Eleanor Holmes Norton: “The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation, yet D.C.…”

“The Revolutionary War was fought to give consent to the governed and to end taxation without representation, yet D.C. residents cannot consent to any action taken by Congress and pay full Federal taxes. Indeed, D.C. pays more Federal taxes per capita than any State and more total Federal taxes than 20 States. If House Republicans cared about democratic principles or D.C. residents, they would bring to the floor my D.C. statehood bill, H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would give D.C. residents voting representation in Congress and full local self-government. Congress has the constitutional authority to admit the State of Washington, D.C. It simply lacks the will.”