From the Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement upon learning that President Biden told Senate Democrats that he will not veto the disapproval resolution that would nullify the local D.C. Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA) and that the president tweeted he will sign the disapproval resolution if it comes to his desk. If enacted, it will be the first time a disapproval resolution has nullify a local D.C. law since 1990. Read More
Photo by Eric P.
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus and a member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, today introduced a bill to require helicopters in District of Columbia airspace to fly at the maximum altitude permitted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with limited exceptions. The exceptions would include active law enforcement investigations, transporting the president and vice president, and safety. Read More
Photo by James0806
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today kicked off Black History Month by reintroducing her bill that would remove the Emancipation Statue from Lincoln Park in the District of Columbia, a federal park, citing its problematic depiction of the fight to achieve emancipation. The statue would be placed in a museum with an explanation of its origin and meaning. Read More
On November 1st we had a lively discussion about “I would like to see the zoo rescind the ticket requirement for people entering the zoo on foot.” It seems EHN agrees – from her office:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) urged the National Zoo today to reevaluate its policy requiring visitors to reserve passes ahead of time, saying the policy deters both visits from those without access to a smartphone or the internet and spontaneous visits. In addition, the requirement differs from the standard Smithsonian policy of not requiring passes for entry.
“The National Zoo, which is in a residential neighborhood, is popular with both tourists and District of Columbia residents, and both should have easy access to the National Zoo,” Norton wrote. “I am concerned that the entry pass requirement may be limiting access or deterring visits to the National Zoo, especially for people who cannot get online, whether because they do not have a computer or smartphone or are unable to use such devices, for people who want to spontaneously visit and for people who have been led to believe by the website that entry passes are available only online.”
The full letter follows. Read More
From the office of Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) sent a letter requesting that the final fiscal year 2023 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill direct the National Zoo to extend the hours of the Zoo Loop Trail in a manner that allows the National Zoo to maintain accreditation by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Norton met this week with the AZA. The AZA said the National Zoo has two options to extend the trail’s hours and maintain accreditation: extend the National Zoo’s hours of operations or build new fencing around the trail. The National Zoo has rejected both options.
The trail, which runs through the Nation Zoo’s grounds in Rock Creek Park and recently reopened to the public, is only open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The National Zoo has tied the trail’s hours to the National Zoo’s hours of operations. Read More
Ed. Note: The recent Beach Drive reassessment gives a bit hope this wrong will be righted too!
From the office of recently re-elected Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who met with the National Zoo, the National Park Service (NPS), and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) to discuss the Zoo Loop Trail’s limited hours, today said she was disappointed the zoo rejected her request to extend the hours. Norton said she will explore legislative options to extend the hours and continue to have discussions with the zoo, NPS, DDOT, and the community on options for extending the hours.
The trail, which runs through the zoo’s grounds in Rock Creek Park and recently reopened to the public, is only open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Read More
Thanks to Alisa for sharing a photo this morning from the newly opened bike path by the zoo. Now you can see why hours should have been extended.
From the Office of Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a statement on the explanation she received from the National Zoo and the National Park Service (NPS) on the limited hours of the Zoo Loop Trail in Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia.
The Zoo Loop Trail, which reopened to the public last weekend, is only open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These limited hours prompted Norton to contact the zoo and NPS for an explanation. The zoo explained that the trail hours are tied to the zoo’s hours of operations to maintain accreditation with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, since the trail runs through the zoo’s secondary animal containment perimeter. NPS stated that all other trails in Rock Creek Park remain open from sunrise to sunset.
“As chair of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, I am a strong supporter of bike and pedestrian infrastructure,” said Norton. “I am pleased to receive this prompt explanation from the National Zoo and the National Park Service on why the Zoo Loop Trail has such limited hours, so I can share it with my constituents. I am also glad that NPS affirmed that the other Rock Creek Park trails remain open from sunrise to sunset.”
Update from EHN:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said she will meet with the National Zoo and the National Park Service (NPS) to explore options to extend the hours of the Zoo Loop Trail in Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia. Read More
From the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“With the possibility of a federal government shutdown on Friday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reminded District of Columbia residents that a provision she got included in the enacted fiscal year (FY) 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill exempts the D.C. government from a federal government shutdown in FY 2023. Norton has gotten the D.C. government exempted from federal government shutdowns each year since FY 2015. Read More
photo by Fritz Myer
From the Office of Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today met with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) about the Capitol stones in Rock Creek Park. NPS, which controls Rock Creek Park, recently requested the removal of the stones. AOC intends to store them in a facility at Ft. Meade.
In the meeting, Norton asked why the stones need to be removed from Rock Creek Park and if they could remain. NPS explained that, while there have been no reported accidents on the stones, people climb on the stones and there is no way to impose the same safety rules as those at playgrounds. Read More
photo of fences, finally, down by monikerdc
From the office of Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“After the Supreme Court removed the temporary anti-climb fencing around its grounds last weekend, which was installed in May, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today announced that she will introduce a bill to prohibit the installation of permanent fencing around the Supreme Court grounds. Read More
