Norton Announces Historic House Vote on D.C. Statehood Bill Scheduled for Week of April 19th

Press Release

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today that the House will vote on her District of Columbia statehood bill (H.R. 51) the week of April 19th, the very week after the Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR) markup of the bill, which will take place on April 14th.

"The week of April 19th the House will take a historic step in righting the monumental wrong of denying the 712,000 federal taxpaying American citizens who live in the nation's capital voting representation in Congress and self-government without congressional interference into local affairs," Norton said. "I am grateful to COR Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) for scheduling a committee hearing and markup early in this Congress and to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) for scheduling this historic House floor vote, when we expect the House to pass the D.C. statehood bill for the second time in history."

"Full and equal representation for the residents of the District of Columbia remains one of the major civil rights issues of our day," said Leader Hoyer. "I'm proud to bring Congresswoman Norton's legislation to the Floor this work period to admit Washington, D.C., as the fifty-first state and to right a historical injustice that has denied its residents full participation in our democracy. I thank her for her leadership in addressing this challenge, which is critical not only for our region but for ensuring that our nation abides in full by its Constitutional principles of equality and civil rights."

"I am grateful that Majority Leader Hoyer plans to bring H.R. 51, the D.C. Admission Act, before the House of Representatives in two weeks," said Chairwoman Maloney. "Moving the bill quickly makes clear to all Americans that the equality of D.C. and its residents is a fundamental civil rights issue. The over 712,000 residents of D.C. have waited far too long for a real voice in Congress. I look forward to passing H.R. 51 out of the House for the second time and urge the Senate to follow our example."

Last Congress, the House passed H.R. 51, which was the first time a chamber had ever passed the D.C. statehood bill. This Congress, H.R. 51 has 215 cosponsors. The Senate companion bill (S. 51), sponsored by Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), has 42 cosponsors, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The bill would admit the State of Washington, D.C. and reduce the size of the federal district.

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