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I’m June Simms. On our show this week, we play some songs from a new album by Dwight Yoakam. And, we tell about a small but meaningful victory for the people of Washington D.C. who seek more representation in the United States Capitol building. (MUSIC) Frederick Douglass Statue for the Capitol Building JUNE SIMMS: The people of Washington DC won a long fought battle earlier this month. No, not statehood or a vote in the United States Congress. But, a little more representation than before. Lawmakers approved a measure permitting a statue of a former Washingtonian to be placed in the Capitol building. The statue of writer, scholar and anti-slavery leader Frederick Douglass will be set up near or in Statuary Hall. Each state is permitted two statues in the Capitol. Each statue represents someone from that state. For example, Virginia provided statues of President George Washington and General Robert E. Lee. Hawaii chose native chief Kamehameha the First as one of its statues. Alabama has a statue of Helen Keller. And so on. But for years the District of Columbia was denied a statue because it is not a state. And that has angered DC’s congressional representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton. She serves on House of Representatives committees, but her powers are limited. For example, she is not permitted to vote on legislation. But Ms. Norton attempts to have her say on all issues that affect the citizens of Washington, including statuary representation in the Capitol building. She has been working to pass a measure in Congress for years. | 
