D.C. Statehood Day Recognition Resolution of 2026

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Chairman Phil Mendelson Councilmember Anita Bonds 4
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Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Brooke Pinto 9
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Councilmember Christina Henderson C ouncilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 14
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Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau C ouncilmember Janeese Lewis George 19
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 26
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 29
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To officially declare May 1 st, 2026, as D.C. Statehood Day in the District of Columbia. 33
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WHEREAS, District of Columbia residents cont ribute more in total internal revenue than 30 35
states and more in business income taxes than 27 states; 36
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WHEREAS, the over 700,000 residents of the Di strict represent a diverse population with 42% 38
identifying as White Non-Hispanic, 24% as Black, 18% as Hispanic, 11% as Asian, and 5% as other; 39
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WHEREAS, the dollar amount of federal taxes paid by the residents of the District of Columbia 41
in the past year currently stands at $2,065,143,245; 42
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WHEREAS, over 1 million tourist travel to the District of Columbia annually to see the cherry 44
blossoms, and the District has 26 million visitors each year; 45
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WHEREAS, the District has the number one rated park system in the United States with more 47
than 21% of the land used for parks and outdoor recreation, well above the national mean of 15%; 48
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WHEREAS, the United States Constitution as ratified in 1788 provided the right to vote for 50
representation in Congress to the “People of the several States” of the United States, which included 51
citizens living on the land that would later be designated by the federal government for the nation’s 52
capital as ceded by Maryland and Virginia to become the District of Columbia; 53
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WHEREAS, despite the provision of the right of vote in the Constitution, through the enactment 55
of the “District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801”, D.C. residents were disenfranchised from voting for 56
representative Members of Congress more than 200 years ago; 57
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WHEREAS, the District of Columbia has more residents than the States of Vermont and 59
Wyoming, and almost as many as North Dakota; 60
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WHEREAS, the residents of the District of Columbia continue to express their determination to 62
achieve full representation by electing two United States Senators and a United States Representative to 63
advocate for statehood and full democracy; 64
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WHEREAS, citizens of the District of Columbia bear all of the responsibilities of citizenship, 66
including fighting in wars and serving in the military, paying federal income taxes, and serving on federal 67
juries; 68
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WHEREAS, no other democratic nation denies basic rights of self-government, including 70
participation in the national legislature, to residents of its capital; 71
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WHEREAS, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has released statements expressing 73
concern over this denial of representation to citizens in D.C.; 74
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WHEREAS, the Organization of American States (OAS), to which the United States is a 76
signatory, has described the disenfranchisement of D.C. residents as a violation of its charter agreement; 77
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WHEREAS, the residents of the District have no voting representation in Congress and therefore 79
cannot hold representatives accountable for arbitrary budget interference; 80
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WHEREAS, despite nearly three decades of balanced budgets, D.C. faces the possibility each 82
year of being shut down because of congressional interference; 83
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WHEREAS, it has been more than 50 years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act, and more 85
than 40 years since the District of Columbia was granted home rule, and the residents of the District of 86
Columbia have yet to have the same rights as the residents of the 50 states. 87
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTR ICT OF COLUMBIA, that this resolution 89
may be cited as the “D.C. Statehood Day Recognition Resolution of 2026.” 90
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia hereby declares May 1 st, 2026 to be D.C. 92
Statehood Day and encourages leaders and residents to discuss statehood for the District of Columbia in 93
high-profile settings in an effort to educate Americans regarding the lack of congressional voting 94
representation and budget autonomy for the residents of the District. 95
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect im mediately upon the first date of publication in the 97
District of Columbia Register. 98