At National Council of Jewish Women, we are guided by our obligation to pursue tzedek, or justice, for every person — because we believe that everyone deserves equal justice and an equal say in our democracy. Yet the 700,000 taxpaying residents of the District of Columbia — the majority of whom are people of color — do not have a say in Congress. This grave injustice and lack of representation leaves DC residents out of issues with Congressional oversight, including the city’s budget and laws related to abortion access. The Washington DC Admission Act (HR 51/S 51) introduced by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) in the House and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in the Senate, would grant DC statehood and voting representation in Congress. This bill would make Washington, DC the 51st state and designate the area around important federal buildings as remaining under Congressional control.  

DC residents pay more in federal taxes per person than any other state —yet they have no voting representation in Congress, and lawmakers still control the city’s budget. It’s time to end taxation without representation once and for all. Congress must grant DC statehood to give its residents a voice in our democracy and full control over their own local affairs.