# What This Resolution About D.C. Statehood Actually Says

This resolution is essentially Congress saying two things: first, it honors the military service of people from Washington, D.C., and second, it expresses frustration that D.C. residents—including veterans—can't vote for representatives in Congress or have full control over their own local government. The resolution then calls on Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would make D.C. a state.

Right now, about 700,000 people live in Washington, D.C., more than the population of Wyoming or Vermont, but they have no voting members in Congress. They can't vote on federal laws, taxes, or wars. D.C. residents do elect a mayor and city council to handle local issues, but Congress can override their decisions and controls their budget. The resolution argues this is particularly unfair to D.C. veterans who served their country but can't vote on how it's run. It's pointing out that people from D.C. have fought in every American war, yet they lack basic voting representation.

If the D.C. Admission Act actually passed (which this resolution is pushing for), D.C. would become a state with two senators and at least one representative in Congress, just like every other state. D.C. residents would finally be able to vote on federal matters. However, this resolution itself doesn't make that change—it's just Congress expressing its opinion and urging action. Making D.C. a state would require passing actual legislation, which is a much bigger political lift and something Congress hasn't done despite multiple attempts.

Recognizing the service of all District of Columbia veterans, condemning the denial of voting representation in Congress and full local self-government for veterans and their families who are District of Columbia residents, and calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51), particularly in light of the service of District of Columbia veterans in every American war.

Norton, Eleanor Holmes

<p>This resolution</p><ul><li>recognizes the service of all District of Columbia (DC) veterans;</li><li>condemns the denial of voting representation in Congress and full local self-government for veterans and their families who are DC residents; and</li><li>calls for statehood for DC through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51), particularly in light of the service of DC veterans in every American war.</li></ul>