Norton to Testify at Rules Committee Hearing on Historic D.C. Statehood Bill on Behalf of House Democrats, Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will testify tomorrow on behalf of House Democrats at the Rules Committee hearing on her District of Columbia statehood bill, H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. Members of Congress will be the only witnesses at the hearing. The Rules Committee will vote on a rule that sets the parameters for consideration of H.R. 51 on the House floor on Friday. The Rules Committee will meet virtually at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, June 24, 2020, to consider H.R. 51 and four other bills. The meeting will be streamed live on rules.house.gov.

"Tomorrow's Rules Committee hearing and vote will take the first step in a historic three days for D.C. statehood and democracy in America," Norton said. "I look forward to using the House proceedings on the D.C. statehood bill this week to inform the American public that D.C. residents pay more federal taxes per capita than any Americans and more federal taxes than the residents of 22 states, but that D.C. residents are denied congressional voting representation and full local autonomy. This week is the beginning of the end of taxation without representation for D.C. residents."

When the House passes H.R. 51, which has 226 cosponsors, on Friday, it will be the first time either chamber of Congress has passed the D.C. statehood bill.