HRES 374119th CongressIn Committee

Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2025, as "D.C. Statehood Day".

Introduced: May 1, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H. Res. 374 is a non-binding House resolution introduced by Representative Norton that foregrounds the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents and advocates for DC statehood through the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51). The resolution also designates May 1, 2025 as “D.C. Statehood Day.” While it expresses strong support for granting DC voting representation in Congress and full local self-government, the resolution itself does not grant statehood; instead, it urges Congress to pass the underlying DC statehood act and to recognize the commemorative day. The text lays out arguments commonly used in favor of DC statehood, including constitutional mechanisms for admitting new states, DC’s population and economic profile, and historic public support for statehood among DC residents.

Key Points

1The resolution states that DC residents are disenfranchised because they lack voting representation in Congress and full local self-government, despite paying federal taxes and contributing economically.
2It asserts that statehood would grant DC voting representation in Congress and full local self-government, and it notes that Congress has constitutional authority to admit the District as a state via the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51), which would also reduce the size of the federal district.
3The resolution references constitutional provisions and concepts (Admissions Clause, District Clause, and the 23rd Amendment) to justify Congress’s power to admit a new state and to participate in presidential elections.
4It outlines three factors commonly considered in statehood discussions: population/resources, support for statehood, and commitment to democracy.
5The resolution highlights DC’s relative population size, economic indicators (GDP, per-capita income), and tax contribution, including the claim that 86 percent of DC residents voted for statehood in 2016.
6It designates the date May 1, 2025 as “D.C. Statehood Day” and calls on Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act to realize statehood.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Residents of the District of Columbia, who would gain voting representation in Congress and full local self-government if DC becomes a state.Secondary group/area affected: The federal government and the District’s relationship to the federal district, including the potential redrawing/redefinition of the federal district as part of the admitted state framework.Additional impacts: Political symbolism and momentum for DC statehood; potential changes to representation in Congress (Senate and House) and the Electoral College; fiscal and governance implications tied to state status and any accompanying federal funding or program adjustments, as outlined in the underlying Admission Act.

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