On the recordNovember 7, 2023
I thank my good friend for yielding to me. Madam Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose this rule and the fiscal year 2024 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill. The bill blocks, repeals, or amends ten laws and policies adopted by the District of Columbia's locally elected officials. The rule also makes in order three amendments that would block D.C. from spending its local funds, which consist of local taxes and fees, to carry out local D.C. laws and policies. While Congress has the constitutional authority to legislate on local D.C. matters, it does not have a constitutional duty to do so. Instead, legislating on local D.C. matters is a choice. The Supreme Court has held that Congress may delegate ``fully legislative power'' to D.C. on local D.C. matters. D.C.'s local legislature, the D.C. Council, has 13 members. All members are elected by D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not like the laws the Council adopts, they can vote those members out of office. That is called democracy. Congress has 435 voting Members. The Members are elected by residents of the States. None are elected by or accountable to D.C. residents. If D.C. residents do not like the laws Congress adopts, they cannot vote the Members out of office. This is the antithesis of democracy. The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation. Yet, D.C.…
