CM Christina Henderson

@cmchenderson.bsky.social

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Official account of At-Large DC Councilmember Christina Henderson @chenderson.bsky.social Fighting to ensure DC works for all residents, in every ward.

Washington, DC - The following is a statement from Councilmember Henderson on the closure of MedStar Washington Hospital Center's Postpartum Maternity Unit: "I am deeply concerned about MedStar Washington Hospital Center's decision to close one of its two postpartum maternity units later this month, which will result in an overall reduction of available beds. Although hospital leadership has cited a lower patient census as the reasoning, Washington Hospital Center is still delivering more than a third of babies born in the District. The timing is especially unfortunate given that summer is a peak time for births. Furthermore, given its comprehensive antepartum care and its Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Washington Hospital Center is a vital lifeline for patients and providers managing high-risk pregnancies and preterm births across the region. I worry what a reduction in maternity beds will mean for women who need this level of critical care before and immediately after their child is born. Will they be prematurely discharged due to space constraints? Will they be forced to travel to hospitals further away? I fear that this decision will result in more patients being turned away or having no choice but to deliver in emergency rooms, which carries a higher risk of complications.
• Waste management: Don't leave food or food waste outside your home in containers that rats can access (clamshell containers, soft plastic bags, etc.), and try to limit having food waste in your trash collection containers for more than a day before your scheduled trash collection. Example: An ANC Commissioner at Rodent Academy shared that a neighbor thought she was feeding the birds in her front yard, but cameras showed she was actually feeding rats. • Compost: Composting is an excellent way to keep your food scraps out of your trash receptables, and a rat's belly. The District now offers a variety of ways for residents to compost, including drop-off sites throughout the District and a curbside composting pilot. Learn more on DPW's Zero Waste website. • Report rodent activity to 311: DC Health and other agencies will respond to 311 complaints of rodent activity, and DPW will remove dead rodents within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. Depending on the situation, they may notify property owners about improper waste management, clean up an alley, or use rodenticides to treat burrows. DC Health has a new Rodent Control Dashboard where you can see hotspots for rodent activity based on 311 complaints.
Dear Neighbors, Did you know that a group of rats is called a "mischief"? They are certainly earning that name in the District these days. Whether you've noticed new holes in your trash containers, burrows in a sidewalk tree box, or actually seen one or several rodents run across your path, it's likely that you've noticed that the District's rodent population is reaching new levels. And you're not wrong —the District has one of the fastest rodent population growths of any major urban area in the country. Besides the beautiful monuments and unmatched culture, why do rats love DC so much? Hard to know. But we do know a main reason why we've had difficulty containing the problem -easy access to food. Open or overflowing trash cans, discarded takeout containers, and other unsecured food waste makes for an all-you-can-eat buffet for rodents. While several District agencies, including DC Health, Department of Public Works, and Department of Buildings, all play a role in rodent management, residents, businesses and property owners can also significantly reduce rodent populations by properly disposing of food waste.
Dear Neighbors, One of my favorite things about being an American is the rich texture and diversity of our culture. From music and entertainment to internationally renowned cuisine to our quirky traditions, while every region of the country has its own flair - together, America, we set the standard. It's one of the reasons I was excited for America's 250th anniversary when the planning began in 2016 when Congress created the nonpartisan United States Semiquincentennial Commission. What an amazing opportunity to celebrate and display all that America has become and has to offer. After all, while our history is complicated, it is also one of resilience.
As a former Council staffer, I encourage you to peruse the Committee reports that accompany each Committee's budget recommendations. They help provide context to the Committee's thinking and also good oversight information regarding agency operations. It is not light reading for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, but given the weather forecast, you may have some time indoors. More to come as we work towards June 23. In Service, Christina Henderson Councilmember, At-Large ChristinaHendersonDC.com
Dear Neighbors, This past Wednesday, the Committee on Health unanimously passed its Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Report and Recommendations. Saying this has been a tight budget season would be an understatement. Nonetheless, I am pleased with what we have been able to accomplish in light of such drastic cuts in the Mayor's proposed budget. Over the last two months, the Committee on Health team worked with advocates, community organizers, and local organizations and collaborated with other Council committees to secure funding for critical initiatives that serve the residents of the District. The rest of this newsletter contains an overview of the Committee on Health's FY 2027 Budget Report and Recommendations, among other updates.
Access To address food insecurity and increase healthy food access in DC the COH invests: • $400,000 in recurring funds to reduce the waitlist for the Produce Plus Program; • $50,000 in recurring funds to restore the local cut for Joyful Food Markets; • $98,500 in recurring funds to restore the local cut for Home-Delivered Meals; • $500,000 annually for FYs 2027-2029 for the renovation of Food and Friends' Ward 5 Headquarters to expand access to medically tailored meals; • $200,000 in one-time funds to restore lost federal funding for Dreaming Out Loud to provide grocery delivery to low-income seniors out of its Marion Barry Avenue Market and Café in Ward 8; • $200,000 in one-time funds to extend and expand the Grocery Access Grant Pilot Program; and • $250,000 for Farmers Market Support Grants.
What You Need to Know About Surveillance Pricing A December 2025 study conducted by Consumer Reports and the Groundwork Collaborative found that Instacart listed identical grocery items at varying prices within the same stores in the District of Columbia. In some cases, prices were marked up by as much as 23%, based not on supply or demand, but on algorithmic assessments that functionally tested differences in individual customers' willingness to pay for identical items. Councilmember Henderson wants to protect DC residents from these predatory pricing strategies.
The Judith Heumann Memorial Workers with Disabilities Act of 2026 would establish the District Workers with Disabilities Program, a Medicaid Buy-In program that allows District residents with disabilities to maintain health coverage while earning income above Medicaid’s traditional limits as long as they pay affordable monthly premiums. Currently, aged, blind, and disabled individuals who earn more than $1,330 per month, or two-person households earning more than $1,804 per month, are ineligible for Medicaid in the District. This leads to disabled residents experiencing the “benefits cliff,” a phenomenon in which modest increases in income can result in the loss of critical public benefits, including Medicaid coverage and long-term services and supports. DC would be joining 48 other states with a Medicaid buy-in program if this legislation is approved by the full Council.
Dear Neighbors, Earlier today, Mayor Bowser presented highlights of her proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to the DC Council and the public at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. The full proposed budget will officially be transmitted on April 14. Until then, you can review the presentation slides, here, and review chapters that have been released so far here. I look forward to reviewing the full proposal – the devil is always in the details. The hearing schedule for the Committee on Health is below, and the complete budget hearing schedule is posted online.