Washington, D.C. Admission Act
Summary
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.
Timeline
- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 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.
- Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House
- Jan 3, 2025Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1-2)
- Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House
Cosponsors (showing first 30 of 207)
- Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] D-NY
- Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5] D-MA
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] D-CA
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] D-NC
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] D-RI
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] D-VT
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] D-CA
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] D-OH
- Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] D-CA
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] D-VA
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] D-GA
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] D-OR
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] D-PA
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] D-OH
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] D-CA
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] D-IL
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] D-CA
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] D-IN
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] D-LA
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] D-TX
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] D-HI
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] D-IL
- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] D-FL
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] D-TX
- Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20] D-FL
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] D-CA
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] D-NY
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] D-MO
- Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6] D-SC
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] D-TN
In the News
- H.R. 51 Passed in the U.S. House of Representatives: The District of Columbia Takes A Giant First Step in the Long Journey to Statehood - Columbia Undergraduate Law Review
- DC Statehood, Explained - Brennan Center for Justice
- RELEASE: CAC Hails Passage of H.R. 51, The Washington, D.C. Admission Act - Constitutional Accountability Center
- House Of Representatives Passes D.C. Statehood Bill - DCist
- House Democrats pass D.C. statehood, launching bill into uncharted territory - The Washington Post
- We Must Grant Statehood for the People of D.C. - League of Women Voters
- Committee Votes to Pass H.R. 51, the Washington D.C. Admission Act - House Oversight Democrats (.gov)
- D.C. Statehood Requires a Constitutional Amendment, and I’ll Put That on My Yard Sign - The Heritage Foundation
- WATCH: D.C. Mayor Bowser testifies on bill to make D.C. the 51st state - PBS
- It’s Time to Pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act to Make the District of Columbia the 51st State - Campaign Legal Center
Contact your representatives about this bill in under 2 minutes.
📬 Contact Your Reps →