[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E24-E25]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS AND PUBLIC DEFENDER 
               SERVICE EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 12, 2026

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Courts and Public Defender Service Employment Non-Discrimination Act, 
which would provide for coverage of employees of the local D.C. courts 
and the D.C. Public Defender Service (PDS) under the D.C. Human Rights 
Act of 1977 (DCHRA). In 2022, the D.C. Court of Appeals

[[Page E25]]

held that the DCHRA, which protects employees of the D.C. government 
and private employers from discrimination, is inapplicable to employees 
of the local D.C. courts. The court has not ruled on the applicability 
of the DCHRA to PDS employees.
  The local D.C. courts and PDS are unique entities, and they sometimes 
fall through the regulatory cracks. They are neither federal nor D.C. 
government entities, though both were created and are funded by 
Congress, and their employees are treated as federal employees for some 
employee benefits. This bill would ensure that their employees have 
comprehensive protections from and remedies for employment 
discrimination.
  While employees of the local D.C. courts and PDS are protected by 
federal anti-discrimination laws, the DCHRA provides much broader 
protections and remedies for employees than federal anti-discrimination 
laws.
  While the D.C. Council may have the authority to enact this bill 
itself, only Congress has the clear authority to do so, given the 
express limitation in the D.C. Home Rule Act on the Council's authority 
to legislate on matters affecting the operations of the local D.C. 
courts, and given that Congress has generally served as the legislative 
body for PDS matters.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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