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.