News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 19, 2019

PRESS CONTACT:
press@51for51.org

Senate must consider H.R. 51 after House vote

Washington D.C. — D.C. statehood coalition 51 for 51 Campaign Manager Stasha Rhodes issued the following statement, following the House Oversight Committee’s historic hearing on H.R. 51, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s bill for D.C. statehood:

“I am incredibly proud of this campaign and of the House of Representatives for their monumental action on this issue. More than 700,000 taxpaying D.C. residents are currently being denied full and equal representation in Congress. We look forward to H.R. 51 passing in the House and going to the Senate where we expect the Senate to do its duty as well and give the measure an up-or-down vote—without letting the filibuster stand in the way. Anything less than that is an affront to our democracy and the Americans living here in Washington D.C.”

H.R. 51 has a record number of 217 voting cosponsors, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have strongly endorsed the bill. Senator Tom Carper introduced the companion bill in the Senate, which has more than 30 cosponsors. In March, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer unveiled a list of voting rights priorities, including supporting D.C. statehood.

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51 for 51 is a coalition comprised of D.C.-based and national groups committed to equal representation rights for D.C.’s over 700,000 residents. The coalition of 20 progressive groups says American citizens living in the District deserve a voice in Congress and control over their own local laws.

Additional Information
Website: https://www.51for51.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/51for51