[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 35 (Thursday, March 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E439-E440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY 
                       ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 1, 2007

  Ms. NORTON.  Madam Speaker, today I introduce the District of 
Columbia District Attorney Establishment Act of 2007, continuing a 
series of bills that I will introduce this session to ensure a 
continuation of the process of transition to full democracy and self-
government for the residents of the District of Columbia. This bill is 
the ninth in our ``Free and Equal DC'' series of bills to eliminate 
anti-Home Rule legislation and to remedy obsolete or inappropriate 
congressional intervention into the local affairs of the District of 
Columbia or denials of federal benefits or recognition routinely 
granted to other jurisdictions.
  This bill will establish an Office of District Attorney for the 
District of Columbia, to be headed by a District Attorney elected by DC 
residents. This bill effectuates a November 2002 referendum where DC 
voters overwhelmingly (82 percent) approved a locally elected D.A.
  This important legislation is designed to put the District of 
Columbia on par with every other local jurisdiction in the country by 
allowing DC residents to elect an independent District Attorney to 
prosecute local criminal and civil matters now handled by the U.S. 
Attorney, a federal official. Instead the new District Attorney would 
become the city's chief legal officer. As presently constituted, the 
U.S. Attorney's office in the District is the largest in the country 
only because it serves mainly as the local city prosecutor. That office 
needs to be freed up to do security and other federal work particularly 
in the post 9-11 Nation's capital.
  There is no issue of greater importance to our citizens and no issue 
on which residents have less say here than the prosecution of local 
crimes. A U.S. Attorney has no business in the local criminal affairs 
of local jurisdictions. No other citizens in the United States are 
treated so unfairly on an issue of such major importance. This bill 
would simply make the D.A. accountable to the people who elect him or 
her as elsewhere in the country.
  In addition to issues of democracy and self government, such as 
congressional voting rights and legislative and budget autonomy that 
District residents are entitled to as American citizens, residents are 
determined to achieve each and every other element of home rule. 
Amending the Home Rule Act with a local D.A. provision would be an 
important development toward our goal of achieving true self-
government. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

[[Page E440]]



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