Eleanor Holmes Norton: “During debate on D.C. statehood Thursday, we will make the case that Congress has the constitutional authority to admit…”

“During debate on D.C. statehood Thursday, we will make the case that Congress has the constitutional authority to admit the State of Washington, D.C., and that the State would meet all the elements Congress has considered in admission decisions. For now, it is sufficient to note that throughout its existence in the United States the United States has flattered itself as a democracy, even though it is the only democratic country that denies voting representation in the national legislature to the residents of the capital. With passage of this rule today and the D.C. statehood bill on Thursday, the United States will be one step closer to deserving the term democracy.”