Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 6h

Federal contractors bear no responsibility for government shutdowns, but ultimately they pay the price.

I'm co-leading a bill with Rep. Pressley to ensure these critical workers receive backpay for this shutdown.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley @pressley.house.gov · 2d

Government shutdowns are destabilizing events with devastating consequences, especially for low-wage service workers.

Republicans shut down the government, so @smith.senate.gov & I are introducing a bill to ensure federal contractors receive back pay when the government reopens.

A graphic that reads:

The Fair Pay for Federal Contract Workers Act ensures federal contract workers, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services, are fairly compensated for the wages and benefits lost due to the Republican-manufactured shutdown.

1 2

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 10h

Shutdown Day 8: The Republican shutdown jeopardizes housing assistance, food aid, and health programs that Americans depend on. Working families shouldn’t pay the cost of Congress’s dysfunction.

Republicans have left town, but my office is still open and working on behalf of DC residents.

3

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 1d

Today marks two years since the October 7th massacre, where 1,200 people were murdered and 250 were kidnapped.

Since then, Hamas has held Israelis hostage while scores of innocent Palestinians have died.

Now is the time to bring aid to Gaza, end the war and release the hostages.

1 4

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 1d

Shutdown Day 7: Beginning next week, National parks, museums, and cultural institutions in DC will be shuttered, depriving residents and visitors of cultural experiences that make DC special.

While Republicans relax at home, my office remains open and working for DC residents.

1 6

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 2d

Shutdown Day 6: Small businesses in DC that depend on business from federal employees are losing income every day this shutdown drags on. The economic damage is spreading.

House Republicans may have left town, but my office is still open and working on behalf of DC residents.

1 4 12

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 2d

States and territories have full control over their criminal justice systems. DC deserves the same, but currently only the president can grant clemency for DC crimes.

I introduced a bill to give the DC mayor the authority to grant clemency in these cases.

3 7 33

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 5d

Shutdown Day 3: Republicans refuse to end the health care crisis they started, so federal workers are working without pay — or they're barred from working at all.

This shutdown is reckless and harmful to DC.

My office is still open and working on behalf of DC residents.

1 6 13

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 6d

Shutdown Day 2: After months of making life harder and more expensive, President Trump and Republicans have shut down the government—because they refuse to protect Americans’ health care.

My office is still open and working for DC residents.

4 9

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 7d

I wish those who celebrate a meaningful and peaceful Yom Kippur.

1 6 25

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 7d

Shutdown Day 1:

Regardless of how long Republicans keep the federal government shut down, my office will remain open and working on behalf of DC residents.

1 3 13

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 8d

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, I would like to acknowledge the contributions from D.C.’s Hispanic community, which add to the rich and vibrant culture of our city.

6

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 8d

Republicans control the House, Senate + White House, and unfortunately they're on course to shut down the government tonight.

My office will remain open to assist constituents.

More information + resources about the shutdown for DC residents: bit.ly/46vrNB1

Impact of a Government Shutdown

Funding for the federal government expires at midnight on September 30. To help you plan for a possible federal government shutdown, my office has prepared answers to these frequently asked questions. You can also contact my office at (202) 225-8050.

bit.ly

1 1 3

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 8d

DC’s justice system should not be subject to a federal government shutdown.

That is why I introduced my bill to exempt our court system and all federal agencies with jurisdiction only over DC matters from the shutdown.

1 1 6

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 15d

Mary Church Terrell, a graduate of my high school alma mater, demanded a more equal America for everybody, especially Black women, at a time when women of all races experienced discrimination.

I introduced a resolution to designate September 23 "Mary Church Terrell Day."

1 4 24

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 15d

As students return to campuses, I introduced my resolution to designate September as “National Campus Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”

Nowhere in our society is sexual assault as prevalent as it is on college campuses, and nowhere should such conduct be least expected.

1 2 10

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 19d

Today I introduced my universal Pre-K bill. 
Considering the staggering cost of day care, the inaccessibility of early childhood education and the opportunity that early education offers to improve a child’s chances of success, schooling for 3 and 4 year olds is overdue.

2 13

Reposted by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb @dcattorneygeneral.bsky.social · 20d

📌 DC laws should be written by people who know how DC works.

4 10 45

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 19d

Today, ahead of International Day of Peace, I introduced a resolution designating September as National Peace Month.

The resolution was inspired by 2nd graders from Horace Mann Elementary School in NW DC.

5

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 20d

Republicans can never undo the last seven months DC spent implementing the draconian cut.

1 2 8

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 20d

Republicans keep saying that their FY 2026 CR fixes the $1.1b cut they made to DC’s local budget in the March CR. They’re misleading the public.

The Senate passed a bill to restore that funding in March. It’s been sitting on the Speaker’s desk since then.

5 6 15

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 20d

#DCStatehood

1

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 20d

Today's Oversight hearing shouldn't be scheduled. 700K+ DC residents should already have the protections of statehood.

But since Republicans are determined to use our time to question and disparage DC's laws, I used today's hearing as a platform to argue for #DCStatehood.

2 5 17

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 21d

These offensive anti-home rule bills were introduced and passed by members of Congress who do not represent DC, who are not accountable to DC residents, and who have no mandate to substitute their own policy judgments for laws that were democratically enacted by the District.

3 6 21

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 21d

The sponsor of the bill to eliminate DC's role in selecting our own judges doesn't understand how the DC courts work. 
DC courts do, in fact, deal with all local matters, including traffic tickets. 
DC laws should be written by people who know how DC works.

4 20 37

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) @eleanornorton.bsky.social · 21d

DC residents have all the obligations of American citizenship, pay federal taxes, serve on juries and register with the Selective Service, yet Congress denies them full local self-government and voting representation in Congress.

The remedy is #DCStatehood.

4 8