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

2 recorded actions229 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Eleanor Holmes Norton [D-DC]
Cosponsors: 216 · 216 Democrats
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Committees: Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rules Committee · and 3 more
Latest action: Apr 22, 2021 · Received in the Senate.

IntroducedJan 4, 2021
Passed the HouseApr 22, 2021
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS 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.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 51 as passed House on Apr 22, 2021. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

Roll calls on H.R. 512 roll calls on this measure

Choose a roll call

Apr 22, 2021Each bar: ✓ Yea from the bottom, ✕ Nay aboveApr 22, 2021

How every member votedHouse roll call 132

House Apr 22, 2021 · the primary vote

On Passage

Washington, D.C. Admission Act

Passed

216 Yea 208 Nay 6 not voting

Party-line vote No voting member broke with their own party.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members430 members

Democratic218 members

Republican212 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors216 · 216 Democrats

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 51 and vote against it. 202 signed when it was filed.

Who lobbied on H.R. 5133 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 51 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION

Budget/Appropriations · Defense · Foreign Relations · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice +8 more15 filings · 3rd Quarter (July 1 - Sep 30) 2021Filing

AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AFL-CIOfiled by AMERICAN FED OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO

Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties · Defense +14 more9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION CTW-CLC

Health Issues · Medicare/Medicaid · Budget/Appropriations · Economics/Economic Development +17 more9 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

Disaster Planning/Emergencies · Agriculture · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +15 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

BRADY CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE

Firearms/Guns/Ammunition8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

COMMON CAUSE

Government Issues · Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV · Budget/Appropriations8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

DEMOCRACY 21

Government Issues8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND // LET AMERICA VOTE ACTION FUNDfiled by END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND // LET AMERICA VOTE ACTION FUND, FKA END CITIZENS UNITED ACTION FUND

Government Issues · Constitution · Media (information/publishing) · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +1 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNCILS ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Medicare/Medicaid · Transportation · Budget/Appropriations · Civil Rights/Civil Liberties +6 more8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

NATIONAL TREASURY EMPLOYEES UNIONIts PAC: National Treasury Employees Union PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Government Issues · Health Issues · Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace8 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2022Filing

143 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-04. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.