H.Res. 1244

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1244 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1244

Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, 
calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the 
enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support 
for the designation of May 1, 2026, as ``D.C. Statehood Day''.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 30, 2026

Ms. Norton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to 
the Committees on Rules, Armed Services, the Judiciary, and Energy and 
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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RESOLUTION

Recognizing the disenfranchisement of District of Columbia residents, 
calling for statehood for the District of Columbia through the 
enactment of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and expressing support 
for the designation of May 1, 2026, as ``D.C. Statehood Day''.

Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of consent of the 
governed and no taxation without representation;
Whereas District of Columbia residents are denied voting representation in 
Congress and full local self-government;
Whereas the District of Columbia pays more per capita Federal taxes than any 
State and pays more Federal taxes than 26 States;
Whereas statehood would give District of Columbia residents voting 
representation in Congress and full local self-government;
Whereas Congress has the constitutional authority to pass the District of 
Columbia statehood bill, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51 and 
S. 51), which would admit the State of Washington, Douglass 
Commonwealth, and reduce the size of the Federal district;
Whereas the Admissions Clause of the Constitution gives Congress the authority 
to admit new States, and all 37 new States were admitted by Congress;
Whereas no State would have to consent to the admission of the State of 
Washington, Douglass Commonwealth;
Whereas the District Clause of the Constitution gives Congress plenary authority 
over the Federal district and establishes a maximum size of the Federal 
district, but not a minimum size nor a location of the Federal district;
Whereas the 23d Amendment to the Constitution allows the Federal district to 
participate in the electoral college, while not establishing a minimum 
size nor a location of the Federal district;
Whereas the Constitution does not establish any prerequisites for new States, 
but Congress has generally considered 3 factors--

(1) population and resources;

(2) support for statehood; and

(3) commitment to democracy;

Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger population than 2 States;
Whereas the District of Columbia has a larger gross domestic product than 15 
States and a higher per capita gross domestic product than any State;
Whereas the District of Columbia has a higher per capita personal income than 
any State;
Whereas 86 percent of District of Columbia residents voted for statehood in 
2016; and
Whereas District of Columbia residents have been fighting for voting 
representation in Congress and full local self-government for more than 
200 years: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``D.C. Statehood Day''; and
(2) calls on Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. 
Admission Act (H.R. 51 and S. 51).
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