Norton Thanks House Democratic Leadership for Filing Amicus Brief in D.C. Voting Rights Lawsuit

Statement

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the House of Representatives yesterday filed an amicus brief in a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the denial of congressional voting rights to District of Columbia residents. The brief "urges the Court to recognize the important constitutional interests at stake in enfranchising District residents, who should have a full and equal voice in the federal legislature." The House's Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which consists of the top three Democratic leaders and the top two Republican leaders, authorized the filing. The Republican leaders dissented.

"I am grateful that the House, at the direction of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip James Clyburn, filed a brief in support of voting rights for District of Columbia residents," Norton said. "They have long fought for D.C. voting rights in many ways. For example, in 2007, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer and Whip Clyburn worked closely with me to successfully pass a bill in the House that would have given D.C House voting rights, though the bill died in the Senate. In 2009, after the Senate passed the bill, the House would have passed it again but for a National Rifle Association-backed amendment that would have eliminated D.C.'s gun violence prevention laws. As we work to achieve statehood, I applaud DC Appleseed for initiating this promising lawsuit and the House for filing its own brief."

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