Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the ranking member for his leadership and of course Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for her continued…”

“I thank the ranking member for his leadership and of course Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for her continued consistency in refuting and rebutting wrongheaded and misdirected policies that seem to come year after year. Let me read breaking news from one of the historic newspapers in this month that we begin to focus on Black history. From ``The Washington Informer,'' the headline says, ``D.C. Council Blasts House GOP Interference in City Law.'' ``D.C. Council members have lashed out at Republicans on Capitol Hill for seeking to meddle in city affairs.'' For some reason, Ranking Member Raskin, there was some thought that our friends were riding in on a white horse because there was some disagreement on the Council. That disagreement, as you have so effectively said, with the Congresswoman as well, is that they want to handle their own matters. Let the record be clear: The United States Constitution does not forbid noncitizens from casting a vote in local, State, and other elections. At least 15 cities currently allow noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections, and particularly noncitizens were occasionally permitted to cast ballots in local, State, and Federal elections in 40 States from the time of the Nation's inception until 1926. We have had a history of local decisions being made by local voters. In this instance, local voters voted and made a decision. Whatever modifications they desire to make, they are not asking this place to implode their work.…”