Norton Celebrates House Passage of H.R. 1, Democrats’ Sweeping Democracy Reform Bill, Includes Findings Supporting D.C. Statehood

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) applauded today's House passage of the For the People Act of 2021 (H.R. 1), a sweeping democracy reform bill that includes findings supporting statehood for the District of Columbia. Last Congress, when the House passed the For the People Act of 2019 (H.R. 1), it became the first chamber to ever endorse D.C. statehood. That laid the groundwork for House passage of the D.C. statehood bill (H.R. 51) in June, which was the first time either chamber had ever passed the D.C. statehood bill.

"After decades of struggle, the House, for the second time, has endorsed D.C. statehood in H.R. 1, our major democracy reform bill," Norton said. "The momentum for D.C. statehood is undeniably building. Today's vote paves the way for a vote on the D.C. statehood bill this Congress and assures we are on the cusp of righting one of the nation's oldest continuing wrongs."

Norton reintroduced the D.C. statehood bill in January with a record 202 original cosponsors. The bill now has 212 cosponsors. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) reintroduced the D.C. statehood bill (S. 51) in January with a record 38 original cosponsors. The bill now has 40 cosponsors, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) have announced they will bring the D.C. statehood bill to the floor again this Congress.

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