ACR178

A Concurrent Resolution respectfully urging the United States Congress to pass legislation admitting the District of Columbia as the 51st state of the United States of America.

Whereas, Since its organization in 1801, residents of the District of Columbia (district) have been denied voting rights for federal representation and full self-governance; and

Whereas, The United States Congress maintains oversight of the democratically-elected district government, and can change or veto any budget or legislative measure passed by the district government, regardless of the preference of district residents; and

Whereas, With approximately 672,000 district residents, the district generates approximately $5 billion in district taxes annually, yet residents have no input on how their tax dollars are spent because they do not have full voting representation in the United States Congress; and

Whereas, District residents are required to serve on federal juries, yet lack full voting representation in the United States Congress; and

Whereas, 29,825 district residents are veterans who have risked their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces, yet they are denied full voting representation in the United States Congress; and

Whereas, Ten United States Armed Forces service members from the district have died serving in Iraq and Afghanistan; and

Whereas, Out of 118 electoral democracies around the world, the United States is the only country that denies citizens of its national capital the right to full participate in the democratic process; and

Whereas, The modern district statehood movement consistently supports legislation in Congress that grants the district statehood; and

Whereas, District Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has called for a district-wide vote in November of 2016 to grant the district statehood; and

Whereas, It is therefore appropriate for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge Congress to pass legislation providing for the admission of the District of Columbia as the 51st state of the United States of America; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the United States Congress to pass legislation providing for the admission of the District of Columbia as the 51st state of the United States of America.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States of America, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, every member of Congress elected from this State, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, and the Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia.

STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution urges Congress to pass legislation providing for the admission of the District of Columbia (district) as the 51st state of the United States. Since its organization in 1801, the residents of the district have been denied voting rights for federal representation and full self-governance. Congress maintains oversight of the democratically-elected district government, and can change or veto any budget or legislative measure passed by the district government, regardless of the preference of district residents. With approximately 672,000 district residents, the district generates approximately $5 billion in district taxes annually, yet residents have no input on how their tax dollars are spent because they do not have full voting representation in the United States Congress. District residents are required to serve on federal juries, yet lack full voting representation in Congress. 29,825 veterans who have risked their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces are district residents, yet they are denied the right of full voting representation in Congress. Ten Armed Forces service members from the district have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Out of 118 electoral democracies around the world, the United States is the only country that denies citizens of its national capital the right to full participate in the democratic process. The modern district statehood movement routinely supports legislation in Congress that would grant the district statehood. District Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has called for a district-wide vote in November of 2016 to grant the district statehood.

This Legislature wishes to formally declare its support for the admission of the District of Columbia as the 51st state of the United States of America.