[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 10, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E13]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LEGISLATIVE HOME RULE ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 10, 2023

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Legislative Home Rule Act, which would eliminate the congressional 
review period for D.C. legislation. D.C. legislation takes effect after 
a congressional review period, unless a joint resolution of disapproval 
is enacted into law during the review period. The review period imposes 
significant costs on both D.C. and Congress, but only 3 disapproval 
resolutions on D.C. legislation have been enacted since passage of the 
D.C. Home Rule Act in 1973, and none since 1991. Yet, the D.C. Council 
has had to develop a Kafkaesque legislative process to comply with the 
review period, often having to pass the same bill multiple times. 
Congress loses nothing by eliminating the review period. Congress can 
legislate on any D.C. matter at any time, and has done so many times 
outside of the review period, such as through the appropriations 
process.
  The congressional review period (30 days for civil bills and 60 days 
for criminal bills) is based on legislative days, not calendar days, 
often delaying D.C. bills from becoming law for many months. The delay 
forces the D.C. Council to pass most bills several times, using a 
cumbersome and complicated process to ensure that the operations of 
this large city continue uninterrupted.
  Placing a congressional hold on D.C. bills has not only proven 
unnecessary, but has imposed costs on the D.C. government, residents 
and businesses. D.C. residents and businesses are placed on hold 
because they have no certainty when D.C. bills, from taxes to 
regulations, will take effect, making it difficult to plan. It is 
particularly unfair to require the D.C. Council to engage in this 
unnecessary, labor-intensive and costly process.
  Last Congress, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed 
this bill as part of my District of Columbia Home Rule Expansion Act of 
2022.
  I urge my colleagues to support this good-government measure.

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