Eleanor Holmes Norton: “Unfortunately, our thoughts this evening have to be with the ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform…”

“Unfortunately, our thoughts this evening have to be with the ranking member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Elijah Cummings, who could not be here due to ongoing events in his Baltimore district, but his statement strongly opposing H.J. Res. 43 will be entered into the Record. Madam Speaker, resentment does not begin to relate our response to this unprecedented disapproval resolution. Republicans this evening continue their war on women, but this time, they have added men in the District of Columbia for good measure. This resolution is wildly undemocratic. It is a naked violation of the Nation's founding principle of local control of local affairs, and it is profoundly offensive to D.C. residents. This resolution uniquely targets my district, but every Member will get to vote on it except for me, the District's elected Representative. Notwithstanding its late-night consideration, Democrats will make sure Americans understand this inflammatory resolution. For the first time ever, the House is voting to license employers to discriminate against employees for their private, constitutionally protected reproductive health decisions. For the first time in a quarter of a century, the House is voting to overturn the law of a local jurisdiction. The D.C. bill stops employers from job discrimination based on the reproductive health decision of employees, their spouses, or their dependents.…”