Should Washington, DC become the US’s 51st state?
Bill Summary
This bill This bill would admit the District of Columbia into the United States as a full-fledged state - admitted to the Union on an equal footing with the other states - electing two new Senators and one new Representative to Congress. The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the commonwealth. Sponsor: Delegate Norton, Eleanor H. (Democrat, Washington, D.C.)
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Opponents say
• "But let us be clear. H.R. 51, even if signed into law, could not turn Washington, DC, into a state. In order for the District to become the 51st state, Congress needs to pass and the states need to ratify an amendment to the Constitution. The Constitution does not distinguish between the seat of the Federal Government and the district where the government is seated, meaning the Constitution would, in fact, need to be changed. In fact, Justice Departments of both parties going back to 1963 have determined that Congress cannot admit D.C. as a state legislatively."
Source: Rep. Jim Jordan (Republican, Ohio, District 4)
• "And when it became an issue of elections, making sure D.C. had a voice, it required a constitutional amendment to correct that and we have it. It is the Twenty-Third Amendment. And Congress, in the Constitution, has been granted the exclusive authority in all matters whatsoever in this Federal city—in the District of Columbia." Source: Rep. Jody Hice (Republican, Georgia, District 10)
• "They plan to make the District of Columbia a state; that’d give them two more new Democratic senators… So this is full-bore socialism on the march in the House. As long as I’m the Majority Leader of the Senate, none of that stuff is going anywhere." Source: Sen. Mitch McConnell (Republican, Kentucky)
• "And when it became an issue of elections, making sure D.C. had a voice, it required a constitutional amendment to correct that and we have it. It is the Twenty-Third Amendment. And Congress, in the Constitution, has been granted the exclusive authority in all matters whatsoever in this Federal city—in the District of Columbia." Source: Rep. Jody Hice (Republican, Georgia, District 10)
• "They plan to make the District of Columbia a state; that’d give them two more new Democratic senators… So this is full-bore socialism on the march in the House. As long as I’m the Majority Leader of the Senate, none of that stuff is going anywhere." Source: Sen. Mitch McConnell (Republican, Kentucky)
Proponents say
• "The significance, first and foremost, is for the residents of the nation’s capital, who have worked for 219 years for this imprimatur, opening the path to all the elements and the full meaning of citizenship…For the first time, statehood will put an end to our oldest slogan: ‘taxation without representation.’ To crown that denial, D.C. residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita without equal representation. Coming in this, the third century of our nation, however, statehood means much more to us than dollars and cents. Statehood is priceless. Statehood assures that living in our nation’s capital is about pride, not prejudice."
Source: Delegate Eleanor Norton (Democrat, District of Columbia)
• "Our Constitution begins with the beautiful preamble, ‘We the People,’ setting out our Founders’ vision of a government of, by and for the people of the United States. Yet, for more than two centuries, the residents of Washington D.C., the District of Columbia, have been denied their right to fully participate in their democracy. Instead, they have been dealt the injustice of paying taxes, proudly serving in uniform in great numbers and contributing to the economic power of our nation while being denied the full enfranchisement which is their right. In recent days, we have seen a disturbing physical manifestation of that injustice when federal agents and out-of-state National Guard troops were deployed against peaceful protesters in the District, without residents’ approval" Source: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California, District 12)
• "I have been hesitant in past years to call for statehood for the District because I believed that we could achieve voting rights for its residents without having to take the politically difficult steps statehood would entail. That’s what I tried to do in 2010 by pursuing a deal on legislation proposed years earlier by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) to give House representation to the District and an additional House seat to Utah. Sadly, that effort to achieve a compromise fell short. I now believe the only path to ensuring its representation is through statehood. Legislation granting representation in the House could be revoked in the future; statehood would bring D.C. residents a permanent voice in our elected institutions." Source: Rep. Steny Hoyer (Democrat, Maryland, District 5)
• "Our Constitution begins with the beautiful preamble, ‘We the People,’ setting out our Founders’ vision of a government of, by and for the people of the United States. Yet, for more than two centuries, the residents of Washington D.C., the District of Columbia, have been denied their right to fully participate in their democracy. Instead, they have been dealt the injustice of paying taxes, proudly serving in uniform in great numbers and contributing to the economic power of our nation while being denied the full enfranchisement which is their right. In recent days, we have seen a disturbing physical manifestation of that injustice when federal agents and out-of-state National Guard troops were deployed against peaceful protesters in the District, without residents’ approval" Source: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California, District 12)
• "I have been hesitant in past years to call for statehood for the District because I believed that we could achieve voting rights for its residents without having to take the politically difficult steps statehood would entail. That’s what I tried to do in 2010 by pursuing a deal on legislation proposed years earlier by Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) to give House representation to the District and an additional House seat to Utah. Sadly, that effort to achieve a compromise fell short. I now believe the only path to ensuring its representation is through statehood. Legislation granting representation in the House could be revoked in the future; statehood would bring D.C. residents a permanent voice in our elected institutions." Source: Rep. Steny Hoyer (Democrat, Maryland, District 5)
- Oversight Committee Holds “Historic” Hearing on D.C. Statehood (Press Release)
- Norton, Carper Announce New D.C. Statehood Bill Cosponsors (Press Release)
- DC is Closer to Becoming a State Now Than it Has Ever Been (Vox)
- DC Statehood Bill to Get a House vote as Trump, Bowser Escalate Battle Over Protests (Roll Call)
