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118th Congress Government Operations and Politics

S. 51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Jan 24, 2023
  2. Passed Senate (not reached)
  3. Passed House (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in Senate, Jan 24, 2023

This bill provides for the admission of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the United States.

The commonwealth consists of all the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding certain federal property. The excluded property shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of federal government; it includes the principal federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court Building, and the federal office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and Capitol Building. In addition, the bill maintains the federal government's authority over military lands and specified other property and prohibits the commonwealth from taxing federal property except as permitted by Congress.

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. The commonwealth shall be admitted into the United States upon a presidential proclamation announcing the results of that election.

Read the full summary

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.

Further, 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).

The bill also establishes a commission to advise the President, Congress, and DC and commonwealth leaders on the transition.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

46

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

12 points earned
  1. 1Thomas Carper D-DE SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, reached a cosponsor milestone, introduced3 events+12
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Thomas Carper

History

  1. Jan 24, 2023Introduced in the Senate by Thomas Carper.
Show the full action history (2 actions)
  1. Jan 24, 2023Introduced in Senate
  2. Jan 24, 2023Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.