Norton Says Lack of Statehood Cost D.c. Tens to Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Senate Earmarks

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said the District of Columbia was shortchanged tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks in the Senate's fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations bills. D.C. did not receive any earmarks in the Senate bills because D.C. does not have senators to request Senate earmarks. Earmarks, which returned in FY 2022 for the first time in more than a decade, are funding requested by members of Congress for local governments and non-profits for specific projects in their districts or states.

"The Senate earmarks are only the latest example in which D.C.'s lack of statehood has caused financial harm to the District," Norton said. "D.C.'s lack of Senate representation cost D.C. tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks in FY 2022 and will cost it similar amounts in FY 2023. This unequal treatment is particularly egregious because D.C. pays more federal taxes per capita than any state and more federal taxes than 23 states."

Senators received a wide range of funding for earmarks, with two states receiving more than $500 million each. Norton received approximately $21 million in earmarks for D.C. in the House's FY 2023 appropriations bills, which was the typical amount received by House members.

Norton noted another recent example of D.C. being shortchanged. Last Congress, the CARES Act, which was drafted by the Republican-led Senate, treated D.C. as a territory instead of a state for coronavirus fiscal relief, depriving D.C. of $755 million. This Congress, Norton was able to get that $755 million for D.C. restored in the American Rescue Plan.

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