Press Releases

Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

“For 35 years, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has honorably served the District of Columbia and our nation. It is with tremendous respect and admiration that we extend our gratitude to Congresswoman Norton as she prepares to retire from Congress next year.

“As the Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Norton has been a guiding force for our members for decades, sharing her wisdom and expertise and helping to shape generations of leadership.

“Congresswoman Norton’s unparalleled career in public service will be remembered for her work as an activist with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the Civil Rights Movement, organizing the March on Washington; as a law professor and accomplished attorney who argued and won before the Supreme Court; and as the first woman to lead the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, appointed by President Jimmy Carter.

“In the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Norton has been a fierce defender and advocate for D.C. Home Rule and statehood on behalf of residents who have long been denied voting representation in the national legislature. She has shepherded D.C. through decades of transformation, including the Wharf, Capitol Riverfront, NoMa, the Walter Reed campus, St. Elizabeths West for the Department of Homeland Security, and the transfer of the RFK Stadium site to the District of Columbia.

“The CBC is deeply grateful for her leadership, mentorship, and lasting impact on D.C. and our nation. We look forward to serving alongside her until the completion of her term and wish her godspeed as she continues to be a champion for D.C. in the next phase of her public service.”