Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today hailed the signing by the President of the D.C. Omnibus Authorization Act, which, among other vital provisions, writes into law mid-year budget autonomy for the District.  The Congresswoman had negotiated mid-year budget autonomy on a temporary basis beginning this year, but now it will be permanent.  Mid-year budget autonomy allows the city to spend local funds without coming back to Congress for approval through the mid-year supplemental appropriations process.  “This provision is the first significant structural change expanding home rule since the Home Rule Act was passed in 1973 and takes us close to full budget autonomy, my first priority for the coming term,” Norton said.  “By making what I have negotiated with appropriators permanent law, Congress has removed a heavy burden that the city suffered because the local government was unable to carry on normal business, like spending local revenue already in the bank, without coming to Congress.”  The Omnibus Act, sponsored by Norton and Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA), also includes a collection of provisions that have been approved or passed by the District, but must come to Congress before becoming law.  The bill gives the District greater control and use of reserve funds, a critical change Norton sought because of the build-up of billions of dollars of reserves, well beyond that of any jurisdiction in the nation, that the District could spend on vital matters.  The Act grants the change in the fiscal year that the public schools requested; allows the D.C. libraries to accept gifts (currently only the Mayor's office can receive them); and implements enhanced medical benefits for court employees.  It requires a metered taxicab system, but also contains an alternative provision that Norton negotiated to preserve Home Rule, allowing the Mayor to opt-out of meters within a year.  Norton said the District’s work on testing meters was already underway, nonetheless, got the opt-out provision when the Senate grew tired of annual arguments from the District that it was moving on its own.          

The House gave final approval to the Omnibus Authorization bill before recessing last month and the Senate, earlier this session.