H.R. 51: Making D.C. the 51st State
RELEASE: Oversight Committee Holds “Historic” Hearing on D.C. Statehood
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
H.R. 51 was introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on January 3, 2019. The bill would admit the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the Union. The State would consist of most of the territory of the present-day District of Columbia. Congress would retain plenary authority over the reduced federal district. The bill has 219 cosponsors and is endorsed by 102 national organizations.
CHAIRMAN CUMMINGS' OPENING STATEMENT
WITNESSES
The Honorable Muriel Bowser
Mayor
District of Columbia
Jeffrey S. DeWitt
Chief Financial Officer
District of Columbia
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
Kerwin Miller
Veteran and District of Columbia Resident
Dr. Roger Pilon
B. Kenneth Simon Chair, Constitutional Studies
Cato Institute
Kenneth Thomas
Legislative Attorney
Congressional Research Service