Montgomery County Council Supports Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Resolution Calling for D.C. Statehood

Montgomery County Council Supports Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Resolution Calling for D.C. Statehood

 

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 19, 2020—On Tuesday, April 20, the Council will introduce a resolution in support of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s (COG) latest resolution calling for statehood for the District of Columbia. Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Evan Glass are the lead sponsors of this resolution.

"The indefensible disenfranchisement of 700,000 D.C. residents is one of the remaining civil rights injustices of our time," said Council President Tom Hucker. "Last week, I joined Senator Chris Van Hollen, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly, Councilmember Nancy Navarro and our colleagues on the Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to approve a resolution in support of D.C. statehood. Now I'm proud to introduce this to the Council with the full support of my colleagues."

“I am proud to support the codification of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ resolution in support of H.R. 15, which would give our neighbors in the District the representation and autonomy they are entitled to,” said Councilmember Nancy Navarro. “The District has a proud and rich history and identity. It is time for Congress to recognize the reality that stares them in the face literally every single day - which is that Washington, D.C. should be a state.”

“The District of Columbia is not only the heart of the nation, but it’s also the heart of our region,” said Councilmember Evan Glass. “I want residents of the District to know that their Montgomery County neighbors stand alongside them in the struggle for fair representation. The 700,000 individuals who live on the other side of Eastern and Western Avenues are our friends, family members, coworkers and above all - fellow Americans. Each of them deserves equal rights and representation.”

Montgomery County expressed its formal support for D.C. statehood in February, when it passed a Council resolution spearheaded by Councilmember Glass and cosponsored by the full Council. This new resolution reiterates the Council’s commitment to this issue.

Despite having more than 700,000 residents who pay more taxes than residents in 22 states, and that pay more per capita to the federal government than any other state, D.C. residents have no votes in Congress and cannot fully self-govern. In Nov. 2016, 86 percent of D.C. voters approved a referendum to make D.C. a state.

Given Montgomery County’s inter-connectivity with the population living and working in D.C., the County would be positively impacted by making D.C. the nation’s 51st state.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is comprised of 24 of the National Capital Region's local governments and their governing officials including Montgomery County Councilmembers, as well as area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The Council staff report and resolution can be found here.

 

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