Bill > HR167

This Resolution urges members of the United States Congress to pass federal laws that would grant statehood to Washington, D.C., recognizing that its residents, numbering nearly 700,000, pay federal taxes, serve in the military, and fulfill other civic duties but lack full representation in Congress, a situation highlighted by the fact that their population is comparable to several existing states. The resolution points out that residents of Washington, D.C. (often referred to as D.C.) originally had voting rights before 1801, regained the right to vote for President in 1961, and overwhelmingly supported statehood in a 2016 referendum, yet Congress has historically interfered with D.C.'s local governance and budget. It references proposed legislation, H.R. 51 and S. 51, which would establish Washington, D.C. as a state with representation in Congress, and notes that international bodies have also called for addressing D.C.'s lack of political equality.