I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 317 

To provide for the admission of the State of New Columbia into the Union. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 13, 2015 

Ms. NORTON (for herself, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. BASS, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. BISHOP

of Georgia, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. BROWN of Florida, 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Ms. CHU

of California, Mr. CICILLINE, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Ms. CLARKE

of New York, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 

CONNOLLY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. 

DEFAZIO, Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. DELANEY, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. ELLISON, 

Mr. ENGEL, Mr. FARR, Mr. FATTAH, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Ms. 

FUDGE, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. 

HIMES, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. JEFFRIES, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mrs. 

KIRKPATRICK, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Ms. LEE, 

Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LEWIS, Mr. LIEU of California, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. 

LOWENTHAL, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, Mr. 

LYNCH, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MOORE, 

Mr. NADLER, Mr. O’ROURKE, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. 

PIERLUISI, Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. POCAN, Mr. POLIS, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 

RICHMOND, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, 

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. SLAUGHTER, 

Ms. SPEIER, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. TAKAI, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. 

THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Ms. TSONGAS, 

Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. VEASEY, Ms. MAXINE WATERS of 

California, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. WELCH, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. YARMUTH, and Mrs. NAPOLITANO) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 

Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a 

period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 


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A BILL 

To provide for the admission of the State of New Columbia 

into the Union. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘New Columbia Admission Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 

7 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

TITLE I—STATE OF NEW COLUMBIA 

Subtitle A—Procedures for Admission 

Sec. 101. Admission into the Union. 

Sec. 102. Process for admission. 

Sec. 103. Election of officials of State. 

Sec. 104. Issuance of presidential proclamation. 

Subtitle B—Description of New Columbia Territory 

Sec. 111. Territories and boundaries of New Columbia. 

Sec. 112. Description of District of Columbia after admission of State. 

Sec. 113. Continuation of title to lands and property. 

Subtitle C—General Provisions Relating to Laws of New Columbia 

Sec. 121. Limitation on authority of State to tax Federal property. 

Sec. 122. Effect of admission of State on current laws. 

Sec. 123. Continuation of judicial proceedings. 

Sec. 124. United States nationality. 

TITLE II—RESPONSIBILITIES AND INTERESTS OF FEDERAL 

GOVERNMENT 

Sec. 201. Continuation of revised District of Columbia as seat of Federal Government. 

Sec. 202. Treatment of military lands. 

Sec. 203. Waiver of claims to Federal lands and property. 

Sec. 204. Permitting individuals residing in new seat of government to vote in 

Federal elections in State of most recent domicile. 

Sec. 205. Repeal of law providing for participation of District of Columbia in 

election of President and Vice-President. 


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Sec. 206. Expedited consideration of constitutional amendment. 

TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Sec. 301. General definitions. 

Sec. 302. Certification of enactment by President. 

1 TITLE I—STATE OF NEW 

2 COLUMBIA 

3 Subtitle A—Procedures for 

4 Admission 

5 SEC. 101. ADMISSION INTO THE UNION. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this 

7 Act, upon issuance of the proclamation required by section 

8 104(b), the State of New Columbia is declared to be a 

9 State of the United States of America, and is declared 

10 admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the other 

11 States in all respects whatever. 

12 (b) CONSTITUTION OF STATE.—The State Constitu13 tion shall always be republican in form and shall not be 

14 repugnant to the Constitution of the United States and 

15 the principles of the Declaration of Independence. 

16 SEC. 102. PROCESS FOR ADMISSION. 

17 (a) APPROVAL OF ADMISSION BY VOTERS OF DIS18 TRICT OF COLUMBIA.— 

19 (1) ELECTION PROCEDURES.—At an election 

20 designated by proclamation of the Mayor, which may 

21 be the primary or the general election held pursuant 

22 to section 103(a), a general election, or a special 

23 election, there shall be submitted to the electors 


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1 qualified to vote in such election the following propo2 sitions for adoption or rejection: 

3 ‘‘(A) New Columbia shall immediately be 

4 admitted into the Union as a State. 

5 ‘‘(B) The proposed Constitution for the 

6 State of New Columbia, as adopted by the 

7 Council of the District of Columbia pursuant to 

8 the Constitution for the State of New Columbia 

9 Approval Act of 1987 (D.C. Law 7–8), shall be 

10 deemed ratified and shall replace the Constitu11 tion for the State of New Columbia ratified on 

12 November 2, 1982. 

13 ‘‘(C) The boundaries of the State of New 

14 Columbia shall be as prescribed in the New Co15 lumbia Admission Act. 

16 ‘‘(D) All provisions of the New Columbia 

17 Admission Act, including provisions reserving 

18 rights or powers to the United States and pro19 visions prescribing the terms or conditions of 

20 the grants of lands or other property made to 

21 the State of New Columbia, are consented to 

22 fully by the State and its people.’’. 

23 (2) RESPONSIBILITIES OF MAYOR.—The Mayor 

24 of the District of Columbia is authorized and di25 rected to take such action as may be necessary or 


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1 appropriate to ensure the submission of such propo2 sitions to the people. The return of the votes cast on 

3 such propositions shall be made by the election offi4 cers directly to the Board of Elections of the Dis5 trict of Columbia, which shall certify the results of 

6 the submission to the Mayor. The Mayor shall cer7 tify the results of such submission to the President 

8 of the United States. 

9 (b) EFFECT OF VOTE.— 

10 (1) ADOPTION OF PROPOSITIONS.—In the event 

11 the propositions described in subsection (a) are 

12 adopted in an election under such subsection by a 

13 majority of the legal votes cast on such submis14 sion— 

15 (A) the State Constitution shall be deemed 

16 ratified; and 

17 (B) the President shall issue a proclama18 tion pursuant to section 104. 

19 (2) REJECTION OF PROPOSITION.—In the event 

20 any one of the propositions described in subsection 

21 (a) is not adopted in an election under such sub22 section by a majority of the legal votes cast on such 

23 submission, the provisions of this Act shall cease to 

24 be effective. 


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1 SEC. 103. ELECTION OF OFFICIALS OF STATE. 

2 (a) ISSUANCE OF PROCLAMATION.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 30 days after 

4 receiving certification of the enactment of this Act 

5 from the President pursuant to section 302, the 

6 Mayor of the District of Columbia shall issue a proc7 lamation for the first elections, subject to the provi8 sions of this section, for two Senators and one Rep9 resentative in Congress. 

10 (2) SPECIAL RULE FOR ELECTION OF SEN11 ATORS.—In the election of Senators from the State 

12 pursuant to paragraph (1), the 2 Senate offices shall 

13 be separately identified and designated, and no per14 son may be a candidate for both offices. No such 

15 identification or designation of either of the offices 

16 shall refer to or be taken to refer to the terms of 

17 such offices, or in any way impair the privilege of 

18 the Senate to determine the class to which each of 

19 the Senators elected shall be assigned. 

20 (b) RULES FOR CONDUCTING ELECTION.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The proclamation of the 

22 Mayor issued under subsection (a) shall provide for 

23 the holding of a primary election and a general elec24 tion and at such elections the officers required to be 

25 elected as provided in subsection (a) shall be chosen 


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1 by the qualified electors of the District of Columbia 

2 in the manner required by law. 

3 (2) CERTIFICATION OF RETURNS.—Election re4 turns shall be made and certified in the manner re5 quired by law, except that the Mayor shall also cer6 tify the results of such elections to the President of 

7 the United States. 

8 (c) ASSUMPTION OF DUTIES.—Upon the admission 

9 of the State into the Union, the Senators and Representa10 tive elected at the election described in subsection (a) shall 

11 be entitled to be admitted to seats in Congress and to all 

12 the rights and privileges of Senators and Representatives 

13 of other States in the Congress of the United States. 

14 (d) TRANSFER OF OFFICES OF MAYOR AND MEM15 BERS AND CHAIR OF COUNCIL.—Upon the admission of 

16 the State into the Union, the Mayor, members of the 

17 Council, and the Chair of the Council at the time of admis18 sion shall be deemed the Governor, members of the House 

19 of Delegates, and the President of the House of Delegates 

20 of the State, respectively, as provided by the State Con21 stitution and the laws of the State. 

22 (e) CONTINUATION OF AUTHORITY AND DUTIES AND

23 JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.—Upon the admis24 sion of the State into the Union, members of executive 

25 and judicial offices of the District of Columbia shall be 


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1 deemed members of the respective executive and judicial 

2 offices of the State, as provided by the State Constitution 

3 and the laws of the State. 

4 (f) SPECIAL RULE FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTA5 TIVES MEMBERSHIP.—The State upon its admission into 

6 the Union shall be entitled to one Representative until the 

7 taking effect of the next reapportionment, and such Rep8 resentative shall be in addition to the membership of the 

9 House of Representatives as now prescribed by law, except 

10 that such temporary increase in the membership shall not 

11 operate to either increase or decrease the permanent mem12 bership of the House of Representatives or affect the basis 

13 of apportionment for the Congress. 

14 SEC. 104. ISSUANCE OF PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—If the President finds that the 

16 propositions set forth in section 102(a) have been duly 

17 adopted by the people of the State, the President, upon 

18 certification of the returns of the election of the officers 

19 required to be elected as provided in section 103(a), shall, 

20 not later than 90 days after receiving such certification, 

21 issue a proclamation announcing the results of such elec22 tions as so ascertained. 

23 (b) ADMISSION OF STATE UPON ISSUANCE OF PROC24 LAMATION.—Upon the issuance of the proclamation by the 


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1 President under subsection (a), the State shall be deemed 

2 admitted into the Union as provided in section 101. 

3 Subtitle B—Description of New 

4 Columbia Territory 

5 SEC. 111. TERRITORIES AND BOUNDARIES OF NEW COLUM6 BIA. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

8 (b), the State shall consist of all of the territory of the 

9 District of Columbia as of the date of the enactment of 

10 this Act, subject to the results of the technical survey con11 ducted under subsection (c). 

12 (b) EXCLUSION OF PORTION OF DISTRICT OF CO13 LUMBIA REMAINING AS NATIONAL CAPITAL.—The terri14 tory of the State shall not include the area described in 

15 section 112, which shall remain as the District of Colum16 bia for purposes of serving as the seat of the government 

17 of the United States. 

18 (c) TECHNICAL SURVEY.—Not later than 6 months 

19 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 

20 (in consultation with the Chair of the National Capital 

21 Planning Commission) shall conduct a technical survey of 

22 the metes and bounds of the District of Columbia and of 

23 the territory described in section 112(b). 


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1 SEC. 112. DESCRIPTION OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AFTER 

2 ADMISSION OF STATE. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the succeeding provi4 sions of this section, after the admission of the State into 

5 the Union, the District of Columbia shall consist of the 

6 property described in subsection (b) and shall include the 

7 principal Federal monuments, the White House, the Cap8 itol Building, the United States Supreme Court Building, 

9 and the Federal executive, legislative, and judicial office 

10 buildings located adjacent to the Mall and the Capitol 

11 Building. 

12 (b) SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF METES AND

13 BOUNDS.—After the admission of the State into the 

14 Union, the specific metes and bounds of the District of 

15 Columbia shall be as follows: 

16 Beginning at the point on the present Virginia17 District of Columbia boundary due west of the 

18 northernmost point of Theodore Roosevelt Island 

19 and running due east of the eastern shore of the Po20 tomac River; 

21 thence generally south along the shore at the 

22 mean high water mark to the northwest corner of 

23 the Kennedy Center; 

24 thence east along the north side of the Kennedy 

25 Center to a point where it reaches the E Street Ex26 pressway; 


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1 thence east on the expressway to E Street 

2 Northwest and thence east on E Street Northwest to 

3 Eighteenth Street Northwest; 

4 thence south on Eighteenth Street Northwest to 

5 Constitution Avenue Northwest; 

6 thence east on Constitution Avenue to Seven7 teenth Street Northwest; 

8 thence north on Seventeenth Street Northwest 

9 to Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest; 

10 thence east on Pennsylvania Avenue to Jackson 

11 Place Northwest; thence north on Jackson Place to 

12 H Street Northwest; 

13 thence east on H Street Northwest to Madison 

14 Place Northwest; 

15 thence south on Madison Place Northwest to 

16 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest; 

17 thence east on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest 

18 to Fifteenth Street Northwest; 

19 thence south on Fifteenth Street Northwest to 

20 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest; 

21 thence southeast on Pennsylvania Avenue 

22 Northwest to John Marshall Place Northwest; 

23 thence north on John Marshall Place Northwest 

24 to C Street Northwest; 


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1 thence east on C Street Northwest to Third 

2 Street Northwest; 

3 thence north on Third Street Northwest to D 

4 Street Northwest; 

5 thence east on D Street Northwest to Second 

6 Street Northwest; 

7 thence south on Second Street Northwest to the 

8 intersection of Constitution Avenue Northwest and 

9 Louisiana Avenue Northwest; 

10 thence northeast on Louisiana Avenue North11 west to North Capitol Street; 

12 thence north on North Capitol Street to Massa13 chusetts Avenue Northwest; 

14 thence southeast on Massachusetts Avenue 

15 Northwest so as to encompass Union Square; 

16 thence following Union Square to F Street 

17 Northeast; 

18 thence east on F Street Northeast to Second 

19 Street Northeast; 

20 thence south on Second Street Northeast to D 

21 Street Northeast; 

22 thence west on D Street Northeast to First 

23 Street Northeast; 

24 thence south on First Street Northeast to 

25 Maryland Avenue Northeast; 


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1 thence generally north and east on Maryland 

2 Avenue to Second Street Northeast; 

3 thence south on Second Street Northeast to C 

4 Street Southeast; 

5 thence west on C Street Southeast to New Jer6 sey Avenue Southeast; 

7 thence south on New Jersey Avenue Southeast 

8 to D Street Southeast; 

9 thence west on D Street Southeast to Wash10 ington Avenue Southwest; 

11 thence southeast on Washington Avenue South12 west to E Street Southeast; 

13 thence west on E Street Southeast to the inter14 section of Washington Avenue Southwest and South 

15 Capitol Street; 

16 thence northwest on Washington Avenue South17 west to Second Street Southwest; 

18 thence south on Second Street Southwest to 

19 Virginia Avenue Southwest; 

20 thence generally west on Virginia Avenue to 

21 Third Street Southwest; 

22 thence north on Third Street Southwest to C 

23 Street Southwest; 

24 thence west on C Street Southwest to Sixth 

25 Street Southwest; 


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1 thence north on Sixth Street Southwest to Inde2 pendence Avenue; 

3 thence west on Independence Avenue to Twelfth 

4 Street Southwest; 

5 thence south on Twelfth Street Southwest to D 

6 Street Southwest; 

7 thence west on D Street Southwest to Four8 teenth Street Southwest; 

9 thence south on Fourteenth Street Southwest to 

10 the middle of the Washington Channel; 

11 thence generally south and east along the 

12 midchannel of the Washington Channel to a point 

13 due west of the northern boundary line of Fort Les14 ley McNair; 

15 thence due east to the side of the Washington 

16 Channel; 

17 thence following generally south and east along 

18 the side of the Washington Channel at the mean 

19 high water mark, to the point of confluence with the 

20 Anacostia River, and along the northern shore at the 

21 mean high water mark to the northernmost point of 

22 the Eleventh Street Bridge; 

23 thence generally south and east along the 

24 northern side of the Eleventh Street Bridge to the 

25 eastern shore of the Anacostia River; 


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1 thence generally south and west along such 

2 shore at the mean high water mark to the point of 

3 confluence of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers; 

4 thence generally south along the eastern shore 

5 at the mean high water mark of the Potomac River 

6 to the point where it meets the present southeastern 

7 boundary line of the District of Columbia; 

8 thence south and west along such southeastern 

9 boundary line to the point where it meets the 

10 present Virginia-District of Columbia boundary; and 

11 thence generally north and west up the Poto12 mac River along the present Virginia-District of Co13 lumbia boundary to the point of beginning. 

14 (c) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTY.— 

15 (1) STREETS AND SIDEWALKS BOUNDING

16 AREA.—After the admission of the State into the 

17 Union, the District of Columbia shall be deemed to 

18 include any street (together with any sidewalk there19 of) bounding the District of Columbia. 

20 (2) EXCLUSION OF DISTRICT BUILDING.—Not21 withstanding any other provision of this section, the 

22 District of Columbia shall not be considered to in23 clude the District Building after the admission of 

24 the State into the Union. 


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1 (3) INCLUSION OF CERTAIN MILITARY PROP2 ERTY.—After the admission of the State into the 

3 Union, the District of Columbia shall be deemed to 

4 include Fort Lesley McNair, the Washington Navy 

5 Yard, the Anacostia Naval Annex, the United States 

6 Naval Station, Bolling Air Force Base, and the 

7 Naval Research Laboratory. 

8 SEC. 113. CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS AND PROP9 ERTY. 

10 (a) CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS OF DIS11 TRICT OF COLUMBIA.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The State and its political 

13 subdivisions shall have and retain title or jurisdic14 tion for purposes of administration and maintenance 

15 to all property, real and personal, with respect to 

16 which title or jurisdiction for purposes of adminis17 tration and maintenance is held by the District of 

18 Columbia on the day before the State is admitted 

19 into the Union. 

20 (2) CONVEYANCE OF INTEREST IN CERTAIN

21 BRIDGES AND TUNNELS.—On the day before the 

22 State is admitted into the Union, the District of Co23 lumbia shall convey to the United States any and all 

24 interest of the District of Columbia in any bridge or 

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1 ginia with the District of Columbia after the admis2 sion of the State into the Union. 

3 (b) CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL TITLE TO PROP4 ERTY IN STATE.—The United States shall have and retain 

5 title or jurisdiction for purposes of administration and 

6 maintenance to all property in the State with respect to 

7 which the United States holds title or jurisdiction on the 

8 day before the State is admitted into the Union. 

9 Subtitle C—General Provisions 

10 Relating to Laws of New Columbia 

11 SEC. 121. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF STATE TO TAX 

12 FEDERAL PROPERTY. 

13 The State may not impose any taxes upon any lands 

14 or other property owned or acquired by the United States, 

15 except to the extent as Congress may permit. 

16 SEC. 122. EFFECT OF ADMISSION OF STATE ON CURRENT 

17 LAWS. 

18 (a) LEGISLATIVE POWER OF STATE.—The legislative 

19 power of the State shall extend to all rightful subjects of 

20 legislation within the State, consistent with the Constitu21 tion of the United States (including the restrictions and 

22 limitations imposed upon the States by article I, section 

23 10) and subject to the provisions of this Act. 

24 (b) TREATMENT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—To the extent 

25 that any law of the United States applies to the States 


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1 generally, the law shall have the same force and effect 

2 within the State as elsewhere in the United States, except 

3 as such law may otherwise provide. 

4 SEC. 123. CONTINUATION OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. 

5 (a) PENDING PROCEEDINGS.— 

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—No writ, action, indictment, 

7 cause, or proceeding pending in any court of the 

8 District of Columbia or in the United States District 

9 Court for the District of Columbia shall abate by 

10 reason of the admission of the State into the Union, 

11 but shall be transferred and shall proceed within 

12 such appropriate State courts as shall be established 

13 under the State Constitution, or shall continue in 

14 the United States District Court for the District of 

15 Columbia, as the nature of the case may require. 

16 (2) SUCCESSION OF COURTS.—The appropriate 

17 courts of the State shall be the successors of the 

18 courts of the District of Columbia as to all cases 

19 arising within the limits embraced within the juris20 diction of such courts, with full power to proceed 

21 with such cases, and award mesne or final process 

22 therein, and all files, records, indictments, and pro23 ceedings relating to any such writ, action, indict24 ment, cause, or proceeding shall be transferred to 


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1 such appropriate State courts and shall be proceeded 

2 with therein in due course of law. 

3 (b) UNFILED PROCEEDINGS BASED ON ACTIONS

4 PRIOR TO ADMISSION.—All civil causes of action and all 

5 criminal offenses which shall have arisen or been com6 mitted prior to the admission of the State into the Union, 

7 but as to which no writ, action, indictment, or proceeding 

8 shall be pending at the date of such admission, shall be 

9 subject to prosecution in the appropriate State courts or 

10 in the United States District Court for the District of Co11 lumbia in like manner, to the same extent, and with like 

12 right of appellate review, as if the State had been admitted 

13 and such State courts had been established prior to the 

14 accrual of such causes of action or the commission of such 

15 offenses. 

16 (c) MAINTENANCE OF RIGHTS TO AND JURISDICTION

17 OVER APPEALS.— 

18 (1) CASES DECIDED PRIOR TO ADMISSION.— 

19 Parties shall have the same rights of appeal from 

20 and appellate review of final decisions of the United 

21 States District Court for the District of Columbia or 

22 the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in any 

23 case finally decided prior to the admission of the 

24 State into the Union, whether or not an appeal 

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1 mission. The United States Court of Appeals for the 

2 District of Columbia Circuit and the Supreme Court 

3 of the United States shall have the same jurisdiction 

4 in such cases as by law provided prior to the admis5 sion of the State into the Union. 

6 (2) CASES DECIDED AFTER ADMISSION.—Par7 ties shall have the same rights of appeal from and 

8 appellate review of all orders, judgments, and de9 crees of the United States District Court for the 

10 District of Columbia and of the highest court of the 

11 State, as successor to the District of Columbia 

12 Court of Appeals, in any case pending at the time 

13 of admission of the State into the Union, and the 

14 United States Court of Appeals for the District of 

15 Columbia Circuit and the Supreme Court of the 

16 United States shall have the same jurisdiction there17 in, as by law provided in any case arising subsequent 

18 to the admission of the State into the Union. 

19 (3) ISSUANCE OF SUBSEQUENT MANDATES.— 

20 Any mandate issued subsequent to the admission of 

21 the State shall be to the United States District 

22 Court for the District of Columbia or a court of the 

23 State, as appropriate. 


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1 (d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO FED2 ERAL COURTS.—Effective upon the admission of the State 

3 into the Union— 

4 (1) section 41 of title 28, United States Code, 

5 is amended in the second column by inserting ‘‘, 

6 New Columbia’’ after ‘‘District of Columbia’’; and 

7 (2) the first paragraph of section 88 of title 28, 

8 United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

9 ‘‘The District of Columbia and the State of 

10 New Columbia comprise one judicial district.’’. 

11 SEC. 124. UNITED STATES NATIONALITY. 

12 No provision of this Act shall operate to confer 

13 United States nationality, to terminate nationality lawfully 

14 acquired, or to restore nationality terminated or lost under 

15 any law of the United States or under any treaty to which 

16 the United States is or was a party. 

17 TITLE II—RESPONSIBILITIES 

18 AND INTERESTS OF FEDERAL 

19 GOVERNMENT 

20 SEC. 201. CONTINUATION OF REVISED DISTRICT OF CO21 LUMBIA AS SEAT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 

22 After the admission of the State into the Union, the 

23 seat of the Government of the United States shall be the 

24 District of Columbia as described in section 112 (also 

25 known as ‘‘Washington, DC’’). 


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1 SEC. 202. TREATMENT OF MILITARY LANDS. 

2 (a) RESERVATION OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY.— 

3 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) 

4 and subsection (b) and notwithstanding the admis5 sion of the State into the Union, authority is re6 served in the United States for the exercise by Con7 gress of the power of exclusive legislation in all cases 

8 whatsoever over such tracts or parcels of land lo9 cated within the State that, immediately prior to the 

10 admission of the State, are controlled or owned by 

11 the United States and held for defense or Coast 

12 Guard purposes. 

13 (2) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY.—The power of 

14 exclusive legislation described in paragraph (1) shall 

15 vest and remain in the United States only so long 

16 as the particular tract or parcel of land involved is 

17 controlled or owned by the United States and used 

18 for defense or Coast Guard purposes. 

19 (b) AUTHORITY OF STATE.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—The reservation of authority 

21 in the United States for the exercise by the Congress 

22 of the United States of the power of exclusive legis23 lation over military lands under subsection (a) shall 

24 not operate to prevent such lands from being a part 

25 of the State, or to prevent the State from exercising 

26 over or upon such lands, concurrently with the 


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1 United States, any jurisdiction which it would have 

2 in the absence of such reservation of authority and 

3 which is consistent with the laws hereafter enacted 

4 by Congress pursuant to such reservation of author5 ity. 

6 (2) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—The State shall 

7 have the right to serve civil or criminal process with8 in such tracts or parcels of land in which the author9 ity of the United States is reserved under subsection 

10 (a) in suits or prosecutions for or on account of 

11 rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes com12 mitted within the State but outside of such tracts or 

13 parcels of land. 

14 SEC. 203. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO FEDERAL LANDS AND 

15 PROPERTY. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—As a compact with the United 

17 States, the State and its people disclaim all right and title 

18 to any lands or other property not granted or confirmed 

19 to the State or its political subdivisions by or under the 

20 authority of this Act, the right or title to which is held 

21 by the United States or subject to disposition by the 

22 United States. 

23 (b) EFFECT ON CLAIMS AGAINST UNITED STATES.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing contained in this 

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1 wise affect any claim against the United States, and 

2 any such claim shall be governed by applicable laws 

3 of the United States. 

4 (2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 

5 Act is intended or shall be construed as a finding, 

6 interpretation, or construction by the Congress that 

7 any applicable law authorizes, establishes, recog8 nizes, or confirms the validity or invalidity of any 

9 claim referred to in paragraph (1), and the deter10 mination of the applicability or effect of any law to 

11 any such claim shall be unaffected by anything in 

12 this Act. 

13 SEC. 204. PERMITTING INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN NEW 

14 SEAT OF GOVERNMENT TO VOTE IN FEDERAL 

15 ELECTIONS IN STATE OF MOST RECENT 

16 DOMICILE. 

17 (a) REQUIREMENT FOR STATES TO PERMIT INDIVID18 UALS TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall— 

20 (A) permit absent District of Columbia 

21 voters to use absentee registration procedures 

22 and to vote by absentee ballot in general, spe23 cial, primary, and runoff elections for Federal 

24 office; and 


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1 (B) accept and process, with respect to any 

2 general, special, primary, or runoff election for 

3 Federal office, any otherwise valid voter reg4 istration application from an absent District of 

5 Columbia voter, if the application is received by 

6 the appropriate State election official not less 

7 than 30 days before the election. 

8 (2) ABSENT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA VOTER DE9 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘absent District 

10 of Columbia voter’’ means, with respect to a State, 

11 a person who resides in the District of Columbia 

12 after the admission of the State of New Columbia 

13 into the Union and is qualified to vote in the State 

14 (or who would be qualified to vote in the State but 

15 for residing in the District of Columbia), but only if 

16 the State is the last place in which the person was 

17 domiciled before residing in the District of Colum18 bia. 

19 (3) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 

20 ‘‘State’’ means each of the several States, including 

21 the State of New Columbia. 

22 (b) RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATES TO MAXIMIZE

23 ACCESS TO POLLS BY ABSENT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

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1 sent District of Columbia voters, it is recommended that 

2 the States— 

3 (1) waive registration requirements for absent 

4 District of Columbia voters who, by reason of resi5 dence in the District of Columbia, do not have an 

6 opportunity to register; 

7 (2) expedite processing of balloting materials 

8 with respect to such individuals; and 

9 (3) assure that absentee ballots are mailed to 

10 such individuals at the earliest opportunity. 

11 (c) ENFORCEMENT.—The Attorney General may 

12 bring a civil action in appropriate district court for such 

13 declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to 

14 carry out this section. 

15 (d) EFFECT ON CERTAIN OTHER LAWS.—The exer16 cise of any right under this section shall not affect, for 

17 purposes of any Federal, State, or local tax, the residence 

18 or domicile of a person exercising such right. 

19 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 

20 upon the date of the admission of the State into the 

21 Union, and shall apply with respect to elections for Fed22 eral office taking place on or after such date. 


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1 SEC. 205. REPEAL OF LAW PROVIDING FOR PARTICIPATION 

2 OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ELECTION OF 

3 PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title 3, United States Code, is 

5 amended by striking section 21. 

6 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 

7 subsection (a) shall take effect upon the date of the admis8 sion of the State into the Union, and shall apply to any 

9 election of the President and Vice-President of the United 

10 States taking place on or after such date. 

11 SEC. 206. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF CONSTITU12 TIONAL AMENDMENT. 

13 (a) EXERCISE OF RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—This 

14 section is enacted by Congress— 

15 (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of 

16 the Senate and the House of Representatives, re17 spectively, and as such these provisions are deemed 

18 a part of the rule of each House, respectively, but 

19 applicable only with respect to the procedure to be 

20 followed in that House in the case of a joint resolu21 tion described in subsection (b), and they supersede 

22 other rules only to the extent that they are incon23 sistent therewith; and 

24 (2) with full recognition of the constitutional 

25 right of either House to change the rule (so far as 

26 relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, 


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1 in the same manner and to the same extent as in 

2 the case of any other rule of that House. 

3 (b) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF REPEAL OF

4 23RD AMENDMENT.— 

5 (1) MOTION MADE IN ORDER.—At any time 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, it shall 

7 be in order in either the House of Representatives 

8 or the Senate to offer a motion to proceed to the 

9 consideration of a joint resolution proposing an 

10 amendment to the Constitution of the United States 

11 repealing the 23rd article of amendment to the Con12 stitution. 

13 (2) PROCEDURES RELATING TO MOTION.—With 

14 respect to the motion described in paragraph (1), 

15 the following rules shall apply: 

16 (A) The motion is highly privileged and is 

17 not debatable. 

18 (B) An amendment to the motion is not in 

19 order, and it is not in order to move to recon20 sider the vote by which the motion is agreed to 

21 or disagreed to. 

22 (C) A motion to postpone shall be decided 

23 without debate. 


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1 TITLE III—GENERAL 

2 PROVISIONS 

3 SEC. 301. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: 

5 (1) The term ‘‘Council’’ means the Council of 

6 the District of Columbia. 

7 (2) The term ‘‘Governor’’ means the Governor 

8 of the State of New Columbia. 

9 (3) The term ‘‘Mayor’’ means the Mayor of the 

10 District of Columbia. 

11 (4) The term ‘‘State Constitution’’ means the 

12 constitution of the State of New Columbia, as adopt13 ed by the Council of the District of Columbia in the 

14 Constitution for the State of New Columbia Ap15 proval Act of 1987 (D.C. Law 7–8). 

16 (5) Except as otherwise provided, the term 

17 ‘‘State’’ means the State of New Columbia. 

18 SEC. 302. CERTIFICATION OF ENACTMENT BY PRESIDENT. 

19 Not more than 60 days after the date of enactment 

20 of this Act, the President shall certify such enactment to 

21 the Mayor of the District of Columbia. 

Æ 


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