commission to dictate policies for DC residents, who lack voting representation in Congress and are already subject to Congress repealing their local laws.   I’ll fight this bill’s passage in the Senate.   #FreeDC

Soon:

Congratulations to Everett Goldstein and Siddharth Kravetz from Duke Ellington and to Joe Book and Sukey Hayden from DC International School, whose short films won an honorable mention in C-SPAN's StudentCam contest!

Trump has called to repeal DC home rule, federalized DC Police, deployed troops + masked agents, terrorized immigrants, demolished the East Wing and closed the Kennedy Center in DC.
 The House bill up today will only embolden him.   I’ll speak against it at approx 2:00.   Watch: live.house.gov

Questions about citizenship, nationality, and immigration status on the Census discourage participation and result in undercounting, especially for minority communities.   For an accurate Census, everyone must be counted.   I introduced my bill to prohibit those questions.

House Republicans will vote this week on an undemocratic bill to create a Commission to dictate policies in DC, a District they don’t represent, while giving DC just 1/10 seats on it.   700K DC residents are worthy of self-government, a right I will always defend.

Removing the 15th St bike lanes, one of the most convenient ways to reach sites along the Mall, before the Cherry Blossom Festival and America 250 will make them less safe & accessible for residents and visitors. Rep. Don Beyer, Rep. Mike Thompson and I wrote NPS opposing the removal.

For the second time this Congress, the Oversight Com. advanced a paternalistic, undemocratic bill to overturn DC traffic safety laws.   PA uses these same tools, yet @RepScottPerry seeks to deny them to DC.   Congress should keep its #HandsOffDC.

Regardless of the implications of Rep. Perry and this Committee’s actions, 700,000 D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and Brown, are worthy and capable of governing themselves without input from members of Congress who do not represent DC. #FreeDC #HandsOffDC #DCStatehood

Rep. Perry has tried for the last five years to end DC’s use of the same automated traffic enforcement measures his state of PA employs, to the benefit of his own constituents.

Today’s Oversight markup is the third time this Congress that this Committee has considered a bill targeting these same two local DC laws, making this effort entirely redundant. Republicans are wasting valuable time for the third time this Congress to pursue the same objective.

Yet again, Republicans are wasting time they should be using to solve significant problems facing the American people to instead address their pet peeves, and while doing so, undemocratically repeal the duly enacted laws of DC. Watch: oversight.house.gov/markup/full-...

At today’s Gov Ops hearing, I’ll question the Postmaster General about reports that DC post offices — including Lamont Riggs (Ward 5), the Georgetown location on 31st St., and the Northwest Post Office in Chevy Chase — have been closed during business hours. Watch at 2:00: bit.ly/3PGKoDX

Requiring parents who are breastfeeding to serve on juries can create unnecessary barriers to nursing, which has well documented benefits, and add strain on families during a critical time in a child's development.   I introduced my bill to excuse people who are breastfeeding from jury service.

The DC National Guard shouldn’t be subject to structural changes imposed without the input of the people it exists to protect. The creation of a new brigade to purportedly address public safety underscores the need for Congress to pass my bill to give DC’s mayor control of the DCNG.   bit.ly/4rsqhql

Today is #WorldKidneyDay — and there's no better time to fight for the people who give the gift of life.   I'm proud to cosponsor the Living Donor Protection Act, which ensures living organ donors can't be denied insurance or lose job protections for donating a kidney.

Congratulations to DC Vote on their new Executive Director, Amy Vruno.   At a critical time for the District, her experience in organizing and coalition building will strengthen the fight for democracy and self-determination for DC’s 700,000 residents.   #DCStatehood

DC’s local courts handle matters that directly affect the District’s 700K residents, yet jurors in the Superior Court have sometimes been paid less than jurors in federal courts. I introduced my bill to ensure Superior Court jurors receive the same pay as those serving in federal court.

The State Department has set up a form for Americans seeking help evacuating from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or Qatar to request assistance.   Complete it here: bit.ly/4btbSVd

The GSA is planning to dispose of federal buildings in SW DC on a piecemeal, ad hoc basis, seemingly without a plan to maximize sale prices or drive economic growth.   I'll question the GSA Administrator at today's T&I subcommittee hearing shortly.   Watch: bit.ly/4co1Zdm

My Republican COGR colleagues have held two hearings on fraud in MN, yet remain silent about the most corrupt administration in history.   If they truly cared about accountability, they’d object to the firing of 17 inspectors general.   I released my full remarks from today’s hearing.

Reminder: Community Project Funding applications are due to my office by 5:00 pm on Friday, 3/6.

The US is one of just six UN members that has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, a treaty that would strengthen the legal foundation for combating gender discrimination.   Today, I introduced a resolution urging the Senate to ratify CEDAW.

Last year, I urged Secretary Rubio to secure the release of Tofiq Yagublu, the father of one of my constituents. Tofiq is on another hunger strike to protest the violation of his human rights. I will continue to push for his release.

I announced my office's Community Project Funding application process for Fiscal Year 2027.   Applications must be submitted to [email protected] by 5:00 pm on March 6, 2026 to be considered. Details: bit.ly/4b9TVMb

My office is now accepting art submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. The submission deadline is March 27th at 5 p.m. Please visit my website, norton.house.gov/services/art..., for further information. We look forward to seeing the amazing creations from our young constituents!

I patiently await statements from members who have introduced bills to alter DC’s criminal laws announcing they no longer intend to move their legislation forward.

Last night, Pres. Trump declared “DC is now one of the safest cities in the country” and “We have almost no crime anymore.”   If crime is at “the lowest level ever recorded,” as he says, there's no justification for Congress to continue meddling in DC’s local criminal laws.

Clean water isn't optional; it's fundamental to public health and safety.   The recent wastewater spill into the Potomac underscores the urgent need for a secondary drinking water source so residents and the federal gov aren't left at the mercy of a single, aging system.

I’ve called on Sec. Rubio to expel and bar reentry of any Azerbaijani officials involved in the violent attack on peaceful protestors outside the Waldorf Astoria in DC.   An assault on demonstrators is also an assault on the First Amendment. Those responsible must be held accountable.

Today I introduced legislation to guarantee that DC has full access to federal forestry research funds.   DC is home to the nation’s only urban land-grant university, UDC. The District’s schools deserve access to the same resources as 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.