# Washington, D.C. Admission Act

This bill would make Washington, D.C. a state, giving it full representation in Congress and the ability to govern itself like any other state. Right now, D.C. has a unique status—it's the nation's capital but functions more like a territory than a state. The roughly 700,000 people who live there can vote in presidential elections, but they have no voting representatives in the House and no senators. Instead, they have a non-voting delegate in the House and are governed by Congress, which maintains unusual control over local D.C. laws and budgets.

If this bill passed, D.C. would become the 51st state and would get two senators and at least one voting representative in the House, just like every other state. This means D.C. residents would finally have full voting power in Congress to influence national legislation. The bill would also give D.C. complete control over its own local government and finances without congressional interference. Currently, Congress can block or override D.C.'s local laws and spending decisions, which many see as undemocratic since D.C. residents have no say in Congress.

The practical impact would be significant for D.C. residents, who would gain the same political rights as citizens in other states. However, this is a highly controversial proposal. Supporters argue it's a matter of fairness and democracy—D.C. residents pay federal taxes and serve in the military but lack voting representation. Opponents raise concerns about the constitutional process for creating states and worry about the political implications, since D.C. voters tend to lean Democratic. The bill would require approval from both the House and Senate, and it faces substantial political opposition, making passage unlikely in the current political environment.

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Van Hollen, Chris

Washington, D.C. Admission ActThis 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,&nbsp;and federal office&nbsp;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.&nbsp;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&nbsp;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.&nbsp;The bill establishes a commission that is generally&nbsp;comprised of members who are appointed by&nbsp;DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.