US House Approves DC Statehood Bill In 232-180 Vote

June 26, 2020 Democrats, Politics

House Democrats approved a bill to admit Washington, DC, as a state on Friday, marking the first time either chamber of Congress has advanced a DC statehood measure.

The bill, introduced by DC’s nonvoting House member, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, would shrink the federal capital to a small area encompassing the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and other federal buildings along the National Mall.

The rest of the city would become the 51st state, named the Washington, Douglass Commonwealth after abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The bill passed with a vote of 232-180. Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota was the only Democrat to join Republicans in voting against it. Independent Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan also voted no.

We just made history! The US House just voted to end a 210-year injustice and to give equal representation to the 700,000 residents of Washington, DC. #DCStatehood #51State pic.twitter.com/GTmi7JrJAc

— DC Vote (@DC_Vote) June 26, 2020

?BREAKING?
The House just passed the #DCStatehood bill (#HR51), marking the first time since the creation of the District of Columbia 219 years ago that either chamber of Congress has passed a bill to grant statehood to D.C. residents and, with it, equal citizenship.

— Eleanor Holmes Norton (@EleanorNorton) June 26, 2020

House passed DC Statehood bill 232-180, though WH previously issued a veto threat, saying the measure violated the 23rd Amendment. Interestingly, Pres Trump’s limo displayed DC Statehood license plates, “Taxation Without Representation,” for the first 8 months of his presidency. pic.twitter.com/xjWH0PMA3u

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 26, 2020

June 24, 2019: Jeff Van Drew cosponsors DC Statehood
June 26, 2020: Jeff Van Drew votes against DC Statehood pic.twitter.com/RkwiwOtWly

— Drew Savicki (@SenhorRaposa) June 26, 2020

If Democrats want to give DC statehood, then it should abide by a few requirements:
→ No sanctuary city status
→ No defunding of police
→ No autonomous zones

Democrats just voted against all of these.

— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) June 26, 2020

The 700,000 residents of D.C. deserve full representation in our national government.

D.C. residents pay taxes, serve on juries, fight in wars, and work on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was proud to vote today to make #DCStatehood a reality. pic.twitter.com/N53kIVdrL4

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) June 26, 2020