It’s only the first week of April, but Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) is already deep in the fight for the District she has long represented — pushing forward on multiple fronts that impact the daily lives of more than 700,000 Washingtonians.
Norton, a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, has introduced a new bill aimed squarely at improving the quality of life for residents living near train corridors.
Her legislation, the Train Noise and Vibrations Reduction Act of 2025, calls on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit detailed recommendations to Congress on how to reduce train noise and vibrations near homes — and provide cost estimates for each proposal.
“D.C. residents are increasingly contacting me about the negative impact train noise and vibrations are having on their health, quality of life, and even the structural integrity of their homes,” Norton said. “Although trains provide an essential mode of transportation, Congress should examine whether there are viable, cost-effective ways to mitigate the harms caused by long-term train noise and vibrations.”
Under the proposed bill, the GAO would assess factors such as train speed and frequency, operational hours, track and train modifications, proximity of tracks to homes, and other noise mitigation strategies. The findings and recommendations would be due within one year of the bill’s enactment.
“I have convened community meetings with the Federal Railroad Administration, the D.C. Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration to examine how to reduce train noise and vibrations,” Norton said in her official statement introducing the bill. “A GAO report can help us identify viable, long-term solutions for communities.”
But while pushing for practical solutions to improve living conditions in the District, Norton is also fending off what she characterizes as politically motivated attempts to undermine D.C.’s autonomy.
Just days before, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) introduced a bill to rename a stretch of 18th Street NW in Dupont Circle as “Jimmy Lai Way,” in honor of the jailed Hong Kong democracy activist. Norton swiftly responded, saying the move amounted to congressional overreach into local D.C. affairs.
“By renaming the street in honor of Jimmy Lai, we show solidarity and offer our continued support for this champion of democracy and human rights and all those in Hong Kong arbitrarily detained simply for exercising rights the Chinese Communist Party guaranteed them in an international treaty,” said Smith. “Yesterday’s sanctions underscore that freedom for the people of Hong Kong is a priority for the Trump Administration. President Trump boldly promised to gain Jimmy Lai’s release, raising the stakes for the Hong Kong and Beijing governments.”
However, Norton pushed back.
“No matter how well-intentioned an initiative is, it is never appropriate for members of Congress not elected by D.C. residents to legislate on local D.C. matters, particularly quintessentially local ones like street names,” Norton said. “D.C. is not a blank slate for Congress to fill in as it pleases.”
She reminded lawmakers that D.C. residents pay more federal taxes per capita than any state and deserve full self-governance.
“There are more than 700,000 D.C. residents who live here permanently, who elected me to serve them in Congress, and who are worthy and capable of self-government,” she said. “Rep. Smith was elected to serve the interests of his constituents in New Jersey, who stand to gain nothing from his recent encroachments on D.C.’s right to govern itself.”
Smith also attempted to nullify the District’s Insurance Regulation Amendment Act of 2024 through a disapproval resolution. However, Norton pointed out that the congressional review period under the Home Rule Act had already expired, rendering the resolution ineffective even if passed.
“There is never justification for Congress overturning laws enacted by D.C., but Rep. Smith’s disapproval resolution comes too late to be effective,” Norton said. “Moreover, Rep. Smith was elected to serve the interests of his constituents in New Jersey, who stand to gain nothing from this fumbled attempted attack on D.C. home rule.”
Local laws in D.C. must be transmitted to Congress for a designated review period.
If a disapproval resolution is enacted during that window, it can nullify the law.
However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser signed the Insurance Regulation Amendment Act into law on Jan. 15, and the review period has since passed.
Even before April began, Norton was pushing hard to resolve yet another issue affecting the District — this time involving the city’s right to spend its own local funds. She released a statement last month after former President Donald Trump urged the House to pass a standalone bill allowing D.C. to spend its local funds for Fiscal Year 2025 at its locally enacted levels.
A recent continuing resolution failed to include a long-standing provision permitting the District to continue spending under its approved budget. While the Senate passed corrective legislation introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), the House has yet to act.
“As surprised as I am to have an occasion to agree with President Trump, in this instance, we agree that D.C. should be able to spend its own local funds at its own locally enacted levels,” Norton said.
“I am grateful the Senate worked to correct this issue, and I will work with my colleagues to get the bill passed in the House.
“This ordeal, however, only helps to highlight the need for D.C. statehood so that D.C. can finally govern itself to the same extent afforded to the states, including making decisions about how to use its own local funds.”