[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E143-E144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE EQUAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
                                  ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 13, 2024

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Equal Federal Funding 
for the District of Columbia Act, which would amend title 1 of the 
United States Code to deem the District of Columbia as both a state and 
political subdivision of a state (such as a city or county) for the 
purpose of eligibility for federal funding, unless otherwise provided 
in a statute. D.C. operates as the functional equivalent of a state, 
city and county, and D.C. residents pay all federal taxes. Therefore, 
D.C. deserves to be eligible for federal funding available for each 
level of government.
  While federal statutes generally expressly treat D.C. as a state for 
federal funding--and

[[Page E144]]

most federal grants go to states--federal statutes that provide federal 
funding directly to political subdivisions are often silent on whether 
D.C. is to be treated as a political subdivision. In the absence of 
clear language in a statute, federal agencies are inconsistent in their 
treatment of D.C.'s eligibility for federal funding.
  By amending title 1 of the U.S. Code to deem D.C. as both a state and 
political subdivision for federal funding, this bill would 
automatically correct imprecise treatment of D.C.'s eligibility for 
federal funding in existing and future statutes and remove discretion 
from federal agencies in their treatment of D.C.'s eligibility for 
federal funding.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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