Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for DC Home Rule Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ardently oppose H.R. 5233, wrongfully entitled the ``Clarifying Congressional Intent in Providing for DC Home Rule Act of 2016.'' H.R. 5233 seeks to repeal a District of Columbia referendum, approved by a super-majority of D.C. residents, 83 percent, to allow the local D.C. government to implement its own local budget. To be clear, implement its own local budget after a 30-day congressional review period. This legislation does not preserve the authority of Congress, the 30-day congressional review period already does that, rather it subjects the local D.C. government to the arduous appropriations process to use tax dollars from its own residents.

Why, Mr. Speaker, would we choose to overturn the will of the local D.C. electorate to spend their tax dollars as they choose? Optically, it does not look right. Substantively, it is not right, and, legislatively, we are on the wrong track.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5233 is a move in the wrong direction away from granting the residents of D.C. increased self-determination and home-rule.

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