Congress considers D.C. statehood

Republicans and Democrats have been debating whether or not to make Washington D.C. the 51st state of the United States of America, which the Democrats are fighting for. 

There have been advocates for D.C. statehood for more than 200 years, according to USA Today. President Joe Biden supports statehood for D.C.

The Washington, D.C., The Admissions Act was introduced by Delegate Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton from D.C and Democrat Tom Carper of Delaware in the Senate. Both parties debated over making D.C the 51st state on March 19 at a hearing that went over the Washington, D.C Admissions Act (NBC). 

Throughout President Joe Biden’s campaign trail, it was promised that he would make D.C. and Puerto Rico a state. The hearing to oversee the decision to make the District of Columbia a state was held March 22. After the riots at the capitol, D.C.’s mayor urged for statehood (AtlanticJournal-Constitution). 

Political figures like Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer both have announced they will bring the bill back to the house floor (Fox5D.C). 

The District of Columbia’s mayor has made it very clear that in her opinion the statehood of D.C. is a far from settled issue. 

Some Republicans argued against the statehood of D.C. by saying that is never what our founding fathers had in mind and that congress does not have any kind of power to grant statehood to the district. Making Washington D.C. a state would give them two senators and a member of the House of Representatives. 

Mayor Bowser of the District of Columbia said, “All we are asking of you is to correct an anomaly of our history”. 

Bowser is confident she has plenty of supporters to make it possible for D.C to become the 51st state (Baltimore Sun).