IB
Union Calendar No. 206
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 51
[Report No. 103–371]
To provide for the admission of the State of New Columbia into the Union.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 5, 1993
Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the District of Columbia.
NOVEMBER 17, 1993
Additional sponsors: Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ANDREWS of Maine, Mr. BISH-
OP, Mr. BLACKWELL, Mr. BONIOR, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. CLAY,
Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr. CLYBURN, Miss COLLINS of Michigan, Mrs. COLLINS
of Illinois, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. DE LUGO, Mr. DIXON, Mr.
EDWARDS of California, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. EVANS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA,
Mr. FAZIO, Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Mr.
FORD of Tennessee, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. GEPHARDT, Mr.
GONZALEZ, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HAMBURG, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. HAR-
MAN, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of
Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mr. LAFALCE,
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MCDERMOTT,
Ms. MCKINNEY, Mrs. MEEK, Mr. MFUME, Mr. MINETA, Mrs. MINK, Mr.
NADLER, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey, Ms.
PELOSI, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO´, Ms. ROY-
BAL-ALLARD, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. SCHENK, Mrs. SCHROEDER,
Mr. SCOTT, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. STARK, Mr. STOKES,
Mr. STUDDS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. TORRES, Mr. TOWNS,
Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. TUCKER, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mrs. UNSOELD, Ms.
VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. VENTO, Mr. WASHINGTON, Ms. WATERS, Mr. WATT,
Mr. WHEAT, Ms. WOOLSEY, and Mr. WYNN
NOVEMBER 17, 1993
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on January 5, 1993]
A BILL
To provide for the admission of the State of New Columbia
into the Union.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘New
Columbia Admission Act’’.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 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 govern-
ment.
Sec. 202. Treatment of military lands.
Sec. 203. Payment to State in lieu of tax.
Sec. 204. Waiver of claims to Federal lands and property.
Sec. 205. Preservation of scenic vistas.
Sec. 206. Permitting individuals residing in new seat of government to vote in
Federal elections in State of most recent domicile.
Sec. 207. Repeal of law providing for participation of District of Columbia in
election of President and Vice-President.
Sec. 208. Expedited consideration of constitutional amendment.
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. General definitions.
Sec. 302. Certification of enactment by president.
Sec. 303. Statehood Transition Commission.
TITLE I—STATE OF NEW
COLUMBIA
Subtitle A—Procedures for
Admission
SEC. 101. ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of this
Act, upon issuance of the proclamation required by section
104(b), the State of New Columbia is declared to be a State
of the United States of America, and is declared admitted
into the Union on an equal footing with the other States
in all respects whatever.
(b) CONSTITUTION OF STATE.—The State Constitution
shall always be republican in form and shall not be repug-
nant to the Constitution of the United States and the prin-
ciples of the Declaration of Independence.
SEC. 102. PROCESS FOR ADMISSION.
(a) APPROVAL OF ADMISSION BY VOTERS OF DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.—
(1) ELECTION PROCEDURES.—At an election des-
ignated by proclamation of the Mayor, which may be
the primary or the general election held pursuant to
section 103(a), a general election, or a special elec-
tion, there shall be submitted to the electors qualified
to vote in such election the following propositions for
adoption or rejection:
‘‘(A) New Columbia shall immediately be
admitted into the Union as a State.
‘‘(B) The proposed Constitution for the
State of New Columbia, as adopted by the Coun-
cil of the District of Columbia pursuant to the
Constitution for the State of New Columbia Ap-
proval Act of 1987 (D.C. Law 7–8), shall be
deemed ratified and shall replace the Constitu-
tion for the State of New Columbia ratified on
November 2, 1982.
‘‘(C) The boundaries of the State of New Co-
lumbia shall be as prescribed in the New Colum-
bia Admission Act.
‘‘(D) All provisions of the New Columbia
Admission Act, including provisions reserving
rights or powers to the United States and provi-
sions prescribing the terms or conditions of the
grants of lands or other property made to the
State of New Columbia, are consented to fully by
the State and its people.’’.
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES OF MAYOR.—The Mayor
of the District of Columbia is authorized and directed
to take such action as may be necessary or appro-
priate to ensure the submission of such propositions
to the people. The return of the votes cast on such
propositions shall be made by the election officers di-
rectly to the Board of Elections of the District of Co-
lumbia, which shall certify the results of the submis-
sion to the Mayor. The Mayor shall certify the results
of such submission to the President of the United
States.
(b) EFFECT OF VOTE.—
(1) ADOPTION OF PROPOSITIONS.—In the event
the propositions described in subsection (a) are adopt-
ed in an election under such subsection by a majority
of the legal votes cast on such submission—
(A) the State Constitution shall be deemed
ratified; and
(B) the President shall issue a proclamation
pursuant to section 104.
(2) REJECTION OF PROPOSITION.—In the event
any one of the propositions described in subsection (a)
is not adopted in an election under such subsection by
a majority of the legal votes cast on such submission,
the provisions of this Act shall cease to be effective.
SEC. 103. ELECTION OF OFFICIALS OF STATE.
(a) ISSUANCE OF PROCLAMATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 30 days after
receiving certification of the enactment of this Act
from the President pursuant to section 302, the
Mayor of the District of Columbia shall issue a proc-
lamation for the first elections, subject to the provi-
sions of this section, for two Senators and one Rep-
resentative in Congress.
(2) SPECIAL
RULE
FOR
ELECTION
OF
SEN-
ATORS.—In the election of Senators from the State
pursuant to paragraph (1), the 2 Senate offices shall
be separately identified and designated, and no per-
son may be a candidate for both offices. No such iden-
tification or designation of either of the offices shall
refer to or be taken to refer to the terms of such of-
fices, or in any way impair the privilege of the Sen-
ate to determine the class to which each of the Sen-
ators elected shall be assigned.
(b) RULES FOR CONDUCTING ELECTION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The proclamation of the
Mayor issued under subsection (a) shall provide for
the holding of a primary election and a general elec-
tion and at such elections the officers required to be
elected as provided in subsection (a) shall be chosen
by the qualified electors of the District of Columbia
in the manner required by law.
(2) CERTIFICATION OF RETURNS.—Election re-
turns shall be made and certified in the manner re-
quired by law, except that the Mayor shall also certify
the results of such elections to the President of the
United States.
(c) ASSUMPTION OF DUTIES.—Upon the admission of
the State into the Union, the Senators and Representative
elected at the election described in subsection (a) shall be
entitled to be admitted to seats in Congress and to all the
rights and privileges of Senators and Representatives of
other States in the Congress of the United States.
(d) TRANSFER OF OFFICES OF MAYOR AND MEMBERS
AND CHAIR OF COUNCIL.—Upon the admission of the State
into the Union, the Mayor, members of the Council, and
the Chair of the Council at the time of admission shall be
deemed the Governor, members of the House of Delegates,
and the President of the House of Delegates of the State,
respectively, as provided by the State Constitution and the
laws of the State.
(e) CONTINUATION OF AUTHORITY AND DUTIES AND
JUDICIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.—Upon the admis-
sion of the State into the Union, members of executive and
judicial offices of the District of Columbia shall be deemed
members of the respective executive and judicial offices of
the State, as provided by the State Constitution and the
laws of the State.
(f) SPECIAL RULE FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MEMBERSHIP.—The State upon its admission into the
Union shall be entitled to one Representative until the tak-
ing effect of the next reapportionment, and such Representa-
tive shall be in addition to the membership of the House
of Representatives as now prescribed by law, except that
such temporary increase in the membership shall not oper-
ate to either increase or decrease the permanent membership
of the House of Representatives or affect the basis of appor-
tionment for the Congress.
SEC. 104. ISSUANCE OF PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the President finds that the prop-
ositions set forth in section 102(a) have been duly adopted
by the people of the State, the President, upon certification
of the returns of the election of the officers required to be
elected as provided in section 103(a), shall, not later than
90 days after receiving such certification, issue a proclama-
tion announcing the results of such elections as so
ascertained.
(b) ADMISSION OF STATE UPON ISSUANCE OF PROCLA-
MATION.—Upon the issuance of the proclamation by the
President under subsection (a), the State shall be deemed
admitted into the Union as provided in section 101.
Subtitle B—Description of New
Columbia Territory
SEC. 111. TERRITORIES AND BOUNDARIES OF NEW COLUM-
BIA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection
(b), the State shall consist of all of the territory of the Dis-
trict of Columbia as of the date of the enactment of this
Act, subject to the results of the technical survey conducted
under subsection (c).
(b) EXCLUSION OF PORTION OF DISTRICT OF COLUM-
BIA REMAINING AS NATIONAL CAPITAL.—The territory of
the State shall not include the area described in section 112,
which shall remain as the District of Columbia for purposes
of serving as the seat of the government of the United States.
(c) TECHNICAL SURVEY.—Not later than 6 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President
(in consultation with the Chair of the National Capital
Planning Commission) shall conduct a technical survey of
the metes and bounds of the District of Columbia and of
the territory described in section 112(b).
SEC. 112. DESCRIPTION OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AFTER
ADMISSION OF STATE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the succeeding provisions
of this section, after the admission of the State into the
Union, the District of Columbia shall consist of the property
described in subsection (b) and shall include the principal
Federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building,
the United States Supreme Court Building, and the Federal
executive, legislative, and judicial office buildings located
adjacent to the Mall and the Capitol Building.
(b) 
SPECIFIC
DESCRIPTION
OF
METES
AND
BOUNDS.—After the admission of the State into the Union,
the specific metes and bounds of the District of Columbia
shall be as follows:
Beginning at the point on the present Virginia-
District of Columbia boundary due west of the north-
ernmost point of Theodore Roosevelt Island and run-
ning due east of the eastern shore of the Potomac
River;
thence generally south along the shore at the
mean high water mark to the northwest corner of the
Kennedy Center;
thence east along the north side of the Kennedy
Center to a point where it reaches the E Street Ex-
pressway;
thence east on the expressway to E Street North-
west and thence east on E Street Northwest to Eight-
eenth Street Northwest;
thence south on Eighteenth Street Northwest to
Constitution Avenue Northwest;
thence east on Constitution Avenue to Seven-
teenth Street Northwest;
thence north on Seventeenth Street Northwest to
Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest;
thence east on Pennsylvania Avenue to Jackson
Place Northwest;
thence north on Jackson Place to H Street
Northwest;
thence east on H Street Northwest to Madison
Place Northwest;
thence south on Madison Place Northwest to
Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest;
thence east on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
to Fifteenth Street Northwest;
thence south on Fifteenth Street Northwest to
Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest;
thence southeast on Pennsylvania Avenue North-
west to John Marshall Place Northwest;
thence north on John Marshall Place Northwest
to C Street Northwest;
thence east on C Street Northwest to Third Street
Northwest;
thence north on Third Street Northwest to D
Street Northwest;
thence east on D Street Northwest to Second
Street Northwest;
thence south on Second Street Northwest to the
intersection of Constitution Avenue Northwest and
Louisiana Avenue Northwest;
thence northeast on Louisiana Avenue Northwest
to North Capitol Street;
thence north on North Capitol Street to Massa-
chusetts Avenue Northwest;
thence southeast on Massachusetts Avenue North-
west so as to encompass Union Square;
thence following Union Square to F Street
Northeast;
thence east on F Street Northeast to Second
Street Northeast;
thence south on Second Street Northeast to D
Street Northeast;
thence west on D Street Northeast to First Street
Northeast;
thence south on First Street Northeast to Mary-
land Avenue Northeast;
thence generally north and east on Maryland Av-
enue to Second Street Northeast;
thence south on Second Street Northeast to C
Street Southeast;
thence west on C Street Southeast to New Jersey
Avenue Southeast;
thence south on New Jersey Avenue Southeast to
D Street Southeast;
thence west on D Street Southeast to Washington
Avenue Southwest;
thence southeast on Washington Avenue South-
west to E Street Southeast;
thence west on E Street Southeast to the intersec-
tion of Washington Avenue Southwest and South
Capitol Street;
thence northwest on Washington Avenue South-
west to Second Street Southwest;
thence south on Second Street Southwest to Vir-
ginia Avenue Southwest;
thence generally west on Virginia Avenue to
Third Street Southwest;
thence north on Third Street Southwest to C
Street Southwest;
thence west on C Street Southwest to Sixth
Street Southwest;
thence north on Sixth Street Southwest to Inde-
pendence Avenue;
thence west on Independence Avenue to Twelfth
Street Southwest;
thence south on Twelfth Street Southwest to D
Street Southwest;
thence west on D Street Southwest to Fourteenth
Street Southwest;
thence south on Fourteenth Street Southwest to
the middle of the Washington Channel;
thence generally south and east along the
midchannel of the Washington Channel to a point due
west of the northern boundary line of Fort Lesley
McNair;
thence due east to the side of the Washington
Channel;
thence following generally south and east along
the side of the Washington Channel at the mean high
water mark, to the point of confluence with the Ana-
costia River, and along the northern shore at the
mean high water mark to the northernmost point of
the Eleventh Street Bridge;
thence generally south and east along the north-
ern side of the Eleventh Street Bridge to the eastern
shore of the Anacostia River;
thence generally south and west along such shore
at the mean high water mark to the point of con-
fluence of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers;
thence generally south along the eastern shore at
the mean high water mark of the Potomac River to
the point where it meets the present southeastern
boundary line of the District of Columbia;
thence south and west along such southeastern
boundary line to the point where it meets the present
Virginia-District of Columbia boundary; and
thence generally north and west up the Potomac
River along the present Virginia-District of Columbia
boundary to the point of beginning.
(c) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PROPERTY.—
(1) 
STREETS
AND
SIDEWALKS
BOUNDING
AREA.—After the admission of the State into the
Union, the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
include any street (together with any sidewalk there-
of) bounding the District of Columbia.
(2) EXCLUSION
OF
DISTRICT
BUILDING.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of this section, the
District of Columbia shall not be considered to in-
clude the District Building after the admission of the
State into the Union.
(3) INCLUSION
OF
CERTAIN
MILITARY
PROP-
ERTY.—After the admission of the State into the
Union, the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
include Fort Lesley McNair, the Washington Navy
Yard, the Anacostia Naval Annex, the United States
Naval Station, Bolling Air Force Base, and the Naval
Research Laboratory.
SEC. 113. CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS AND PROP-
ERTY.
(a) CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS OF DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The State and its political
subdivisions shall have and retain title or jurisdiction
for purposes of administration and maintenance to
all property, real and personal, with respect to which
title or jurisdiction for purposes of administration
and maintenance is held by the territory of the Dis-
trict of Columbia on the day before the State is ad-
mitted into the Union.
(2) CONVEYANCE
OF
INTEREST
IN
CERTAIN
BRIDGES AND TUNNELS.—On the day before the State
is admitted into the Union, the District of Columbia
shall convey to the United States any and all interest
of the District of Columbia in any bridge or tunnel
that will connect the Commonwealth of Virginia with
the District of Columbia after the admission of the
State into the Union.
(b) CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL TITLE TO PROPERTY
IN STATE.—The United States shall have and retain title
or jurisdiction for purposes of administration and mainte-
nance to all property in the State with respect to which
the United States holds title or jurisdiction on the day be-
fore the State is admitted into the Union, including the sce-
nic easement taken by the Secretary of the Interior under
section 205.
Subtitle C—General Provisions
Relating to Laws of New Columbia
SEC. 121. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF STATE TO TAX
FEDERAL PROPERTY.
The State may not impose any taxes upon any lands
or other property owned or acquired by the United States,
except to the extent as Congress may permit.
SEC. 122. EFFECT OF ADMISSION OF STATE ON CURRENT
LAWS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The admission of the State into the
Union shall not be construed to affect the applicability to
the State of any laws in effect in the District of Columbia
as of the date of admission, except as modified or changed
by this Act or by the State Constitution.
(b) TREATMENT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—All of the laws
of the United States shall have the same force and effect
within the State as elsewhere in the United States, except
as such laws may otherwise provide.
SEC. 123. CONTINUATION OF JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS.
(a) PENDING PROCEEDINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—No writ, action, indictment,
cause, or proceeding pending in any court of the Dis-
trict of Columbia or in the United States District
Court for the District of Columbia shall abate by rea-
son of the admission of the State into the Union, but
shall be transferred and shall proceed within such ap-
propriate State courts as shall be established under
the State Constitution, or shall continue in the
United States District Court for the District of Co-
lumbia, as the nature of the case may require.
(2) SUCCESSION OF COURTS.—The appropriate
courts of the State shall be the successors of the courts
of the District of Columbia as to all cases arising
within the limits embraced within the jurisdiction of
such courts, with full power to proceed with such
cases, and award mesne or final process therein, and
all files, records, indictments, and proceedings relat-
ing to any such writ, action, indictment, cause, or
proceeding shall be transferred to such appropriate
State courts and shall be proceeded with therein in
due course of law.
(b) UNFILED
PROCEEDINGS
BASED
ON
ACTIONS
PRIOR TO ADMISSION.—All civil causes of action and all
criminal offenses which shall have arisen or been committed
prior to the admission of the State into the Union, but as
to which no writ, action, indictment, or proceeding shall
be pending at the date of such admission, shall be subject
to prosecution in the appropriate State courts or in the
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
in like manner, to the same extent, and with like right of
appellate review, as if the State had been admitted and such
State courts had been established prior to the accrual of
such causes of action or the commission of such offenses.
(c) MAINTENANCE OF RIGHTS TO AND JURISDICTION
OVER APPEALS.—
(1) CASES DECIDED PRIOR TO ADMISSION.—Par-
ties shall have the same rights of appeal from and ap-
pellate review of final decisions of the United States
District Court for the District of Columbia or the Dis-
trict of Columbia Court of Appeals in any case fi-
nally decided prior to the admission of the State into
the Union, whether or not an appeal therefrom shall
have been perfected prior to such admission. The
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Co-
lumbia Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United
States shall have the same jurisdiction in such cases
as by law provided prior to the admission of the State
into the Union.
(2) CASES DECIDED AFTER ADMISSION.—Parties
shall have the same rights of appeal from and appel-
late review of all orders, judgments, and decrees of the
United States District Court for the District of Co-
lumbia and of the highest court of the State, as suc-
cessor to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals,
in any case pending at the time of admission of the
State into the Union, and the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and the
Supreme Court of the United States shall have the
same jurisdiction therein, as by law provided in any
case arising subsequent to the admission of the State
into the Union.
(3) ISSUANCE OF SUBSEQUENT MANDATES.—Any
mandate issued subsequent to the admission of the
State shall be to the United States District Court for
the District of Columbia or a court of the State, as
appropriate.
(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS RELATING TO FED-
ERAL COURTS.—Effective upon the admission of the State
into the Union—
(1) section 41 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended in the second column by inserting ‘‘, New
Columbia’’ after ‘‘District of Columbia’’; and
(2) the first paragraph of section 88 of title 28,
United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
‘‘The District of Columbia and the State of New
Columbia comprise one judicial district.’’.
SEC. 124. UNITED STATES NATIONALITY.
No provision of this Act shall operate to confer United
States nationality, to terminate nationality lawfully ac-
quired, or to restore nationality terminated or lost under
any law of the United States or under any treaty to which
the United States is or was a party.
TITLE 
II—RESPONSIBILITIES
AND INTERESTS OF FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT
SEC. 201. CONTINUATION OF REVISED DISTRICT OF COLUM-
BIA AS SEAT OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
After the admission of the State into the Union, the
seat of the Government of the United States shall be the
District of Columbia as described in section 112 (also
known as ‘‘Washington, D.C.’’).
SEC. 202. TREATMENT OF MILITARY LANDS.
(a) RESERVATION OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) and
subsection (b) and notwithstanding the admission of
the State into the Union, authority is reserved in the
United States for the exercise by Congress of the
power of exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever
over such tracts or parcels of land located within the
State that, immediately prior to the admission of the
State, are controlled or owned by the United States
and held for defense or Coast Guard purposes.
(2) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY.—The power of
exclusive legislation described in paragraph (1) shall
vest and remain in the United States only so long as
the particular tract or parcel of land involved is con-
trolled or owned by the United States and used for de-
fense or Coast Guard purposes.
(b) AUTHORITY OF STATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The reservation of authority
in the United States for the exercise by the Congress
of the United States of the power of exclusive legisla-
tion over military lands under subsection (a) shall
not operate to prevent such lands from being a part
of the State, or to prevent the State from exercising
over or upon such lands, concurrently with the United
States, any jurisdiction which it would have in the
absence of such reservation of authority and which is
consistent with the laws hereafter enacted by Congress
pursuant to such reservation of authority.
(2) SERVICE OF PROCESS.—The State shall have
the right to serve civil or criminal process within
such tracts or parcels of land in which the authority
of the United States is reserved under subsection (a)
in suits or prosecutions for or on account of rights ac-
quired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed
within the State but outside of such tracts or parcels
of land.
SEC. 203. PAYMENT TO STATE IN LIEU OF TAX.
In order to compensate the State for unavailable tax
revenues and other effects on the revenues of the State result-
ing from the significant presence of the Federal Government
within and nearby the State, the United States shall make
a payment to the State for each fiscal year in such amount
and under such schedule as Congress may determine (taking
into account the recommendations of the Statehood Transi-
tion Commission under section 303).
SEC. 204. WAIVER OF CLAIMS TO FEDERAL LANDS AND
PROPERTY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—As a compact with the United
States, the State and its people disclaim all right and title
to any lands or other property not granted or confirmed
to the State or its political subdivisions by or under the
authority of this Act, the right or title to which is held by
the United States or subject to disposition by the United
States.
(b) EFFECT ON CLAIMS AGAINST UNITED STATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing contained in this Act
shall recognize, deny, enlarge, impair, or otherwise af-
fect any claim against the United States, and any
such claim shall be governed by applicable laws of the
United States.
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this
Act is intended or shall be construed as a finding, in-
terpretation, or construction by the Congress that any
applicable law authorizes, establishes, recognizes, or
the case of property on the north side of Pennsylvania
Avenue between 1st and 15th Streets Northwest, be-
ginning 160 feet above the sidewalk).
(3) PROPERTY ON RESIDENTIAL STREET.—With
respect to a lot on a residential street, avenue, or
highway, the scenic easement shall be in all space
above the lot beginning—
(A) in the case of a lot on a street, avenue,
or highway 60 feet wide or less, at a height equal
to the width of the street, avenue, or highway;
(B) in the case of a lot on a street, avenue,
or highway more than 60 feet but less than 65
feet wide, at a height equal to 60 feet; and
(C) in the case of a lot on any other street,
avenue, or highway, at a height equal to the
lower of—
(i) the width of the street, avenue, or
highway reduced by 10 feet, or
(ii) 90 feet.
(4) TREATMENT OF SPACE OVER CHURCHES.—
With respect to any lot on a residence street, avenue,
or highway upon which a church is located (other
than a church whose construction had not been under-
taken prior to June 1, 1910), the scenic easement
shall be in all space above the lot beginning at a
height equal to 95 feet above the level of the adjacent
curb.
(5) TREATMENT OF PLAZA OF UNION STATION.—
With respect to any portion of any lot affronting or
abutting the plaza in front of Union Station upon
which a building is located (other than a building
erected prior to June 1, 1910), the scenic easement
shall be in all space above the lot beginning at a
height equal to 80 feet above the plaza.
(b) EFFECT OF SCENIC EASEMENT.—
(1) NO
PHYSICAL
STRUCTURES
PERMITTED.—
Except as provided in paragraph (2), no person may
encroach upon any space in which the United States
has reserved a scenic easement pursuant to subsection
(a) with a physical structure.
(2) PERMISSIBLE ENCROACHMENT BY CERTAIN
STRUCTURES.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a
person may encroach upon a space in which the
United States has reserved a scenic easement pursu-
ant to subsection (a) with any of the following:
(A) A physical structure in existence on the
date on which the Secretary of the Interior takes
the easement.
(B) A spire, tower, dome, minaret, or pin-
nacle serving as an architectural embellishment.
(C) A penthouse over an elevator shaft, ven-
tilation shaft, chimney, smokestack, or fire sprin-
kler tank, but only if—
(i) the structure is not used for human
occupancy; and
(ii) the structure is set back from the
exterior walls of the building upon which it
is located at a distance equal to its height
above the building’s roof.
(D) An antenna.
(E) Construction equipment.
(F) A flagpole.
(c) RULES FOR INTERPRETING HEIGHTS.—In deter-
mining the point at which a scenic easement in a lot begins
for purposes of subsection (a), the following rules shall
apply:
(1) Height shall be measured from the level of the
sidewalk opposite the middle of the front of the lot.
(2) Any height otherwise determined under such
subsection to be not greater than 60 feet may be in-
creased by the distance between the highest point of
any building located on the lot and the portion of any
parapet wall or balustrade of the building that ex-
tends over such highest point, but in no case may any
height be increased pursuant to this paragraph by
more than 4 feet.
(3) If a lot (including a corner lot) fronts an
intersection of 2 or more streets, avenues, or high-
ways, a height shall be determined by using the width
of the widest street, avenue, or highway involved.
(4) In the case of a lot on a street less than 90
feet wide on which building lines have been estab-
lished, the width of the street shall be deemed to be the
distance between the lines.
(d) AUTHORITY OF STATE TO DESIGNATE STREETS.—
Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the au-
thority of the State to designate streets, avenues, or high-
ways as commercial or residential.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The Secretary of the Interior
shall take the scenic easement described in this section on
the day before the State is admitted into the Union. The
scenic easement shall be reserved by the United States on
the date on which the State is admitted into the Union.
SEC. 206. PERMITTING INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN NEW
SEAT OF GOVERNMENT TO VOTE IN FEDERAL
ELECTIONS IN STATE OF MOST RECENT
DOMICILE.
(a) REQUIREMENT FOR STATES TO PERMIT INDIVID-
UALS TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each State shall—
(A) permit absent District of Columbia vot-
ers to use absentee registration procedures and to
vote by absentee ballot in general, special, pri-
mary, and runoff elections for Federal office; and
(B) accept and process, with respect to any
general, special, primary, or runoff election for
Federal office, any otherwise valid voter registra-
tion application from an absent District of Co-
lumbia voter, if the application is received by the
appropriate State election official not less than
30 days before the election.
(2) ABSENT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA VOTER DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘absent District of
Columbia voter’’ means, with respect to a State—
(A) a person who resides in the District of
Columbia after the admission of the State into
the Union and is qualified to vote in the State,
but only if the State is the last place in which
the person was domiciled before residing in the
District of Columbia; or
(B) a person who resides in the District of
Columbia after the admission of the State into
the Union and (but for such residence) would be
qualified to vote in the State, but only if the
State is the last place in which the person was
domiciled before residing in the District of
Columbia.
(3) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term
‘‘State’’ means each of the several States, including
the State of New Columbia.
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATES TO MAXIMIZE AC-
CESS TO POLLS BY ABSENT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA VOT-
ERS.—To afford maximum access to the polls by absent Dis-
trict of Columbia voters, it is recommended that the
States—
(1) waive registration requirements for absent
District of Columbia voters who, by reason of resi-
dence in the District of Columbia, do not have an op-
portunity to register;
(2) expedite processing of balloting materials
with respect to such individuals; and
(3) assure that absentee ballots are mailed to
such individuals at the earliest opportunity.
(c) ENFORCEMENT.—The Attorney General may bring
a civil action in appropriate district court for such declara-
tory or injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out
this section.
(d) EFFECT ON CERTAIN OTHER LAWS.—The exercise
of any right under this section shall not affect, for purposes
of any Federal, State, or local tax, the residence or domicile
of a person exercising such right.
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect
upon the date of the admission of the State into the Union,
and shall apply with respect to elections for Federal office
taking place on or after such date.
SEC. 207. REPEAL OF LAW PROVIDING FOR PARTICIPATION
OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN ELECTION OF
PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 3, United States Code, is
amended by striking section 21.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect upon the date of the admission
of the State into the Union, and shall apply to any election
of the President and Vice-President of the United States
taking place on or after such date.
SEC. 208. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF CONSTITU-
TIONAL AMENDMENT.
(a) EXERCISE
OF RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.—This
section is enacted by Congress—
(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the
Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively,
and as such these provisions are deemed a part of the
rule of each House, respectively, but applicable only
with respect to the procedure to be followed in that
House in the case of a joint resolution described in
subsection (b), and they supersede other rules only to
the extent that they are inconsistent therewith; and
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional
right of either House to change the rule (so far as re-
lating to the procedure of that House) at any time,
in the same manner and to the same extent as in the
case of any other rule of that House.
(b) EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF REPEAL OF 23RD
AMENDMENT.—
(1) MOTION MADE IN ORDER.—At any time after
the date of the enactment of this Act, it shall be in
order in either the House of Representatives or the
Senate to offer a motion to proceed to the consider-
ation of a joint resolution proposing an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States repealing the
23rd article of amendment to the Constitution.
(2) PROCEDURES RELATING TO MOTION.—With
respect to the motion described in paragraph (1), the
following rules shall apply:
(A) The motion is highly privileged and is
not debatable.
(B) An amendment to the motion is not in
order, and it is not in order to move to recon-
sider the vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to.
(C) A motion to postpone shall be decided
without debate.
TITLE III—GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. GENERAL DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) The term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Statehood
Transition Commission established under section 303.
(2) The term ‘‘Council’’ means the Council of the
District of Columbia.
(3) The term ‘‘Governor’’ means the Governor of
the State of New Columbia.
(4) The term ‘‘Mayor’’ means the Mayor of the
District of Columbia.
(5) The term ‘‘State Constitution’’ means the
constitution of the State of New Columbia, as adopted
by the Council of the District of Columbia in the Con-
stitution for the State of New Columbia Approval Act
of 1987 (D.C. Law 7–8).
(6) The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of New
Columbia.
SEC. 302. CERTIFICATION OF ENACTMENT BY PRESIDENT.
Not more than 60 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the President shall certify such enactment to the
Mayor of the District of Columbia.
SEC. 303. STATEHOOD TRANSITION COMMISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established a
Statehood Transition Commission.
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Commission shall be composed
of 17 members appointed as follows:
(1) 3 members appointed by the President.
(2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the
House.
(3) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader
of the House of Representatives.
(4) 2 members appointed by the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate.
(5) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader
of the Senate.
(6) 3 members appointed by the Mayor of the
District of Columbia.
(7) 3 members appointed by the Council of the
District of Columbia.
(c) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall advise
the President, the Congress, the Mayor (or, upon the
admission of the State into the Union, the Governor),
and the Council (or, upon the admission of the State
into the Union, the House of Delegates for the State
of New Columbia) concerning necessary procedures to
effect an orderly transition to statehood for the Dis-
trict of Columbia and other matters relating to the
assumption of the property, functions, and activities
of the District of Columbia by the State during the
first 2 years of the State’s existence.
(2) RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING APPLICABIL-
ITY OF LAWS TO NEW SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.—In
carrying out its duties under paragraph (1), the
Commission shall analyze the laws of the United
States that will apply to the District of Columbia
after the admission of the State into the Union, and
shall make recommendations to Congress regarding
whether any of these laws should continue to apply to
the District of Columbia after the admission of the
State.
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING
ANNUAL
PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAX.—In addition to any of its
other duties under paragraph (1), not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall develop and recommend to Congress
a methodology for determining the amount of and
schedule for the annual payment to the State required
under section 203, and shall base such methodology
upon the methodologies used to determine the amount
of other payments in lieu of taxes made by the United
States to States and units of local government as
compensation for the presence of Federal property
which may not be taxed by such States and units of
local government.
(4) RECOMMENDATIONS
REGARDING
LORTON
CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX.—In addition to any of its
other duties under paragraph (1), not later than 2
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Commission shall identify and recommend options to
Congress, the Mayor of the District of Columbia (or,
if the options are recommended after the admission of
the State into the Union, the Governor of the State),
and the Governor of Virginia regarding the incarcer-
ation of individuals convicted of crimes in the State,
including options relating to—
(A) the construction of additional prison fa-
cilities within the State;
(B) agreements between the State and the
Commonwealth of Virginia with respect to the
Lorton Correctional Complex, or agreements
with other jurisdictions under which such indi-
viduals may be incarcerated at facilities located
in such other jurisdictions; and
(C) the development of a comprehensive
plan for closing the Lorton Correctional Complex
by 2010 and relocating inmates to other
facilities.
(d) REPORTS.—The Commission shall submit such re-
ports as the Commission considers appropriate or as may
be requested.
(e) TERMINATION.—The Commission shall cease to
exist 2 years after the date of the admission of the State
into the Union.
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