Eleanor Holmes Norton: “During the next 3 days, I will be coming to the floor, leading up to Thursday, April 16--D.C. Emancipation Day. That is…”

“During the next 3 days, I will be coming to the floor, leading up to Thursday, April 16--D.C. Emancipation Day. That is the day that Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves in the District of Columbia before slaves nationwide were emancipated. Now, no resident of the District of Columbia is a slave today as in 1863, but at the same time, the residents of the District of Columbia are not as free as the other residents of our country--our fellow Americans. In the District of Columbia, we commemorate D.C. Emancipation Day, not only to honor our forebears but to demand equal treatment from our country for the citizens who live in the Nation's Capital. Mr. Speaker, the citizens who live right here in the belly of freedom do not have the same rights as other Americans although they pay the same taxes and more taxes--I will argue tomorrow and show you the figures--than any other Americans. They endure undemocratic interference even with their local budget--a budget for which the Federal Government, for which the Congress, contributes not one penny-- and yet that local budget comes before this body without the Member who represents the local citizens--the Member whose local budget is at issue cannot vote. As astounding as those elements of statehood are, perhaps none is more dishonorable than the continued sacrifices of Americans who live in the Nation's Capital without having the same representation as other Americans.…”