Norton, Carper Highlight Senate Introduction of D.C. Statehood Bill at Press Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks as prepared for delivery from today’s joint press conference with Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). The press conference marked Carper’s introduction of the Senate companion to Norton’s D.C. statehood bill. Norton and Carper were joined by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), co-lead for the Senate version of the bill, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson.

"The single idea of 'taxation without representation' that gave rise to the American Revolution still resonates today," Norton said. "D.C. residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita and more federal taxes than 23 states, and the District has a bond rating higher than 35 states. They've fought and died in every war since the Revolution, and they deserve voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. Thank you to Senator Carper, our longtime ally, for leading the charge in the Senate."

“We have been taught in school that when our founders built a new nation they cried ‘no taxation without representation’ — a slogan that has stood the test of time. Unfortunately, ‘taxation without representation’ is the current reality for nearly 700,000 citizens living in the District of Columbia,” said Senator Carper. “These citizens do not have a voting representative in either chamber of Congress. They pay more federal taxes per capita than citizens of any of the 50 states but have no say in how those taxes are actually spent. They serve in the military and can be sent to battle in a war that they had no say in fighting. This is wrong and not consistent with the values that we hold dear as Americans. This isn’t a Republican or Democratic issue — it’s an issue of fairness. I am proud to once again partner with Congresswoman Norton on this important issue and look forward to the work ahead to make D.C. Statehood a reality.”

Norton introduced the House bill on the first day possible of the 118th Congress with 165 original cosponsors, more than any other bill introduced the first day. The bill now has 173 cosponsors.

Norton’s remarks follow, as prepared for delivery.

We welcome Senator Carper’s introduction and longstanding support of our bill to give the nearly 700,000 residents of the nation’s capital voting representation in Congress and full local self-government through statehood. The D.C. statehood bill has passed the House twice, most recently in April of 2021.

The most recent polling shows 54% of Americans support statehood for D.C. When the District’s status of taxation without representation is noted in the poll, 58% of Americans support statehood – even 42% of Republicans.

The single idea of “taxation without representation” that gave rise to the American Revolution still resonates today. D.C. residents pay the highest federal taxes per capita and more federal taxes than 23 states, and the District has a bond rating higher than 35 states.

For me, today is also personal, because for three generations my family has yet to attain the rights other Americans take for granted. The D.C. statehood bill will always have a personal acknowledgement from me in the name of Richard Holmes, my great grandfather, who escaped as a slave from a Virginia plantation. Richard Holmes made it as far as the District of Columbia, a walk to freedom but not to equal citizenship.

With Senator Carper’s introduction of the bill in the Senate, along with support from Senator Van Hollen, Mayor Bowser, D.C. Council Chair Mendelson, and so many others, we dare to believe that statehood for the residents of the nation’s capital is finally on the horizon.

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