[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 169 (Tuesday, November 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FEDERAL OFFICIALS 
               RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT EQUALITY ACT OF 2015

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 17, 2015

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Federal Officials Residency Requirement Equality Act of 2015, a bill 
that would amend federal law to require certain officials who serve 
D.C. to actually live within its boundaries. In nearly every other 
jurisdiction in the United States, federal district court judges, U.S. 
Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals are required by federal law to reside 
within the jurisdictions where they have been appointed--but these same 
officials appointed to serve the people of the District are not bound 
by these same requirements. The only other jurisdictions where these 
officials are not required to live within their appointed jurisdictions 
are the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New 
York. However, this is because New York City is the only city in the 
country that is divided between two federal districts--but the District 
is not similarly situated. My bill would put D.C. on equal footing with 
almost every other jurisdiction by ensuring that our Marshals, judges, 
and U.S. attorney live among the residents they have been appointed to 
represent.
  Clearly, the idea that these federal officials ought to live in the 
jurisdictions they serve is a significant one--which is why the 
residency requirement for other jurisdictions is enshrined in federal 
law. Yet, D.C. was exempt from this requirement based on the now-
outdated notion that the District is too congested and small to house 
these appointed officials. The District of Columbia is a vibrant and 
bustling city with a diverse populace who deserve direct engagement on 
the part of its federal judges, U.S. attorney, and Marshals. My bill 
recognizes the fact that D.C. deserves the same type of community 
involvement by these federal officials as nearly every jurisdiction.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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