[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 340 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 340

 Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, 
    calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the 
enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support 
     for the designation of May 1, 2023, as ``D.C. Statehood Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 28, 2023

 Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and in addition to the 
  Committees on Rules, Armed Services, the Judiciary, and Energy and 
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, 
    calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the 
enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support 
     for the designation of May 1, 2023, as ``D.C. Statehood Day''.

Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of consent of the 
        governed and no taxation without representation;
Whereas District of Columbia residents are denied voting representation in 
        Congress and full local self-government;
Whereas the District of Columbia pays more per capita Federal taxes than any 
        State and pays more Federal taxes than 23 States;
Whereas statehood would give District of Columbia residents voting 
        representation in Congress and full local self-government;
Whereas Congress has the constitutional authority to pass the District of 
        Columbia statehood bill, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and 
        S. 51), which would admit the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth 
        and reduce the size of the Federal district;
Whereas the Admissions Clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority 
        to admit new States, and all 37 new States were admitted by Congress;
Whereas no State would have to consent to the admission of the State of 
        Washington, Douglass Commonwealth;
Whereas the District Clause of the Constitution gives Congress plenary authority 
        over the Federal district and establishes a maximum size of the Federal 
        district, but not a minimum size nor a location of the Federal district;
Whereas the 23d Amendment to the Constitution allows the Federal district to 
        participate in the electoral college, while not establishing a minimum 
        size nor a location of the Federal district;
Whereas the Constitution does not establish any prerequisites for new States, 
        but Congress has generally considered 3 factors--

    (1) population and resources;

    (2) support for statehood; and

    (3) commitment to democracy;

Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger population than 2 States;
Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger gross domestic product than 16 
        States and a higher per capita gross domestic product than any State;
Whereas the District of Columbia has a higher per capita personal income than 
        any State;
Whereas the District of Columbia has a triple-A bond rating;
Whereas 86 percent of District of Columbia residents voted for statehood in 
        2016; and
Whereas District of Columbia residents have been fighting for voting 
        representation in Congress and full local self-government for more than 
        200 years: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``D.C. Statehood Day''; and
            (2) calls on Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. 
        Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51).
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