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Dear Neighbors,
We may not be done salting our sidewalks just yet. With the appearance of “second winter”, the days are getting longer but our temperatures have yet to consistently hit springtime levels. A second winter also means that we may be heating our homes longer than usual, and with many District residents experiencing spikes in their utility bills I’d like to share some District government resources. If you are in need of financial assistance, discounts, or access to energy efficient programs in the District, you can visit the Department of Energy & Environment for access to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Utility Discount Program (UDP), or the Clean Rivers Impervious Area Charge (a relief program for nonprofits).
I’m excited to share that the Committee on Health held its first performance oversight hearing for the Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB), for which we now have oversight authority after a Council Committee reorganization in January. In addition to its important regulatory work, DISB has a bevy of resources that many residents may not be aware of, such as DC BizCap, the Office of the Student Loan Ombudsman, and estate planning assistance.
As Black History month wraps up, I’d like to share a story from one of the witnesses at the DISB performance oversight hearing. Erik Jenkins’s testimony highlighted DISB’s leadership in helping him and his co-owner open Hazel’s Hardware – a soon to be 10,000 square foot store serving northwest DC on the old Walter Reed campus. Hazel’s Hardware is named after General Hazel Johnson Brown, the first black woman Brigadier General in the U.S. Army and the first black chief in the Army Nurses Corps. She served two tours at Walter Reed and is assumed to have worked in the building that will soon be named after her. She broke many barriers throughout her career and has been recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives when they passed a Joint Resolution in her honor commending her “significant contributions to the nursing profession and her dedication to the U.S Army.” You can read her biography, here, on the National Museum of the United States Army website.
This week has provided great examples of the impacts of government resources and what they can support. As we continue with the last performance oversight hearings for the Committee on Health, I am eager to learn and share more.
In Service,
Christina Henderson
Councilmember, At-Large
ChristinaHendersonDC.com
DC Water crews continue to work around the clock to keep the Potomac Interceptor repair site stable. The Potomac Interceptor is the sewer line which carries 60 million gallons of wastewater daily from Virgina and Maryland to the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant. On January 19, a section of the Potomac Interceptor collapsed, bringing a significant quantity of untreated sewage flowing into the Potomac River.
On Wednesday, staff from our office monitored the community meeting in which DC Water provided an update on the cleanup and repair process and answered constituent questions. DC Water reported repairs are ongoing, and teams are managing stormwater and maintaining continuous pumping to prevent overflows. DC Water is also performing daily water quality sampling. Councilmember Henderson met with the DC Water CEO Gaddis yesterday to ask follow‑up questions on repair progress and next steps.
DC Water crews are nearly done removing a rock and debris dam that was blocking the damaged section of the Potomac Interceptor. Once the rocks, muck, and debris are removed, work will begin to prepare the pipe for repair. DC Water remains on target to complete the emergency repairs by mid-March, restoring the full flow and functionality to the Potomac Interceptor and eliminating the need for a bypass pumping system.
Stay tuned for more updates.
On Wednesday, February 18, and Friday, February 20, the Committee on Health convened the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Performance Oversight Hearings for DC Health. The Wednesday hearing featured testimony from 70 public witnesses, followed by government testimony on Friday from DC Health Director Dr. Ayanna Bennett and her leadership team.
Public witnesses included Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, members of medical associations, advocates, DC Public Schools faculty, and community stakeholders. Testimony covered the wide array of programs that DC Health administers. For example, some witness testimony highlighted a need for sex education for youth; results of a survey of 1,200 students from public and charter high schools showed 46% reporting that they had received zero hours of sex education. Other testimony, highlighting 12 cases of rodenticide poisoning, covered the need for collection of rodents carcasses to reduce pets and children from being poisoned by rodents that ingested poison. On the topic of health professional licensing, witnesses highlighted the importance of ensuring licensure standards are met and education requirements continued and that medical practices that cause harm or operate outside of their scope of practice have their licenses suspend or revoked. Witnesses also shared concerns about lack of consistent communication from DC Health.
During the government witness hearing on Friday, the Committee questioned DC Health leadership on their current practices to mitigate the spread of measles and their communication plan to alert DC residents of possibly contaminated areas, the delay in the Death with Dignity Report, and how the District plans to remain competitive among our regional partners regarding rates, fees, and fines in an effort to bolster our workforce.
Additional testimony highlighted DC Health’s coordination with Children’s National Hospital to discuss their response to getting immunization information to parents and families; improvements in customer satisfaction with the Office of Vital Records; a decrease in federal funding for HIV prevention and uncertainty regarding funding levels going forward; maintaining effective interventions methods such as the 14 Overdose Prevention Response Vending Machines which have had over 120,000 products purchased from them in FY 2025; and auditing licensing fees compared to surrounding jurisdictions.
On Tuesday, February 24, the Committee on Health held a performance oversight hearing on the Department of Insurance Securities and Banking (DISB). Following the Council’s committee restructuring in January, DISB now falls under the Committee on Health. DISB plays a critical role in safeguarding the financial health of District residents. In addition to regulating insurance, securities, and banking, the agency oversees risk and compliance within the financial sector, enforces consumer protection laws, promotes financial education and empowerment, and invests in small business development. During the hearing, Councilmember Henderson questioned Commissioner Karima Woods about DISB’s efforts to protect student loan borrowers from private lenders; expand banking access for young people and marginalized residents; monitor and resolve insurance-related complaints; and ensure the agency has the resources necessary to operate effectively.
In-depth conversation at the hearing covered DISB’s investment in the Business Capital Access Program (“DC BizCAP”). Since its inception, the program has distributed more than $25.4 million across all eight Wards. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, DC BizCAP has directed $1 million in federal funds to three minority-owned businesses in Ward 8, helping them leverage $4.6 million in private capital and create or retain 45 jobs. The Committee also heard testimony from five small businesses that described DISB’s support as instrumental to their commercial growth. Through DC BizCAP, businesses have received funding for equipment, operations, and working capital, as well as access to financing alternatives beyond traditional commercial lending. DISB committed to continuing outreach efforts to expand awareness of and access to the program.
You can view the performance oversight calendar for the DC Council, here. Witnesses can sign up to testify at dccouncil.gov/hearings.
On Thursday February 19, the Committee of the Whole held a performance oversight hearing for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) with government witness, Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee. At the hearing, Councilmember Henderson focused her questions on educational outcomes and academic achievement by emphasizing the importance of striking a balance with the use of screen-time in the classroom. In response, Ferebee emphasized DCPS's Required Curricular Tasks model which requires school curriculums to incorporate dedicated activities with paper and pencil to mitigate over reliance on technology.
Councilmember Henderson also asked about the Home and Hospital Instruction Program, which serves students who are temporarily unable to attend school due to medical needs. Currently, DCPS requires a minimum of five hours of instruction per week for participating students. She raised concerns about whether this threshold is sufficient to ensure students receive substantial, high-quality instruction to avoid falling behind during medical emergencies. DCPS acknowledged these concerns and committed to revisiting the program to explore ways to strengthen instructional time and improving academic continuity.
On Wednesday, February 25, the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a performance oversight hearing covering the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Office of Police Complaints and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Councilmember Henderson attended the hearing and questioned MPD Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll and his leadership team on collaboration with federal law enforcement; MPD’s planning for America 250; MPD’s overtime policy; and the status of MPD’s Financial Crimes Unit.
On Thursday, February 26, Councilmember Henderson participated in the performance oversight hearing for the Office of Disability Rights (ODR), which oversees District government agencies’ compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provides services for residents who are deaf or blind. During the hearing, Councilmember Henderson and Interim Director Peter Stephan discussed recruitment and engagement efforts for the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, the training and qualifications expected of agency ADA coordinators, agencies’ progress on ADA compliance plans, and the agency’s assessment of incorporating the former standalone Mayor’s Office of Deaf, Deaf Blind, and Hard of Hearing into the Office of Disability Rights.
Discussing School Nutrition
On Tuesday, February 17, Councilmember Henderson was interviewed for an upcoming documentary and discussed the importance of school lunch and maintaining nutrition levels of DC’s cafeteria food. She shared notes on lunch being geared towards cost effectiveness rather than health in recent years and the possibility of scratch kitchens in schools making a comeback in the District.
Primary Care Roundtable
On Thursday, February 18, the Committee on Health's Policy Legislative Advisor, Rebecca Cooper, joined DC Primary Care Association for their Primary Care roundtable, " Building DC's Primary Care Common Agenda: Priorities for Action." The roundtable included conversation on primary care policy and system priorities across the pillars of payment, social work, workforce, and patient trust.
Celebrating Recess at the Capitol
On Tuesday, February 24, Councilmember Henderson joined a celebration of DC residents who participated in “Recess at the Capitol” events a year ago to advocate for DC’s budget with members of Congress. The Council recognized their civic engagement with a ceremonial resolution that was approved in December and presented on Tuesday. Councilmember Henderson is pictured with Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and Ward 8 State Board of Education Representative, Dr. LaJoy Johnson-Law.
Sunrise on the Hill
On Wednesday, February 18, Councilmember Henderson joined Hillary Howard and Cory Smith for Sunrise on the Hill, a morning segment of DC News Now, and shared updates on the Potomac Interceptor’s sewage spill and the status of DC’s Tax Code. You can watch the segment, here.
Writing Our Story, Righting Our History
Writing Our Story, Righting Our History invites you to gather on International Women’s Day for a vibrant afternoon celebrating Black women as authors, activists, and artists whose voices continue to shape culture, memory, and change. Join Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G Street Northwest) on Sunday, March 8, at 1:30pm for an author talk with Tiffany D. Cross on her new book Love, Me: A Letter to Black Women in a Toxic Country, Career, and Relationship and a panel conversation featuring Washington Informer publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, Howard University Dean and author Dana A. Williams, Black Women’s Roundtable convener Melanie L. Campbell and multidisciplinary artist Nina Angela Mercer, followed by lightning talks offering reflections, short storytelling, and calls to action from biographer A’Lelia Bundles, novelist Diane McKinney-Whetstone, memoirist Bernardine Watson, and economist Rhonda Sharpe.
You can register for the event, here.
Blossom Kicks for Kids Program
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, along with Presenting Sponsor Events DC, is excited to invite DC residents in grades 5–8 from all eight wards to participate in our Blossom Kicks for Kids Program.
Blossom Kicks for Kids empowers young creatives to explore their passion for art, fashion, and design by creating original soccer cleat designs inspired by the beauty of cherry blossoms and the spirit of international friendship. This year’s theme, “Art of The Game,” encourages students to transform cleats into wearable art that reflects their connection to cherry blossoms and soccer.
Submission Window: Now open through March 1 Shoe Design Day: March 22 (for selected students)
You can access the application, here.
2026 Congressional Art Competition
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton invites D.C. high school students to participate in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. This national competition is open to high school students from across the country to submit their artwork for a chance to win first place in their Congressional District. All of the first-place artwork from each Congressional District will be exhibited in the halls of the U.S. Capitol for one year. Students who would like to participate must submit in person their artwork with the form below to. The competition deadline is Friday, March 27, 2026. You can find more participation guidelines, here.
Books from Birth 10 Year Anniversary
Books from Birth is turning 10 — and your family is invited to the party at MLK Library! Celebrate a decade of D.C.’s free early-literacy program delivering a book every month to children from birth to age five. It’s a joyful, book-filled day made just for families.
The celebration will include a FREE concert with family favorites Marsha and the Positrons, Family Improv Fun by Story Tapestries, interactive storytimes, hands-on crafts inspired by beloved characters, playful literacy activities for little learners, and giveaways and surprises to keep the reading going at home. Come join us on Saturday, February 28, from 10:30am to 2:30pm at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW).
My School DC: PK3 – Grade 8 Application Deadline
Families applying to PK3 - Grade 8 for the 2026–27 school year have until March 2 to submit a lottery application. They can start exploring schools using the School Finder tool: https://find.myschooldc.org/ -- Las familias que aplican a PK3 a 8.º grado para el año escolar 2026–27 tienen hasta el 2 de Marzo para enviar su solicitud a la lotería escolar. Comienza a explorar escuelas con la herramienta School Finder: https://find.myschooldc.org/
The 19th Annual Rooting DC
The 19th annual Rooting DC is a FREE, all-day event that provides education and community building around urban agriculture and food systems, with the goal of cultivating personal, community, and environmental wellbeing. It is the District’s central meeting ground for land stewards and garden lovers to strengthen their connection with crops and community in the nation’s capital. The Rooting DC program includes interactive workshops on crop production, food preparation/preservation/waste-prevention, and agroecology as a source of education and art. The event also hosts an exhibitor hall of local businesses, non-profits, and government entities from across the metropolitan region. The event takes place on Saturday, March 7, from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Eastern Senior High School (1700 East Capitol St. NE)
You can register for the event, here.
H St Land Use and Market Study
The DC Office of Planning is holding an open house for those who want to learn about the DC Office of Planning's H St Land Use and Market Study. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the study, speak with the project team, and share your feedback and vision for the future of H Street NE. The open house takes place on Saturday, March 7 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th St NE). You can register for the event, here.
American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided.
Cedar Hill Hiring Event
Cedar Hill will be conducting on-site interviews for qualified candidates. If you have the qualifications and/or credentials for any of the vacancies listed below, and you would like to attend this event and sit for an on-site in-person interview with Cedar Hill staff you are required to RSVP. The hiring event takes place on Tuesday, March 10, from 10:00am to 2:00pm at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center (1200 Pecan Street Southeast).
Open positions:
Have a constituent service need related to the Health Committee or any of the other agencies in DC Government? Want Councilmember Henderson to come to your community event or meeting? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Constituent Services Director Ana Berrios-Vazquez during regular business hours (9:00am - 5:30pm) at 202-724-8105, or ABerriosVazquez@dccouncil.gov.
You can visit us online at christinahendersondc.com. Or stay connected by following Councilmember Christina Henderson on her socials.
Website: christinahendersondc.com
Twitter (X): @CMCHenderson
Instagram: @christinahendersondc
Facebook: @christinahendersondc
Bluesky: @cmchenderson.bsky.social