Norton Introduces Bill to Give D.C. Legislative Autonomy

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the District of Columbia Legislative Autonomy Act of 2011, the fifth bill in her Free and Equal D.C. series. The bill would eliminate the congressional review period for civil and criminal legislation passed by D.C. City Council.

Norton said the bill is necessary because the congressional review period is limited only to those days when Congress is in session, often delaying D.C. bills from becoming law, and forcing the D.C. Council to pass most legislation several times over, using a cumbersome and complicated process to keep bills alive. Norton said that the legislative review period is wasteful make-work for both Congress and D.C. because instead of using the formal disapproval process or layover period to overturn D.C. legislation, Congress always uses attachments to the D.C. appropriations bill. "It is particularly unfair to require the D.C. Council to engage in a phantom process that Congress has itself discarded," she said. Allowing D.C. bills to become law also would benefit the city's bond rating, which is affected by the shadow of congressional review and delays in the finality if District legislation.

Earlier this month, the Congresswoman introduced the first four bills in her Free and Equal D.C. series, the New Columbia Admission Act (providing for statehood), the District of Columbia Equal Representation Act (authorizing Senate and House seats), and the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act (giving the city a House vote), as well as the District of Columbia Budget Autonomy Act of 2011 to allow D.C.'s budget to immediately take effect, without congressional approval.

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