DC Vote Praises Senate Introduction of DC Statehood Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 24th, 2023

PRESS CONTACT:
Patrice Snow
[email protected]

Washington, DC – Earlier today, Senator Tom Carper of Delaware joined his colleague Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson for a Capitol Hill press conference to introduce the Senate companion bill to Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton’s DC Statehood legislation. The Washington, DC Admission Act, or S. 51, would give DC full authority over local affairs without Congressional interference, thus ending the almost 200 year undemocratic practice while finally meeting the self-determination goals of the 700,000 residents of the District. In light of today’s positive step forward toward full freedom, DC Vote’s executive director Bo Shuff released the following statement:

“No taxation without representation was the founding philosophy of the United States of America – meaning no American can be forced by their government to pay taxes without having elected officials to represent their interests and needs. So why after almost 250 years of the idea of a United States of America being implemented are the 700,000 tax paying residents of DC still fighting the same fight of no voting representatives on Capitol Hill and no sovereign governor or state legislature? But that was what today and the introduction of the Senate version of the Washington, DC Admission Act, or S. 51, was about – bringing full democracy to DC through Statehood. We at DC Vote applaud Senator Carper for his fortitude and we certainly cannot forget to mention Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for her steady leadership on this issue. The time will come sooner rather than later when the bill will pass both chambers of Congress and head to President Biden’s desk for his signature. Because the freedom to vote, the freedom to govern ourselves, and the freedom to determine our own destiny is too important and will not be negotiated away by those who don’t know, understand, or appreciate DC.”

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