Norton Vows to Defeat Smith Bill to Permanently Ban Local D.C. Funding for Abortion

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today condemned a bill introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) that would permanently prohibit the District of Columbia from spending its local funds that have been approved by Congress on abortion services for low-income women. Norton said she will work to ensure the bill is not taken up in the House.

"I have always prevented Rep. Smith's anti-choice, anti-home-rule bill from becoming law, even when Democrats were in the minority, and I will do so again in the 117th Congress," Norton said.

The bill would also permanently prohibit 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.

On February 2nd, Norton pledged to defeat the Senate companion bill, which was introduced by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS).

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