Norton Offers Help to New Members and Seeks Their Help on D.C.

December 8, 2008

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released her letter to new members of the House and Senate, giving them useful information on why they might want to live in one of "the world’s most beautiful and pleasant cities," on why they should vote for the D.C. Voting Rights Act, and other matters. The letter also discussed "the only city on the congressional agenda" and steps Norton is taking to remove anti home-rule matters. She wrote that, "although some District matters must now come to the floor under current law, District residents, like your own constituents, feel strongly that beyond the legally required essentials of these bills, local self-government must be respected, and residents object strongly to intrusions from Congress into D.C. law and local prerogatives."

Norton also offered help with locating public and private services and cautioned members about the rules concerning parking tickets. She previewed "Ask Me About Washington," which Norton sponsors annually in February with the D.C. Chamber of Congress to acquaint members with the city’s entertainment, sports attractions, tourist sites and other amenities.

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Norton’s full letter follows:

A GUIDE TO THE HELP AND INFORMATION

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE MAY NEED

IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Dear Colleague:

Congratulations! Your election to the House of Representatives or the Senate means that you will now spend more time in the District of Columbia than in your home district. I write to offer a special welcome and my assistance as the only member of Congress to represent the people of the host city of the U.S. Congress and the federal government. We also want you to have important information about the District of Columbia and its relationship to the federal government because uniquely local legislation addressed to this city will come before you as a Member of Congress.

DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOUSING

Washington, D.C. is a lovely, livable and hospitable city with world class entertainment and sports, excellent public transportation and breath-taking sights that you and your constituents will enjoy. We invite you to consider living in one of our tree-lined neighborhoods along with many House and Senate members. D.C. has it all -- homes, condos and apartments located in suburban-like neighborhoods, homes in Rock Creek Park and town houses in equally livable center-town communities, such as nearby Capitol Hill (where I live) and Georgetown. If you are considering living in the District, feel free to contact me personally if you could use some advice or guidance. I am a third generation Washingtonian, but more important, I can put you in touch with the experts and help that you may need on housing, transportation and other city matters.

HELP WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SERVICES IN D.C.

Whether or not you live in the city, you may encounter an occasional problem or have questions about the District’s public or private sectors, including help for yourself, your family or your constituents. Many of your constituents will come to Washington to visit and consult with you. The District is one of the world’s major tourist destinations. You will shortly receive an invitation to "Ask Me About Washington," a live exhibition featuring representatives from the District’s many sports, entertainment and other amenities, who will answer the questions of Members and staff about sites and entertainment in the city. A light buffet will be offered. However, if you have a question related to city services, please be in touch with me or my office. For example, matters affecting transportation, trash, recycling, water, potholes and similar issues inevitably arise in every city. My office has had members inquire concerning every kind of service, even help for a member who needed a marriage license (we love those). Rather than trying to figure out where to turn in the city or the city government, please call me or my office first. If you have a service need or problem, call me personally at 202-225-8050 or have your staff call my Chief of Staff, Sheila Bunn. We will either pursue the matter on your behalf or put you in direct contact with a specific individual in the appropriate District agency who will be helpful until the matter is resolved. If for any reason a problem is not completely resolved, we will help with further follow through.

PARKING TICKETS

By federal statute, members of Congress may park their vehicles at any available curb space in the city when the vehicle is used by the members on official business, and the vehicle is displaying your congressional tag. The vehicle is exempt from tickets by statute if it is not parked in violation of a loading zone, rush hour, firehouse, or fire plug limitation.

THE ONLY CITY ON THE CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

You will need to know a little something about the District of Columbia as a hometown jurisdiction because, regretfully, some of your time will be spent voting on purely local and justifiably unfamiliar matters, unrelated to federal affairs. I expect some of these matters to pass from the congressional agenda, allowing the city’s locally raised budget and legislation to become effective without the need for action by Congress. Restrictions on basic democracy are discredited holdovers from our history, but the basics of self government are expected by every American and every jurisdiction today. As you can imagine, although some District matters must now come to the floor under current law, District residents, like your own constituents, feel strongly that beyond the legally required essentials of these bills, local self-government must be respected, and residents object strongly to intrusions from Congress into D.C. law and local prerogatives.

Like every large city, the District has more poverty and crime than suburban communities, but this city has a large black and white middle class and is proud of our hardworking immigrants from Central America. Analysts, congressional leaders, and residents alike agree that the District of Columbia has had great success in attracting residents and businesses. The city government has been well managed for years and has the largest surplus of any U.S. jurisdiction. You will find the people of the District to be dedicated and accomplished Americans.

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

Residents pay almost $3 billion annually in federal income taxes, making them third per capita among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. They are the only American citizens who pay federal taxes but do not have full representation in the House and have none in the Senate (I have the full vote in committees and on the House floor in the Committee of the Whole, I am chair of a subcommittee and I have all other privileges as a member of the House, but not the final passage vote on the House floor). Last session, the House passed the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007, cosponsored with Republican Tom Davis, permitting the 600,000 Americans who live in the nation’s capital to have voting representation in the House of Representatives and adding an additional seat in the House for Utah. The bill passed the House easily with bipartisan support but fell just three votes short of meeting the 60 votes needed in the Senate last year. However, with changes in the Senate, we believe we now have more than the 60 votes necessary. Polls show that almost two-thirds of Americans support the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act.

The District is one of the world’s most beautiful and pleasant cities. Cabinet Members, agency heads and officials, many members of the House and Senate and major news media figures live in our neighborhoods with other citizens. If you have not decided on a permanent congressional residence, I hope you will consider this city. However, whether as a hometown community, or the city where you do your most important work, you will find D.C. officials, residents, and businesses ready to help you enjoy the city, and my office and I are at your disposal.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton