Eleanor Holmes Norton: “Saturday is Veterans Day. That is the day we set aside to revere those who served in our Armed Forces, especially today…”

“Saturday is Veterans Day. That is the day we set aside to revere those who served in our Armed Forces, especially today, because all who serve are volunteers. Only one group of taxpaying volunteers who serve in our Armed Forces serve without a vote, and they are the veterans who reside in the Nation's Capital. They have no final vote on this House floor, though, of course, I vote in committee. They are not fully recognized as American citizens, although the District of Columbia is one of the oldest jurisdictions in the United States. D.C. veterans, therefore, are at the front of the line, demanding the vote in Congress and other rights granted only to residents of States. I thank the Members of this body who have cosponsored my bill to make the District of Columbia the 51st State. Each year we have beat last year's record in cosponsors. Today I have introduced a statehood resolution in tribute to the District of Columbia's 30,000 veterans as Veterans Day approaches on Saturday. The residents of your Capital City have never hesitated to serve or give up their lives in war for their country. They have died for their country without a vote in disproportionate numbers. World War I, more casualties than three States; World War II, more casualties than four States; Korean war, more casualties than eight States; the Vietnam war, more casualties than ten States of the Union.…”