Statement from Stasha Rhodes, Senior Director of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 19, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 19, 2026) – Once again, anti-democracy politicians in Congress,  backed by the President,  are attempting to override the will of 700,000 D.C. residents.

Last week, Congress passed H.J. Res. 142 in an effort to overturn DC’s locally enacted tax law. Yesterday, President Trump signed that resolution.

But D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has made clear that Congress missed its statutory deadline under the Home Rule Act, meaning DC’s law is already in effect.

DC Vote stands with the Council in defending the District’s legal authority and its right to self-govern.

If this federal interference is allowed to stand, it would strip hundreds of millions of dollars from DC’s budget, putting schools, public safety, infrastructure, and the District’s bond rating at risk. It would eliminate the Child Tax Credit projected to reduce child poverty by 20 percent. And it would throw tax season into chaos for DC families and small businesses.

At least 25 red and blue states have diverged from the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Congress has not interfered because it cannot. States have sovereignty.

But DC is not a state.

And because of that, 700,000+ taxpaying American citizens have no voting representation in Congress and no protection from congressional nullification of their local laws.

That is taxation without representation.

It is wrong. It is anti-democratic. And it is exactly why DC must become the 51st state.

Let DC Vote.