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DC Vote Supporters Knock on Doors for DC Voting Rights Act

Passage Probable during Lame-Duck Congress

Monday, December 4, 2006

Washington, DC - The strongest push of the year to move the DC Voting Rights Act (H.R. 5388) will be tomorrow, Tuesday, December 5, as dozens of DC Vote supporters canvass the halls of Congress.

Norton in Fight to Get D.C. House Vote Added to Just Released Floor Schedule for Lame Duck

Sunday, December 3, 2006

Washington, DC - "The Republican majority has just put out the schedule for the December lame duck session beginning Monday, December 4th (attached). I certainly hope that this is not the final schedule for the week because there is no mention of the D. C. House Vote bill. Yet, we learned earlier that the bill could be released from the Judiciary Committee and go to the floor. It is true that bills can be added to the schedule, and perhaps the Republican majority is waiting for the Utah redistricting bill due on Monday, but with time so short, we can't afford to use some of it just to get on the schedule. As of now, only suspension bills and four other bills are mentioned: the Tax Extenders bill, Adjustment in Physician Payments bill, India Nuclear Agreement Conference Report; and the Indian Gaming bill. That leaves plenty of time to consider the D.C. bill, as the calendar now stands.

Jack Kemp Calls on Congress: Pass the DC Voting Rights Act

Friday, December 1, 2006

Washington, DC - I call on Congress to pass the DC Voting Rights Act next week during the lame duck session. History will record those who took this issue over the goal line, not who moved the ball down the field.

Pelosi Tells Norton and Fenty She Wants Voting Rights Bill Passed Next Week

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Washington, DC - The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) interrupted her planning for the new Democratic Congress to meet with Norton and Mayor-elect Adrian Fenty on Capitol Hill. The Mayor-elect pressed D.C. voting rights and Pelosi assured him of her support, including placing a priority on getting the Davis-Norton House D.C. voting rights bill through this lame duck session. The Speaker-elect is a sponsor of the bill and promised her continuing support if the current Republican majority does not take up the bill, as she is pressing them to.

Unanimous Support by Democratic Leaders: Pass the DC Voting Rights Act

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Washington, DC - The Association of State Democratic Chairs unanimously passed a resolution supporting the enactment of the DC Voting Rights Act, H.R. 5388, legislation that would give DC residents a vote in Congress for the first time ever. The resolution was passed at a meeting held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming this past weekend.

DC Vote Launches Innovative Lesson Plan for Teachers

New Resource for Teaching Students about DC's Denial of Democracy

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Washington, DC - This week is American Education Week, and DC Vote is celebrating by unveiling an innovative approach to educating youth on DC's denial of voting representation in Congress. We will launch our Lesson Plan for Teachers at School Without Walls at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, November 15.

Jack Kemp Calls on Congress to Bring Democracy to DC

A vote in Congress for DC would honor the legacy of Dr. King

Monday, November 13, 2006

Washington, DCSurrounded by members of the King family, United States Presidents, civil rights leaders and elected officials, Kemp called for bringing democracy to the nation’s capital in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

DC Teachers Tell the Story of DC's Injustice

'Trusted with kids, NOT with a vote.'

Friday, November 10, 2006

Washington, DC - DC Vote has unveiled its second in a series of public awareness advertisements geared at educating the American public about DC residents' lack of voting representation in Congress. The print advertisement campaign is running concurrently with television and radio pieces airing around the country.

President Bush Plans to Review DC Voting Rights Act

DC Vote Optimistic for Swift Action

Thursday, November 9, 2006

Washington, DC - DC Vote celebrates a breakthrough in the DC Voting Rights Act after President Bush announced his plans to study H.R. 5388, a bill that would give DC residents a vote in Congress for the first time ever. Currently the 600,000 residents of Washington, DC are denied voting representation in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

DC Vote Celebrates 2006 Champions of Democracy Tonight

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Washington, DC - Three stellar Champions of Democracy will be honored by DC Vote tonight at the Madison Hotel. The Honorable Jack Kemp, Carol Thompson Cole, and Charles A. Miller are pioneers of DC Vote's mission and play a pivotal role in working to end taxation without representation in the nation's capital.

A Critical Piece of the Puzzle in Advancement of DC Voting Rights

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Washington, DC - DC Vote and our national coalition have been working hard to find creative solutions to push forward the DC Voting Rights Act after Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner announced his opposition two weeks ago to the at-large seat in the bill. We are pleased to say that another piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.

DC Vote’s Congress Day 2006 Postponed

Monday, September 18, 2006

Washington, DC - In consultation with coalition partners and supporters, DC Vote is postponing its Congress Day 2006 event that was scheduled for Thursday, September 21, 2006.

Unanimous Agreement: DC Should Have a Vote in Congress

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Washington, DC - The Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution today held a hearing on the DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act (DC Voting Rights Act, H.R. 5388), a bill that would give Washingtonians a voting member of Congress for the first time ever.

DC Voting Rights Act Historic Hearing

Witnesses Will Address DC's Denial of Democracy before House Subcommittee

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Washington, DC - The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution will hold a hearing on the DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act (DC Voting Rights Act, H.R. 5388) at 2:00 PM in Room 2141 Rayburn House Office Building tomorrow, September 14. The bill would give DC residents a voting member of Congress for the first time ever.

Norton CBC Message to America Promotes D.C. House Vote Bill

Friday, July 28, 2006

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will deliver the "Message to America," the national weekly address of the Congressional Black Caucus, to educate Americans about the denial of constitutional voting rights here, and to educate the country about the D.C. Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act, the bipartisan bill for a House vote, and what it needs to get passage. The message will air tomorrow (Saturday, July 29th) at 12:06 pm EST on American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) affiliate stations.

Judiciary Drives Forward the DC Voting Rights Act

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Washington, DC - House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) announced today that the Subcommittee on the Constitution will mark up the DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act (DC Voting Rights Act, H.R. 5388) on September 14, 2006.

DC Voting Rights Group Launches Public Awareness Campaign

Tens of Thousands of Residents and Tourists Will See Ads Every Day

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Washington, DC - DC Vote unveiled today the first in a series of public awareness advertisements geared at educating the American public about DC residents' lack of voting representation in Congress. DC Vote was joined by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), DC Council Chair Pro Tempore Jack Evans and At-Large DC Councilmember Kwame Brown who support the public awareness campaign.

DC Vote to Unveil Innovative DC Voting Rights Outdoor Advertising Campaign

Ads at Metro Stops, Bus Shelters to Educate Public about DC’s Lack of Voting Rights in Congress

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Washington, DC - DC Vote will host a press conference to launch a compelling public awareness campaign designed to educate Americans about DC's unique relationship with Congress. The campaign will be launched with print ads in Metro stops and bus shelters across the District of Columbia, and it will grow to include nationwide television and radio messaging.

DC Bid for Second Presidential Caucus in 2008 Gets Major Push by DC Vote Supporters

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Washington, DC – The DC City Council, DC’s Democratic Party, civil and voting rights groups including the Greater Washington Urban League, DC Vote and FairVote, are uniting behind an activist campaign urging the DNC to consider scheduling DC’s 2008 Presidential Caucus between Iowa and New Hampshire at their July 22-23 Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting. DC is one of the final jurisdictions being considered for the coveted spot.

DC Vote Supports DC's First-in-the-Nation Opportunities in 2008 Presidential Primaries

Tuesday, July 4, 2006

Washington, DC - Today, on Independence Day, DC Vote announced its support and advocacy for the District of Columbia's 2008 presidential nominating primary or caucus to be among the first in the nation.

Kids Rally for DC Democracy at White House, June 16, 2006

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Washington, DC - The DC Young Suffragists will hold a kids' rally in Lafayette Park opposite the White House on Friday, June 16, from 9-10:30am, calling for full democratic rights for residents of DC. Boys and girls ages 4-12 have planned the program to include a tea party, kids' speeches, and parading.

DC Vote Applauds Unprecedented Bipartisan Approval of DC Voting Rights Act

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Washington, DC - In a momentous vote cast this afternoon by the House Committee on Government Reform, the DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act (H.R. 5388) passed by a vote of 29-4. The bill would give Washington, DC, residents a voting member in the House for the first time ever.

DC Vote Announces Historic Mark-Up in House Committee

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Washington, DC - In a historic milestone in the DC voting rights movement, the House Committee on Government Reform will mark-up a bill that would give residents of Washington, DC, a voting representative in Congress for the first time ever.

Jack Kemp Gives Strong Endorsement for Promising, New DC Voting Rights Bill

Monday, May 15, 2006

Washington, DC - In a major step forward in the DC voting rights movement, Representative Tom Davis (R-VA) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced on May 11, 2006 the introduction of the DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006. The new legislation is the product of a bipartisan consensus bill that would give the District of Columbia a voting representative in the House for the first time ever.

DC Vote Celebrates Work Leading to Mark-Up of New Voting Rights Bill

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Washington, DC - After three years of relentless work by DC Vote, a mark-up is scheduled in the House Government Reform Committee for a piece of legislation that would give DC residents a voting representative in the House for the first time ever.

Norton Says Two Mark-ups, Increase in House Seats and Bipartisan Equivalence Were Key to Her Support of DC House Vote Bill

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Washington, DC - At a news conference, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) culminated their efforts of almost four years with an announcement of an agreement they reached almost two months ago on the D.C. Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006.

DC Vote Awarded Competitive Grant by DC Government for Public Awareness Campaign

American Public to Be Educated about DC’s Unique Relationship with Congress

Thursday, April 6, 2006

Washington, DC - On April 5, Mayor Anthony Williams announced that the District of Columbia City Government is awarding a competitive grant in the amount of $500,000 to DC Vote for use in raising public awareness and educating the American public on the District's unique relationship with the United States Congress.

Washington, DC’s TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION License Plates Hit a Milestone

With More Than 1 Million Plates Issued, DC Residents Continue Their Drive Toward Democracy

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Washington, DC – More than 1 million of DC’s well-known ‘TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION’ license plates have been issued by the DC Department of Motor Vehicles, according to a report requested by DC Vote from the DMV this month. The plates were first introduced by Mayor Anthony Williams and the DC Department of Motor Vehicles on November 4, 2000.

Home Rule Bill Would Remove Federal Processing of Local Hatch Act Provisions

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), along with Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA), today introduced the District of Columbia Reform Hatch Act of 2006 to eliminate discriminatory treatment of local violations under the federal Hatch Act that Norton believes the House no longer intends. The House recognized that the present federal Hatch Act jurisdiction over local DC violations was obsolete by removing federal responsibility several years ago, but the Senate failed to act accordingly.

Norton Sees Passage of Legislative Autonomy Because of Congressional Disuse of Layover Requirement

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the District of Columbia Legislative Autonomy Act of 2006, the second in a series of "Free and Equal D.C." bills to remove the remaining congressional statutes that impose discriminatory and unequal treatment on the District (Norton hopes to get enactment this year of the fraternal twin of today's bill, the first bill in the Free and Equal D.C. series, H.R. 1629, the D.C. Budget Autonomy Act of 2005, sponsored by Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis and Norton.) The Legislative Autonomy Act would eliminate the congressional review or layover period for civil and criminal District acts of 30 days and 60 days respectively, which usually means many months of harmful delay before a D.C. bill becomes law because only the days when both houses of Congress are in session apply.

Let My People Vote 2006

Leaders of the United Methodist Church to Discuss Congressional Representation for DC

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Washington, DC – On Sunday, February 19, 2006, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM, the Foundry Democracy Project will host “Let My People Vote 2006: How Faith Communities Can Take Action to Pass the DC FAIR Act” at Foundry United Methodist Church, 1500 16th Street NW, on the corner of 16th and P Streets, NW.

Honoring Coretta Scott King

Human Rights Activist and Civil Rights Leader

Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Washington, DC - As the nation mourns the loss of a cherished American civil rights hero, DC Vote joins the countless millions honoring the life and work of Coretta Scott King. Mrs. King has provided inspiration to people all over the world with her dedication to social justice and human rights. DC Vote aims to emulate her spirit of freedom and democracy.

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