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HRES 1244

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, 2026, as "D.C. Statehood Day".

119th Congress Introduced by Eleanor Holmes Norton

The bill seeks to admit Washington, D.C. as a new state via the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, granting D.C. voting representation in Congress and full local self-government.

Submitted in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HRES 1244

Summary of H.Res. 1244 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

Title

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, 2026, as “D.C. Statehood Day”.

Purpose and Intent

  • Acknowledges the lack of voting representation for District of Columbia residents in Congress and the absence of full local self-government.
  • Urges Congress to admit the District of Columbia as a new state through the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (also referred to as H.R. 51 and S. 51).
  • Designates May 1, 2026 as “D.C. Statehood Day” to recognize the initiative and advocate for statehood.

Key Provisions and Changes (as expressed in the resolution)

  • Reaffirms the principle of consent of the governed and “no taxation without representation.”
  • Documents that D.C. residents currently pay federal taxes per capita at high levels, including paying more federal taxes than a number of states.
  • States that statehood would grant D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government.
  • Declares that Congress has constitutional authority to admit new states through the Admissions Clause and cites the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (which would:
    • Admit the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth (the proposed name for D.C. as a state).
    • Reduce the size of the federal district.
    • Rely on Congressional authority rather than requiring consent of the existing state(s).
  • Notes constitutional provisions relevant to D.C.:
    • Admissions Clause grants Congress authority to admit new states.
    • District Clause gives Congress plenary authority over the federal district.
    • 23rd Amendment allows D.C. to participate in the Electoral College but does not fix size/location.
  • Highlights factors historically considered by Congress for statehood: population/resources, support for statehood, commitment to democracy.
  • Provides supporting statistics to justify statehood:
    • D.C. population larger than two states.
    • D.C. GDP larger than 15 states; higher per-capita GDP than any state.
    • Higher per-capita personal income than any state.
    • 86% of D.C. residents reportedly voted for statehood in 2016.
  • Concludes with a directive that the House of Representatives:
    • Supports the designation of “D.C. Statehood Day.”
    • Calls on Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51).

Who/What Would Be Affected

  • District of Columbia residents would gain voting representation in Congress (Senate and House) and full local self-government if the Washington, D.C. Admission Act were enacted.
  • The federal district would be reduced in size as part of the admission process.
  • The designation of a commemorative day (May 1, 2026) as “D.C. Statehood Day” would be recognized formally.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced in the House on April 30, 2026 by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (co-sponsor).
  • Referred to multiple committees: Oversight and Government Reform; Rules; Armed Services; Judiciary; Energy and Commerce. Each committee would determine the scope of consideration within its jurisdiction.
  • The resolution itself is a declarative statement urging action; it does not itself amend law but calls for passage of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.
  • Action history notes submission and referral date; no final legislative action is indicated within the summary.

Context and Interpretation

  • The resolution frames D.C. statehood as consistent with the constitutional framework for admitting new states and as a response to long-standing disenfranchisement.
  • It cites economic and demographic indicators to support the case for statehood.
  • As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the sense of the House and political support for advancing the Admission Act rather than enacting changes unilaterally.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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