The U.S House will take a historic vote later this week to make Washington, D.C. our 51st state. While this bill will not pass the Republican-controlled Senate right now, this is the closest D.C. has ever been to enfranchising its voters, and momentum now will be critical to making statehood a reality in the event we take back the Senate. More from Indivisible National:
“American democracy is built on the promise that all people will have a say in our federal government through elected representatives who can then create and execute laws on behalf of the people. However, that is not the case for the 700,000 Americans who live in the District of Columbia who lack equal voting rights compared to their neighbors across the country. In fact, D.C. residents lack a voting representative in the House and have no representation in the Senate at all.
“D.C. statehood is also a racial justice issue. Just under 50 percent of D.C.’s residents are Black. Historically, racist politicians have prevented D.C. from becoming a state to prevent D.C.’s Black residents from building political power. If D.C. is granted statehood, it will be the only state in the nation to have a plurality of Black residents.”
Action: Contact your Representative and demand they pass H.R. 51 and support D.C. statehood. Contact your Senators and demand they co-sponsor the companion bill.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal: https://jayapal.house.gov/contact/
Rep. Adam Smith: https://adamsmith.house.gov/contact/
Sen. Maria Cantwell: https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Sen. Patty Murray: https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
Script [for Jayapal and Smith]:
“My name is [NAME] from [STATE]. I am asking [CONGRESSPERSON] to vote yes on H.R. 51 and support D.C. statehood. Voting yes on D.C. statehood is a critical step towards building a fairer democracy and towards enfranchising D.C.’s plurality-Black residents who lack representation in Congress.”
Script [for Murray and Cantwell]:
“My name is [NAME] from [STATE]. I am calling to thank [SENATOR] for cosponsoring S.631 supporting D.C. statehood. Voting yes on D.C. statehood is a critical step towards building a fairer democracy and towards enfranchising D.C.’s plurality-Black residents who lack representation in Congress.”
Background:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/politics/washington-dc-statehood-vote-house.html
