IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 978 

Recognizing on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, the denial of full participation 

in their Government through statehood by active duty servicemembers, 

National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and their families who 

are residents of the District of Columbia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2020 

Ms. NORTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, the denial 

of full participation in their Government through statehood by active duty servicemembers, National Guard 

members, reservists, veterans, and their families who are 

residents of the District of Columbia. 

Whereas on the last Monday of May, our Nation observes 

Memorial Day, a Federal holiday commemorating the 

men and women who died in the service of their country; 

Whereas the service and sacrifice of active duty 

servicemembers, National Guard members, reservists, veterans, and their families are unparalleled; 

Whereas a voluntary military gives the American people the 

privilege and honor of being protected by active duty 


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•HRES 978 IH 

servicemembers, National Guard members, and reservists, 

instead of through use of conscription; 

Whereas active duty servicemembers, National Guard members, reservists, and veterans have risked life and limb to 

protect the American people and uphold the rights and 

freedoms of the people of the United States; 

Whereas approximately 30,000 veterans are residents of the 

District of Columbia and do not have voting rights and 

full representation in the Congress of the United States 

or full self-governance in the District of Columbia; 

Whereas residents of the District of Columbia fought in the 

Revolutionary War, which resulted in the creation of the 

United States, under the slogan of ‘‘no taxation without 

representation’’, and have served in every war since; 

Whereas 635 District of Columbia residents were casualties 

of World War I, a casualty figure greater than that observed by 3 different States during that war; 

Whereas 3,575 District of Columbia residents were casualties 

of World War II, a casualty figure greater than that observed by 4 different States during that war; 

Whereas 547 District of Columbia residents were casualties 

of the Korean war, a casualty figure greater than that 

observed by 8 different States during that war; 

Whereas 243 District of Columbia residents were casualties 

of the Vietnam war, a casualty figure greater than that 

observed by 10 different States during that war; 

Whereas almost 200,000 District of Columbia residents have 

served in the military since World War I; 

Whereas Congress should pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would grant full and equal voting repVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:24 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR978.IH HR978

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•HRES 978 IH 

resentation, as well as democratic control over local affairs, to the residents of the District of Columbia by 

making Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, the 51st 

State; and 

Whereas the Washington, D.C. Admission Act has a record 

223 cosponsors in the House and a record 35 cosponsors 

in the Senate: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) District of Columbia residents have earned 

3 full and equal representation in the United States 

4 House of Representatives and United States Senate; 

5 and 

6 (2) on Memorial Day, May 25, 2020, the House 

7 of Representatives recognizes that active duty 

8 servicemembers, National Guard members, reserv9 ists, veterans, and their families who are residents of 

10 the District of Columbia deserve passage of the 

11 Washington, D.C. Admission Act by the House of 

12 Representatives in 2020. 

Æ 


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