Pelosi Calls D.C. Statehood ‘Critical Legislation’ as Admission Act is Once Again Introduced in the House

With the 117th Congress underway, bills are now able to make their way to the floor for passage again and Democrats are once again making it clear that statehood for Washington D.C. is on the top the list.

Last year, the bill passed in the House, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that “it is past time to end the historic disenfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens and make D.C. a state.”

If the Democrats are able to gain control of the Senate in tomorrow’s Georgia runoff and the White House with a President Joe Biden, they will assuredly make it a reality if they can.

One hurdle to doing so is the 23rd amendment, which would need to be repealed, and it would take two-thirds of both houses. It could also be repealed if Congress were to call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the states (i.e., 34 of 50 states) or if it were to be ratified by the legislatures of, or conventions in, three-fourths of the states

Nevertheless, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said today that “The sacred right to vote and to have a voice in our government is a core pillar of our freedom. With Congresswoman Eleanor Norton’s reintroduction of her #DCStatehood legislation, Democrats will once again bring this critical legislation to the floor.”

The sacred right to vote and to have a voice in our government is a core pillar of our freedom. With Congresswoman @EleanorNorton’s reintroduction of her #DCStatehood legislation, Democrats will once again bring this critical legislation to the floor. https://t.co/OAAFUsYuUb

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 4, 2021

Congresswoman Eleanor Norton (D-DC) introduced the “Washington, D.C. Admission Act with 202 cosponsors, a record number of original cosponsors of the District of Columbia statehood bill.”

While D.C. has a Congresswoman, she is a non-voting member, but she can introduce bills.

She is part of D.C.’s “shadow delegation” — one shadow representative and two shadow senators.

Democratic Sens. Paul Strauss and Michael Brown represent D.C. as well, but can’t vote either.