LWV Of District Of Columbia

While abortion justice is necessary for the people of DC, our lack of statehood means we have little control over the future of reproductive rights. Until DC becomes a state and has, like all other states, the ability to make its own laws and policies, we remain subject to the oversight of Congress.  

But the District of Columbia is not a state. Why is that a problem?  Because of not being a state, the District of Columbia does not have any rights unless they are specifically allowed by Congress, since Congress exercises “exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever” over the Seat of Government of the United States. In other words, unless we have statehood, we don't have access to the rights that the current 50 states enjoy. 

Today the League of Women Voters of the United States’ president Dr. Deborah Turner and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón issued the following joint statement on the anniversary of the January 6th attack at the US Capitol:

The League of Women Voters sent a statement for the record to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee in advance of their hearing on DC Statehood.

Without statehood, D.C. residents aren’t full citizens. We deserve to join the Union as a state whose 712,000+ people live, work, play, and taxes like everyone else.

For D.C.,  fighting to have our voices heard extends beyond redistricting and fair representation of our eight Wards. Fighting for fair representation also means we are working to secure D.C. Statehood.