House Hearing on D.C. Statehood Bill Changed to March 22

 By James Wright

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton announced Friday that a House hearing for her D.C. statehood bill has been pushed back to later this month.

The hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform was changed from March 11 to March 22 due to an adjustment in the chamber’s calendar, Norton said in a statement.

“With Democrats in control of the White House, the House and the Senate, we have never been closer to D.C. statehood,” Norton said. “This hearing will inform the many Americans who still do not know that the 712,000 D.C. residents pay full federal taxes but have no voting representation in Congress, and that Congress has the final say on all local D.C. matters. Following the House passage of the bill in June, some national polls have found that support for D.C. statehood has increased to around 50%. It is long past time for Congress to act.”

Norton’s bill has 212 co-sponsors, with only 218 needed to pass it. The legislation has the support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

In the Senate, a D.C. statehood bill introduced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) has 40 co-sponsors, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

President Biden has indicated he will sign a D.C. statehood bill if it crosses his desk.