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To provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the Union.
2/1/2025, 9:05 AM
Summary of Bill HR 51
The bill outlines the process for admitting Washington, D.C. as a state, including the establishment of a new state constitution and government. It also addresses the issue of representation in Congress, with the new state being granted two Senators and at least one Representative in the House of Representatives.
Proponents of the bill argue that Washington, D.C. residents deserve full representation in Congress, as they currently pay federal taxes but do not have voting representation in Congress. They also argue that statehood would give the residents of Washington, D.C. more control over their local government and budget. Opponents of the bill argue that granting statehood to Washington, D.C. would give the new state an unfair advantage in Congress, as it would likely be a Democratic-leaning state. They also argue that the Founding Fathers intended for the District of Columbia to be a separate entity, not a state. Overall, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act is a controversial piece of legislation that has sparked debate on both sides of the political aisle. It remains to be seen whether or not the bill will ultimately be passed into law.
Congressional Summary of HR 51
Washington, D.C. Admission Act
This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States.
The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits.
The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives.
The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services.
The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.
