This resolution urges Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, advocating for D.C. statehood and full voting representation for its residents, while also supporting the designation of May 1, 2025, as "D.C. Statehood Day."
Eleanor Norton
Representative
DC
This resolution calls for Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, granting statehood to the District of Columbia as the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth. It highlights the District's significant tax contributions and the overwhelming support for statehood among its residents. The resolution also supports the designation of May 1, 2025, as "D.C. Statehood Day"
Resolution Backs D.C. Statehood, Urges Congress to Pass Washington, D.C. Admission Act
This resolution throws its support behind making the District of Columbia the 51st state, urging Congress to enact the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. The core idea is to grant the residents of the nation's capital full voting representation in Congress and complete control over their local affairs, something they currently lack despite significant federal tax contributions.
From District to State: The Douglass Commonwealth
The resolution specifically calls for the creation of the "State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth." If the Washington, D.C. Admission Act were passed as urged, this new state would encompass most of the current District, leaving behind a smaller federal district primarily containing government buildings and monuments. The big change for residents? They'd finally get voting members in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, just like citizens in every other state. It also means full local self-government, ending the current system where Congress can potentially override D.C.'s local laws and budget decisions.
Taxation Without Representation: The Core Argument
A key point highlighted is the financial contribution of D.C. residents versus their political power. The resolution notes that D.C. pays more federal taxes per person than any existing state and contributes more total federal taxes than 19 states combined. It frames this as a fundamental fairness issue – residents are fulfilling the financial obligations of citizenship without receiving the full representation that typically comes with it. The resolution also points to a 2016 local referendum where 86% of D.C. voters supported statehood, indicating strong local desire for this change.
Marking the Calendar
Beyond the call for legislative action, the resolution expresses support for designating May 1, 2025, as "D.C. Statehood Day." While symbolic, this designation aims to keep the issue visible and commemorate the push for equal rights for District residents. Essentially, this resolution is a formal statement advocating for Congress to end what it describes as the disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of American citizens living in the capital.