EHN

“Norton Requests Comprehensive GAO Study on Railway Noise Pollution”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Josh Bassett

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“As ranking member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today wrote the Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that it conduct a comprehensive study on the causes and effects of railway noise pollution. Additionally, Norton asked GAO to propose ways that the federal government can reduce the negative effects of railway noise pollution. The request is similar to a bill Norton reintroduced in April to require the GAO to submit recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes.

“D.C. residents contact me regularly about the negative impacts train noise and vibrations have on their health, quality of life and even the structural integrity of their homes,” Norton said. “Although trains provide an essential mode of transportation, we can’t simply ignore the harms suffered by those who live near them, which can include structural damage, reduced property values and negative health effects. We must examine whether there are viable, cost-effective ways to mitigate the harms caused by long-term exposure to train noise and vibrations.”

Norton’s letter follows, with personal contact information redacted. (more…)

“Norton Urges Department of Transportation to Prohibit Use of Helicopters for Transporting Government Officials in National Capital Region”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“After receiving conflicting information from officials regarding the use of ADS-B transponders, a type of transponder used to communicate GPS data and project aircraft trajectory, in helicopter flights in the National Capital Region (NCR), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote Department of Transportation (DoT) Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday urging DoT to prohibit the use of helicopters for these flights in the NCR, except for the president, vice president, and in certain emergencies. A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter from the Army Aviation Brigade at Fort Belvoir and a passenger plane collided in D.C. airspace on January 29, killing 67 people. The helicopter was not using its ADS-B transponder when the collision occurred. (more…)

“Norton Introduces Bill to Combat Train Noise and Vibrations Near Homes”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Eric P.

Not holding my breath here but appreciate the effort.

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, today introduced a bill to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes, as well as cost estimates for each recommendation.

“D.C. residents are increasingly contacting me about the negative impact train noise and vibrations are having on their health, quality of life, and even the structural integrity of their homes,” Norton said. “Although trains provide an essential mode of transportation, Congress should examine whether there are viable, cost-effective ways to mitigate the harms caused by long-term train noise and vibrations.”

Train noise and vibrations negatively affect residents of the District of Columbia and communities across the country. In making its recommendations, the bill would require GAO to consider train speed and frequency, hours of operations, modifications to tracks and trains, track maintenance, mitigation measures between tracks and homes, and distance between tracks and homes, among other factors. The bill would require GAO to submit its recommendations to Congress not later than one year after enactment.

Norton’s introductory statement follows. (more…)

EHN: “The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation. President Trump’s rhetoric runs counter to this history.”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by angela n.

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a statement tonight after President Trump signed an anti-D.C. home rule executive order (EO) establishing a task force to combat crime by surging law enforcement officers in public areas, increasing immigration enforcement, changing D.C. pre-trial detention policies, expediting concealed carry licenses, and working on fare enforcement on the Metro system. The EO also created a program to allegedly “beautify” D.C. by restoring federal buildings, monuments and roadways, removing graffiti, and ensuring cleanliness of public spaces and parks. Additionally, the EO directed the National Park Service to clear homeless encampments and graffiti on federal lands. (more…)

EHN: “Let’s be clear. This cut to D.C.’s local budget would not save the federal government any money”

By Prince Of Petworth

The latest from the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“After the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September that will result in projected cuts of $1 billion for D.C., Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she was disappointed and outraged but vowed to continue working with her colleagues to defeat the resolution in the Senate. (more…)

DC Budget Woes Could Be Coming Sooner than we Thought. “Norton Files Amendments to CR to Prevent Fiscal Sabotage of D.C.”

By Prince Of Petworth

First from Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s office on Friday:

“DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson issued the following statement in response to Moody’s placing the District’s credit ratings on review for possible downgrade:

“Today’s decision by Moody’s to change our outlook to ‘Under Review,’ further demonstrates how the decision to drastically downsize the federal workforce is hurting our regional economy,” Mendelson said.

“According to Moody’s, this review ‘is prompted by drastic cuts to the federal workforce, which have an outsized impact on the District’s economy, finances and employment.’ The agency is also pointing to potential reductions in federal Medicaid funding as having a negative impact on the District’s credit rating. Their review will focus on the city’s fiscal 2026 and future budgets.

“Despite whatever federal challenges, our FY 2026 Budget will be a balanced budget, as it has been 29 consecutive times before,” Mendelson added. “The District government is well-managed fiscally – better than most states, which Moody’s historically acknowledges. But the shocking and disruptive cuts by the Federal government, as well as our lack of Statehood, continue to hurt the District.”

And from the Post this morning:

“GOP spending bill would lead to $1 billion in D.C. cuts, city officials say”

Council Members Henderson and Lewis George write: (more…)

“Norton Introduces Bill to Prohibit Relocation of Agency Headquarters Outside the National Capital Region”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by patrick thibodeau

From the office of

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced her Protecting Federal Agencies and Employees from Political Interference Act, which would prohibit the relocation of any federal department or agency headquarters outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) unless relocation legislation is passed by Congress and enacted into law.

Last week, the Trump administration directed federal agencies to submit proposed relocations of agency bureaus and offices from the NCR to other parts of the country. During Trump’s first term, his administration relocated several agencies outside the NCR, disrupting operations and leading to increased employee attrition and a decline in federal government services. This bill would prevent any such relocation without congressional approval.

“The Trump administration is engaging in an open war against federal employees, using illegal tactics to fire dedicated public servants without cause and using intimidation, threats and fear to force compliance with wasteful directives that demonstrate a deep-seated misunderstanding of how our government operates,” Norton said. “Moving federal agencies is not about saving taxpayer money and will degrade the vital services provided to Americans across the country. In the 1990s, the Bureau of Land Management moved its wildfire staff out West, only to move them back when Congress demanded briefings on new wildfires.

“We can have a discussion on ways to make government work better, but politicians throwing cheap shots at the nation’s capital and surrounding region, where thousands of expert public servants – and their families – live and work, should not be part of that discussion.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows. (more…)

“Norton, House Oversight Committee Members, and Warren Open Investigation Into DOGE.gov After Alarming Failures to Protect Sensitive National Security Information”

By Prince Of Petworth


photo by Fritz Myer

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), and the other Democratic members of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, Ranking Member Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), sent a letter to Elon Musk, opening an investigation into DOGE.gov following two recent incidents of alarming security failures and reports that DOGE employees shared sensitive government information using insecure communications channels. (more…)

“After Deadly Midair Collision Near DCA, Norton Urges DoD to Permanently Cease Helicopter Flights of Most VIPs in NCR”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“After the midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) that killed 67 people, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to permanently cease transporting VIPs in the National Capital Region (NCR) by helicopter, with exceptions for the president, vice president and in national emergencies.

“The convenience of government officials should not take precedence over aviation safety and the quiet enjoyment of residents of the NCR,” Norton wrote.

The full letter follows. (more…)

EHN: “President Trump’s derogatory comments calling for a federal “takeover” of D.C. are anti-democratic, based on misinformation, and belittling to the 700,000 residents of the nation’s capital.”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said today that President Trump’s derogatory comments calling for a federal “takeover” of D.C. are anti-democratic, based on misinformation, and belittling to the 700,000 residents of the nation’s capital. Trump’s comments were made prior to an expected executive order related to the District of Columbia.

“We have made significant progress in our historic march toward making D.C. the 51st state, and President Trump’s comments, a continuation of the anti-democratic rhetoric from Republicans concerning the District of Columbia, despite their basis in falsehoods, is evidence of that progress,” Norton said. “These types of remarks are attempts to remove what small measure of democracy the more than 700,000 D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and Brown, have.

“The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation. President Trump’s rhetoric runs counter to this history. D.C.’s population is larger than that of two states. (more…)

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