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119th Congress Government Operations and Politics

H.R. 51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Introduced

  1. Introduced (completed)Jan 3, 2025
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Jan 3, 2025

This bill provides for the establishment of the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, and its admission into the United States.

The state is composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia (DC), excluding a specified area that encompasses the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court building, federal monuments, and federal office buildings adjacent to the National Mall and the U.S. Capitol. The excluded territory shall be known as the Capital and serve as the seat of the government of the United States, as provided for in Article I of the Constitution. The state may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits.

The bill provides for the DC Mayor to issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the state. The bill eliminates the office of Delegate to the House of Representatives.

Read the full summary

The bill applies current DC laws to the state. DC judicial proceedings and contractual obligations shall continue under the state’s authority. The bill also provides for specified federal obligations to transfer to the state upon its certification that it has funds and laws in place to assume the obligations. These include maintaining a retirement fund for judges and operating public defender services.

The bill establishes a commission that is generally comprised of members who are appointed by DC and federal government officials to advise on an orderly transition to statehood.

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

209

Who scored on this bill

18 points earned
  1. 1Eleanor Norton D-DC SponsorReached a cosponsor milestone, introduced4 events+18
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Eleanor Norton

History

  1. Jan 3, 2025Introduced in the House by Eleanor Norton.
Show the full action history (3 actions)
  1. Jan 3, 2025Introduced in House
  2. Jan 3, 2025Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1-2)
  3. Jan 3, 2025Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Armed Services, the Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.