Bill > SF450

This bill is a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to grant statehood to Washington, D.C., acknowledging the district's unique historical and current political status. The resolution highlights that D.C. residents currently lack full congressional representation despite sharing all responsibilities of U.S. citizenship, including paying federal taxes, serving on federal juries, and participating in military service. The bill notes that D.C.'s population is comparable to several existing states, and that in a 2016 referendum, 86% of D.C. residents endorsed statehood. It also points out that D.C. is the only democratic capital where residents are denied full participation in the national legislature, and that the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the Organization of American States have criticized this lack of political equality. The Minnesota Legislature formally supports admitting Washington, D.C. as a state and directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of this resolution to key federal government officials, including the President, congressional leadership, and Minnesota's congressional delegation, to advocate for D.C.'s statehood.