Debate on H.R. 1433 is wrapping up and the House is about to vote.
Go to C-SPAN to watch.

There’s still time to go to http://www.freeandequaldc.com to take action!

Great news from Capitol Hill today. The House Judiciary Committee passed the DC Voting Rights Act by a vote of 21-13. The bill is expected to go to the full floor sometime late next week. Most people, myself included, expect it to pass.

I was in the hearing room today during the mark-up, and it was entertaining to say the least. I have to take a minute to thank Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.) who joined Democrats in voting for the bill. He also promised to help pass it in the full House.

According to the Washington Post, he told Delegate Norton his support was “heartfelt”. I know I speak for everyone in the District when we thank him for his vote and welcome his help for final passage. I hope people back in his district give him credit for this vote as well.

It’s been quite a week for this issue with a hearing and two successful markups from key committees. It took a lot of work from a lot of people to get us this far…but we are nowhere near having this thing signed, sealed, and delivered. When it passes the House, we still need to get it through the Senate and that’s gonna take work. You can help by taking two minutes and going to http://www.freeandequaldc.com - send the link to your friends, add it to your email signature, and just get people to take action!

We’re almost there, let’s keep up the momentum.

Here’s the post article:

House Committee Passes D.C. Voting Bill

Great day on the Hill as the DC Voting Rights Act (H.R. 1433) was passed out of the House Oversight and Reform Committee today by a vote of 24-5.

There were a number of amendments that were offered - the most entertaining one was by Representative Lynn Westmoreland. He attempted to amend the bill to read that if the partisan balance of a Democratic member from the District and a Republican member from Utah did not materialize, then the bill was null and void. Chairman Waxman wisely pointed out the United States Congress should not be in any position to tell people who what party they need to vote for. (Of course that amendement went nowhere, and I think Representative Westmoreland was just trying to make some sort of point )

Tomorrow there is a hearing in the Judiciary Committee at 10:00am in 2141 Rayburn. And then a mark-up on Thursday. It’s going to be an historic week!

Additional Reading:

Chairman Waxman’s Opening Statement

Opening Statement of Ranking Member Tom Davis

Washington Post Article:
D.C. Could Get First Full Vote in House

Good news! Efforts to give DC a vote in the House of Representatives are showing momentum. The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007, now H.R. 1433, is going to have a number of hearings this week in the House.

The first one is March 13th in the Oversight and Government Reform committee, followed by a hearing the next day in the Judiciary Committee. The details are as follows:

DC Voting Rights Act Mark Up
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Location: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
Time: 10:00 AM

Judiciary Committee on DC House Voting Rights Act

Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Location: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Time: 10:00 AM

If you can make either of these hearings, please find me and say hello.