S 51 United States Senate · 117th Congress

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

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.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jan 26, 2021 Last action Jun 22, 2021
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Jun 22, 2021
Upper · Passed
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Hearings held.
upper
Jan 26, 2021
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
upper
Jan 26, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 45 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Thomas R. Carper
Thomas R. Carper
DDemocratic
DE
n/a
Co
Photo of Alex Padilla
Alex Padilla
DDemocratic
CA
n/a
Co
Photo of Amy Klobuchar
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
MN
n/a
Co
Photo of Ben Ray Luján
Ben Ray Luján
DDemocratic
NM
n/a
Co
Photo of Benjamin L. Cardin
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Bernard Sanders
Bernard Sanders
IIndependent
VT
n/a
Co
Photo of Brian Schatz
Brian Schatz
DDemocratic
HI
n/a
Co
Photo of Catherine Cortez Masto
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
NV
n/a
Co
Photo of Charles E. Schumer
Charles E. Schumer
DDemocratic
NY
n/a
Co
Photo of Chris Van Hollen
Chris Van Hollen
DDemocratic
MD
n/a
Co
Photo of Christopher A. Coons
Christopher A. Coons
DDemocratic
DE
n/a