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D.C. Statehood Bill Passed by Oversight Committee, Rules Committee Meeting & House Floor Vote Next Week

April 14, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that her bill (H.R. 51) granting statehood to the District of Columbia was passed by the Committee on Oversight and Reform today. The bill will go to the Rules Committee early next week, the final step before a historic House floor vote later that week.

"Today's committee passage of the D.C. statehood bill is historic for the District, but to me it's also personal," Norton said. "My own family has lived in D.C. since my great-grandfather Richard Holmes, as a slave, walked away from a plantation in Virginia and made his way to D.C. almost 200 years ago. Richard Holmes made it as far as D.C., a walk to freedom but not to equal citizenship so far for our family.

"Last year, the House passed H.R. 51, which was the first time in history a chamber had passed the D.C. statehood bill. This year, H.R. 51 has 215 cosponsors, virtually guaranteeing House passage next week. With Democrats controlling the House, the Senate and the White House, we have never been closer to statehood.

"Thank you, Chairwoman Maloney, for holding today's important markup and for your leadership in scheduling it early this Congress. Thank you especially to Leader Hoyer for scheduling next week's House floor vote so early and for your strong support of D.C. statehood, and to Senator Carper for sponsoring the Senate companion bill and achieving a record number of original cosponsors. I look forward to working with you, as leaders, to finally secure statehood for the District of Columbia."