Urges Congress enact legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C.

New Jersey's AJR 138 is a joint resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. It directly affects the approximately 679,000 residents of D.C., who pay federal taxes and serve in the military but lack voting representation in Congress. The resolution cites that D.C. residents approved statehood by 86% in a 2016 referendum and notes they face "denial of full representation" despite sharing all federal citizenship responsibilities. It specifically calls on Congress to enact the Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51/S. 51), which would admit D.C. as the 51st state with two U.S. Senators and at least one House member. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but seeks to pressure federal lawmakers.