Norton Applauds Leader Schumer’s New Push for D.C. Statehood

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) applauded Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) new push for D.C. statehood. Earlier today, Schumer unveiled a sweeping proposal to combat voter disenfranchisement, including restoring and strengthening the Voting Rights Act, establishing national, automatic voter registration laws, and supporting D.C. statehood. Schumer said this push is about "empowering people… D.C. has had a referendum, they want statehood, and we should have them be allowed to vote in federal elections – have congressmen, have senators, etc."

"A wave of momentum is sweeping across the country for D.C. statehood," Norton said. "The strong Schumer and Pelosi endorsements, and the 200 cosponsors in the House for D.C. statehood, are among the indicators that the American people want to right the historic wrong for over 200 years of disenfranchisement."

Schumer's proposal follows Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) strong endorsement of D.C. statehood and Congressman Elijah Cummings' (D-MD) announcement that the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, which he chairs, will hold a hearing and markup on H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, this year. H.R. 51 now has a historic 200 cosponsors in the House. In addition, Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) reintroduced the D.C. statehood bill last week in the Senate with a record 28 original cosponsors. H.R. 1, the For the People Act, is also expected to pass this week in the House with extensive findings in support of D.C. statehood. It will be the first time in American history that a chamber of Congress has endorsed D.C. statehood.