LWV Commends US House Passage of DC Statehood

WASHINGTON – The League of Women Voters CEO Virginia Kase issued the following statement following the US House of Representatives passage of HR 51, the Washington DC Admission Act: 

“The people of Washington, DC deserve the same rights as every other person in this country, and today the more than 700,000 residents of the District of Columbia are one step closer to an equal voice in our government.  

“The League of Women Voters supports this bill which would the create a 51st state from the residential and commercial areas of the District of Columbia, while preserving a smaller federal district as the nation's capital. 

“It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this vote. Our grassroots network across the country have advocated for DC Statehood for years, joining petitions, building support, organizing watch parties for the Congressional hearing, and spreading the dream of DC statehood to communities around the country. 

“DC statehood is not a partisan issue but a civil rights issue which cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice. As DC is a jurisdiction with a majority population of Black and Brown people, continued efforts to block full representation is discrimination against the people who live, work, and pay taxes in the District. For decades, Congress has refused to vote on statehood, based on racist accusations that DC cannot govern itself. It is long past time that we dispel these racist and discriminatory excuses and deliver justice to the residents of our nation’s capital. 

“We applaud the House for taking this historic vote to pass HR 51, and we urge the Senate to follow suit. For everyone who calls DC home, we will not stop fighting until you finally get the full representation you deserve.” 

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CONTACT: Sarah Courtney | 202-263-1332 | [email protected]