Reps. Fudge, Norton Introduce Bill to Redesignate D.C. Mayor as Governor and D.C. Council as Legislative Assembly

Press Release

Today, Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the District of Columbia Government Title Equality Act, which would redesignate the Mayor of the District of Columbia as the Governor, the D.C. Council as the Legislative Assembly, the D.C. Councilmembers as Representatives, and the Chair of the Council as the Speaker. These are the titles used in the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth constitution, which the District adopted in 2016 in anticipation of passage of a bill to make D.C. the 51st state. The redesignation bill highlights to the American people and Members of Congress that there would be a seamless transition to D.C. statehood because D.C. already operates as the functional equivalent of a state, providing state-, county- and city-level services, despite being denied congressional voting rights and full local self-government.

"D.C. residents have been denied full participation in this country's legislative process for far too long," said Rep. Fudge. "Without having a vote in Congress, residents in the District have no say in policies affecting their communities, which further opens the door to federal interference in local matters. Last week's stunt by the President is evidence of the federal government's ability to overstep its authority with little or no warning for D.C. leadership. I am proud to support Rep. Norton in taking the necessary steps toward obtaining statehood and guaranteeing the residents in our nation's capital receive the freedoms and representation all Americans deserve."

"I thank my good friend Congresswoman Fudge for reaching out to me to introduce this bill in light of the events of the past week, when the Trump administration deployed federal police and out-of-state National Guard troops on the streets of D.C., without D.C.'s consent, and contemplated federalizing the D.C. police department," Rep. Norton said. "Members of Congress have been horrified by the administration's actions and have been contacting me to indicate their support for D.C. statehood and ask how they can help."

Rep. Fudge is an original cosponsor of Norton's D.C. statehood bill, which has a record 224 cosponsors and is expected to pass on the House floor this year for the first time in the nation's history.

The District of Columbia Government Title Equality Act would not change any legal authorities.

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