Budget and Legislative Autonomy Closer This Year
Heartened by the achievement of the Mid-Year Budget Autonomy bill, Norton will press the full D.C. Budget Autonomy Act she introduced with Rep. Tom Davis this year. Norton also is optimistic because her full budget autonomy bill passed the Senate in December of 2003. The bill failed in the House because of the objections of some appropriators, but with new appropriators who have already passed semi-annual budget autonomy, she will strongly press for budget autonomy from the annual federal appropriations process. Tom Davis also has co-sponsored her Legislative Autonomy bill, bringing that bill closer than ever to passage. Short of statehood and voting rights, budget autonomy is the most important self-government change Congress could make for the District.
Free and Equal D.C. Series - Other Full Citizenship Bills
Norton continues to seek every aspect of full citizenship for D.C. residents, including all the benefits afforded other jurisdictions, through two additional bills from federal funding supplements for state functions D.C., but not other cities, shoulder to privileges afforded other states but denied D.C. The opportunity to design a quarter coin bearing a design symbolic of the District and two statues of D.C. history makers to be permanently exhibited at the Capitol-honors afforded every state whose citizens pay federal income taxes.
D.C. Federal Contribution Act—$800 Million Increases Annually Key to Lowering D.C. Taxes and Preventing Fiscal Crisis
Chairman Davis has promised Norton a hearing on the Fair Federal Compensation Act of 2005, Norton has strongly advanced process by getting the entire regional delegation to co-sponsor the bill. The bill offsets the annual structural imbalance by providing for an annual federal contribution of $800 million that increases with the cost of living. This bill is essential to preventing another D.C. fiscal crisis because the city cannot sustain permanently its pick-up the structural deficit through one of the highest tax rates for businesses and residents in the country, particularly as costs rise and outstrip the city's capacity to raise revenue. The bill's chances improved significantly when the GAO found that the structural deficit is federal not local, resulting from federal use of the city's most valuable land, D.C.'s continuing responsibility for many costly state functions, the commuter tax ban, and other federally imposed mandates.
Federal Land Transfer Bill to D.C. Close to Passage
Congresswoman Norton introduced two land transfer bills, both aimed at using land to obtain partial payment to compensate the District for the structural imbalance from several federally imposed mandates, among them the bar on a commuter tax and the use of the District's prime land without payment. Norton also added an important amendment requiring the District to make maximum use of this rare opportunity not only for economic development and the vital revenue stream it is designed to provide. The amendment requires the city to fund and use training programs for employment of residents on the project, to use disadvantaged small businesses, and to do outreach for equity minority participation among the sponsors of proposals. The major sites in both bills are Reservation 13 (D.C. General Hospital site) and Poplar Point, where D.C. plans to build a soccer stadium.
Win-Win Metro Payment Bill
Congresswoman Norton is an original co-sponsor of a path-breaking bill to provide a dedicated source of revenue for Metro, the only large system that lacks such systemic support. The bill's $1.5 billion federal incentive is an acknowledgement of considerable federal responsibility for Metro, whose peak ridership is dominated by federal employees and contractors. In return, the bill requires D.C., Maryland, and Virginia each to enact a dedicated revenue stream. The District has the most to gain in relieving costs that contribute to D.C.'s structural deficit and was the first to respond with a bill pending in the Council for one-half of one percent of existing sales tax revenue to be dedicated to Metro.
Lead Free Water Act for D.C. and the Nation
Following her work in the last Congress on lead found in D.C. water, Norton introduced the Lead Free Drinking Water Act to cover D.C. and the entire country and got major Senate sponsors, who also introduced the bill in the Senate. The lead crisis in the nation's capital pointed up many deficiencies in the Safe Drinking Water Act, which has not been significantly revised in 10 years. Because of the special vulnerability of children and pregnant women to lead, Norton will press passage of the bill, or at least some of its provisions, this year. One of the most important requires improved water testing and lead detection in schools and day care centers.
Moving Secure TRAINS
Norton, a member of the Homeland Security Committee and lead sponsor of the Secure TRAINS Act participated in a press conference with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, as Norton reintroduced the Act and urged enactment during the 109th Congress. The $3.5 billion bill is a priority of the Democrats in Congress because most Americans ride subways, buses, rail and other mass transportation, but Congress has dedicated only 0.6 of a penny for transit security, compared with $9.16 per passenger for air travel security. In 2006, Norton will press for the bill's authorization of competitive grants for rail and local mass transit for such basics as decontamination and surveillance equipment.
Publish D.C. Commission on Black Men and Boys Action Plan
The Commission, established by Norton to address unique problems facing black males that have contributed to severe problems in Black family life, is developing an Action Plan for implementation by the Mayor and City Council. As a result of the strong community response and the seriousness of family issues in the African American community, the Commission will become permanent to assure ongoing monitoring and implementation of the Action Plan and to continue its investigations.
Norton Leads CBC on Federal Court Nominees
Norton, a constitutional lawyer, leads the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) evaluations of all federal judicial nominees, a critical role during this period when civil rights and other hard won constitutional and legal remedies could be overturned by new Supreme Court nominees. As a result of her work focusing on the views of judges on racial remedies and other important constitutional and legal issues, the CBC strongly opposed the confirmation of both John Roberts and Samuel Alito. Norton, who taught full time at Georgetown Law School before her election, continues as a tenured professor, teaching one course every year. Teaching also keeps her in touch with young people.
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