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H.R. 51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

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H.R. 51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-01-04 · Government Operations and Politics · Latest: Received in the Senate.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-01-04 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 2 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 131 (2021): On Motion to Recommit, HR51 (2021-04-22), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Plain summary

Washington, D.C. Admission Act This bill provides for admission into the United States of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia. The commonwealth shall be admitted to the Union on an equal footing with the other states. The Mayor of the District of Columbia shall issue a proclamation for the first elections to Congress of two Senators and one Representative of the commonwealth. The bill applies current District laws to the commonwealth and continues pending judicial proceedings. The commonwealth (1) shall consist of all District territory, with specified exclusions for federal buildings and monuments, including the principal federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and the federal executive, legislative, and judicial office buildings located adjacent to the Mall and the Capitol Building; and (2) may not impose taxes on federal property except as Congress permits. District territory excluded from the commonwealth shall be known as the Capital and shall be the seat of the federal government. The bill maintains the federal government's authority over military lands and specified other property. The bill provides for expedited consideration of a joint resolution repealing the Twenty-third Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for the appointment of electors of the President and Vice President. The bill continues certain federal authorities and responsibilities, including regarding employee benefits, agencies, courts, and college tuition assistance, until the commonwealth certifies that it is prepared to take over the authorities and responsibilities. The bill establishes the Statehood Transition Commission to advise the President, Congress, and District and commonwealth leaders on the transition.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · 216 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 51, Washington, D.C. Admission Act (2021-04-16)

Cosponsors on this site

Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), André Carson (D-IN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Dina Titus (D-NV), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jared Huffman (D-CA) and 156 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] reported raising $53,775 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Joint resolution
In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr51 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117