The question as to whether to grant statehood to the residents of Washington, DC has long been debated. These 700,000 residents, some now serving in our military, outnumber the populations of Wyoming and Vermont. Supporters claim DC lacks equal voting representation in Congress, and its residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita compared to those living in states. Many of these residents felt their city was invaded by hostile National Guard troops sent by our former president during the George Floyd protests. This deployment occurred over the objections of DC Mayor Browser. To many residents, this event showed how powerless their city was and how unequal it is treated compared to other communities.

Since this potentially democratic-leaning city will be awarded a seat in the House and two in the Senate should statehood be granted, the Senate filibuster rule will likely need to be bypassed for it to be approved.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of S.51 - Washington, D.C. Admission Act (118th Congress 2023-2024)
Prospective Sponsor: Sen. Charles Schumer (NY)

• I oppose reforming current DC statehood policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader John Thune (SD).
• I support providing for admission into the United States of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia. The commonwealth shall be admitted to the Union on an equal footing with the other states and requiring:
  
  1.) Within 30 days of this bill's enactment, the DC mayor must call for the election of two Senators and one Representative for the commonwealth.
  
  2.) The bill applies current DC laws to the commonwealth and continues pending judicial proceedings. It also continues certain federal authorities and responsibilities, including regarding employee benefits, agencies, and courts, until the commonwealth certifies that it is prepared to take over those authorities and responsibilities.
  
  3.) The bill provides for expedited consideration of a joint resolution to repeal the Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution (which allows DC citizens to vote in presidential elections).
  
  And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Charles Schumer (NY) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.