Norton Thanks Senate Democrats for Blocking Republican Bill to Permanently Ban Local D.C. Funding for Abortion

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) thanked Senate Democrats for today defeating a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to a bill to permanently prohibit the District of Columbia from spending its local funds on abortion services for low-income women. The bill, introduced by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), would also permanently ban federal funding for abortion, prohibit D.C. and federal government employees from providing abortions, prohibit abortions in D.C. and federal government facilities and define the D.C. government as part of the federal government for purposes of abortion. Currently, the District is subject to an appropriations rider for fiscal year 2019 that prohibits D.C. from spending its local funds on abortions for low-income women.

"Working with our Democratic friends in the Senate, we have fought off Republican attacks on the reproductive rights of women across the nation, and particularly those of women in the District of Columbia," Norton said. "This bill outrageously singles out D.C. and uniquely attacks its local laws and funds. I will continue to work with our Senate partners to ensure this bill, along with any other anti-home-rule bills, goes nowhere."

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