Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today, the House of Representatives passed HR 51 -- Washington, DC Congressmember Eleanor Holmes Norton’s bill to establish DC statehood -- for the second time. Earlier this week, the White House formally endorsed HR 51 and issued a statement of “full support” for DC as the 51st state.
In 2017, the Sierra Club passed a formal resolution in support of DC Statehood, noting that “the rights of the residents of the District of Columbia are violated when the US Congress imposes its will on local matters -- including important environmental issues facing the District -- and denies citizens who live in the District of Columbia voting representation on federal issues in both houses of the US Congress.”
The District’s only member of Congress, Congressmember Norton, has no voting power on the floor of the House of Representatives, and District residents pay more federal tax dollars per capita than any US state.
In response, Sierra Club DC Chapter Chair Catherine Plume released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club applauds Congressmember Norton for her tireless leadership to ensure DC statehood and fulfill the democratic rights and representation for all who call DC home. It is well past time for the more than 700,000 District residents to have full autonomy at the ballot box and the power to decide how their own elected officials address today’s biggest challenges and spend their tax dollars. The Sierra Club calls on the Senate to meet this moment and pass HR 51 now.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.