Senator Baldwin, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Grant Statehood to The District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined her Democratic colleagues in reintroducing legislation to make Washington, D.C. the 51st state. The effort was led by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Tom Carper (D-DE), and would give Washington D.C. citizens full representation in Congress.

“It is simply wrong that more than 700,000 Americans who pay their fair share in federal taxes do not have full representation in our nation’s government,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation to give these Americans the representation they deserve and make Washington, D.C. the 51st state in the union.”

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act would ensure that the citizens and elected leaders of the District of Columbia have full authority over local affairs, including the selection of judges to fill vacancies on state courts. The legislation would designate the areas surrounding the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the National Mall as the seat of the federal government. That area would inherit the name the “Capital” and remain under the control of Congress, as mandated by the Constitution.

“The disenfranchisement of 700,000 American citizens living in Washington, DC is 220-year-old wrong that we have a responsibility to fix,” said Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “This year will mark 50 years since the passage of Home Rule. We are proud and grateful for those who came before us to secure Home Rule, but Home Rule is not the end goal – full access to our nation’s democracy is. Full access means autonomy, it means two senators, and it means being admitted as the 51st state. As we work towards that goal, we’re grateful for Congresswoman Norton’s unrelenting commitment to DC residents and for our allies in the Senate, like Senator Carper and Senator Van Hollen.”

In addition to Senators Baldwin, Carper, and Van Hollen, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NM), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

###