I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 292 
To provide for the admission of the State of New Columbia into the Union. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 15, 2013 
Ms. NORTON
(for herself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLAY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. 
FARR, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. HONDA, Mr. NADLER, Mrs. NAPOLI-
TANO, Mr. POLIS, Mr. RANGEL, and Mr. RUSH) 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 con-
cerned 
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: 
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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 Gov-
ernment. 
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. 
Sec. 206. Expedited consideration of constitutional amendment. 
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 301. General definitions. 
Sec. 302. Certification of enactment by President. 
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 
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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 Constitu-
tion shall always be republican in form and shall not be 
repugnant to the Constitution of the United States and 
the principles of the Declaration of Independence. 
SEC. 102. PROCESS FOR ADMISSION. 
(a) APPROVAL OF ADMISSION BY VOTERS OF DIS-
TRICT OF COLUMBIA.— 
(1) ELECTION
PROCEDURES.—At an election 
designated 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 
election, there shall be submitted to the electors 
qualified to vote in such election the following propo-
sitions 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 
Council of the District of Columbia pursuant to 
the Constitution for the State of New Columbia 
Approval Act of 1987 (D.C. Law 7–8), shall be 
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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 
Columbia shall be as prescribed in the New Co-
lumbia Admission Act. 
‘‘(D) All provisions of the New Columbia 
Admission Act, including provisions reserving 
rights or powers to the United States and pro-
visions 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 di-
rected to take such action as may be necessary or 
appropriate to ensure the submission of such propo-
sitions to the people. The return of the votes cast on 
such propositions shall be made by the election offi-
cers directly to the Board of Elections of the Dis-
trict of Columbia, which shall certify the results of 
the submission to the Mayor. The Mayor shall cer-
tify the results of such submission to the President 
of the United States. 
(b) EFFECT OF VOTE.— 
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(1) ADOPTION OF PROPOSITIONS.—In the event 
the propositions described in subsection (a) are 
adopted in an election under such subsection by a 
majority of the legal votes cast on such submis-
sion— 
(A) the State Constitution shall be deemed 
ratified; and 
(B) the President shall issue a proclama-
tion 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 sub-
section 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. 
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(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 
identification or designation of either of the offices 
shall refer to or be taken to refer to the terms of 
such offices, or in any way impair the privilege of 
the Senate to determine the class to which each of 
the Senators 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 cer-
tify 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 Representa-
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tive 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 MEM-
BERS 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 admis-
sion 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 Con-
stitution 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 REPRESENTA-
TIVES MEMBERSHIP.—The State upon its admission into 
the Union shall be entitled to one Representative until the 
taking effect of the next reapportionment, and such Rep-
resentative shall be in addition to the membership of the 
House of Representatives as now prescribed by law, except 
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that such temporary increase in the membership shall not 
operate to either increase or decrease the permanent mem-
bership of the House of Representatives or affect the basis 
of apportionment for the Congress. 
SEC. 104. ISSUANCE OF PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—If the President finds that the 
propositions 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 proclamation announcing the results of such elec-
tions as so ascertained. 
(b) ADMISSION OF STATE UPON ISSUANCE OF PROC-
LAMATION.—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 
District of Columbia as of the date of the enactment of 
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this Act, subject to the results of the technical survey con-
ducted under subsection (c). 
(b) EXCLUSION OF PORTION OF DISTRICT OF CO-
LUMBIA REMAINING AS NATIONAL CAPITAL.—The terri-
tory of the State shall not include the area described in 
section 112, which shall remain as the District of Colum-
bia 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 provi-
sions 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 Cap-
itol 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. 
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(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 
northernmost point of Theodore Roosevelt Island 
and running due east of the eastern shore of the Po-
tomac 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 
Northwest and thence east on E Street Northwest to 
Eighteenth 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; 
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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 
Northwest 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; 
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thence northeast on Louisiana Avenue North-
west to North Capitol Street; 
thence north on North Capitol Street to Massa-
chusetts Avenue Northwest; 
thence southeast on Massachusetts Avenue 
Northwest 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 
Maryland Avenue Northeast; 
thence generally north and east on Maryland 
Avenue to Second Street Northeast; 
thence south on Second Street Northeast to C 
Street Southeast; 
thence west on C Street Southeast to New Jer-
sey Avenue Southeast; 
thence south on New Jersey Avenue Southeast 
to D Street Southeast; 
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thence west on D Street Southeast to Wash-
ington Avenue Southwest; 
thence southeast on Washington Avenue South-
west to E Street Southeast; 
thence west on E Street Southeast to the inter-
section 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 
Virginia 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 Four-
teenth Street Southwest; 
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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 Les-
ley 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 
Anacostia 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 
northern 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 
confluence 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; 
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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 Poto-
mac River along the present Virginia-District of Co-
lumbia 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. 
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SEC. 113. CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS AND PROP-
ERTY. 
(a) CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS OF DIS-
TRICT OF COLUMBIA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The State and its political 
subdivisions shall have and retain title or jurisdic-
tion for purposes of administration and maintenance 
to all property, real and personal, with respect to 
which title or jurisdiction for purposes of adminis-
tration and maintenance is held by the District of 
Columbia on the day before the State is admitted 
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 Co-
lumbia 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 Vir-
ginia with the District of Columbia after the admis-
sion of the State into the Union. 
(b) CONTINUATION OF FEDERAL TITLE TO PROP-
ERTY IN STATE.—The United States shall have and retain 
title or jurisdiction for purposes of administration and 
maintenance to all property in the State with respect to 
which the United States holds title or jurisdiction on the 
day before the State is admitted into the Union. 
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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) LEGISLATIVE POWER OF STATE.—The legislative 
power of the State shall extend to all rightful subjects of 
legislation within the State, consistent with the Constitu-
tion of the United States (including the restrictions and 
limitations imposed upon the States by article I, section 
10) and subject to the provisions of this Act. 
(b) TREATMENT OF FEDERAL LAWS.—To the extent 
that any law of the United States applies to the States 
generally, the law shall have the same force and effect 
within the State as elsewhere in the United States, except 
as such law 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 
District of Columbia or in the United States District 
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Court for the District of Columbia shall abate by 
reason of the admission of the State into the Union, 
but shall be transferred and shall proceed within 
such appropriate State courts as shall be established 
under the State Constitution, or shall continue in 
the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia, 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 juris-
diction of such courts, with full power to proceed 
with such cases, and award mesne or final process 
therein, and all files, records, indictments, and pro-
ceedings relating to any such writ, action, indict-
ment, 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 com-
mitted 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 
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in the United States District Court for the District of Co-
lumbia 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.— 
Parties shall have the same rights of appeal from 
and appellate review of final decisions of the United 
States District Court for the District of Columbia or 
the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in any 
case finally decided prior to the admission of the 
State into the Union, whether or not an appeal 
therefrom shall have been perfected prior to such ad-
mission. 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 
in such cases as by law provided prior to the admis-
sion of the State into the Union. 
(2) CASES DECIDED AFTER ADMISSION.—Par-
ties shall have the same rights of appeal from and 
appellate review of all orders, judgments, and de-
crees of the United States District Court for the 
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District of Columbia and of the highest court of the 
State, as successor 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 there-
in, 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.’’. 
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SEC. 124. UNITED STATES NATIONALITY. 
No provision of this Act shall operate to confer 
United States nationality, to terminate nationality lawfully 
acquired, 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 CO-
LUMBIA 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, DC’’). 
SEC. 202. TREATMENT OF MILITARY LANDS. 
(a) RESERVATION OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2) 
and subsection (b) and notwithstanding the admis-
sion of the State into the Union, authority is re-
served in the United States for the exercise by Con-
gress of the power of exclusive legislation in all cases 
whatsoever over such tracts or parcels of land lo-
cated within the State that, immediately prior to the 
admission of the State, are controlled or owned by 
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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 
controlled or owned by the United States and used 
for defense 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 legis-
lation 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 author-
ity. 
(2) SERVICE
OF
PROCESS.—The State shall 
have the right to serve civil or criminal process with-
in such tracts or parcels of land in which the author-
ity of the United States is reserved under subsection 
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(a) in suits or prosecutions for or on account of 
rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes com-
mitted within the State but outside of such tracts or 
parcels of land. 
SEC. 203. 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 other-
wise affect 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, 
interpretation, or construction by the Congress that 
any applicable law authorizes, establishes, recog-
nizes, or confirms the validity or invalidity of any 
claim referred to in paragraph (1), and the deter-
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mination of the applicability or effect of any law to 
any such claim shall be unaffected by anything in 
this Act. 
SEC. 204. 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 
voters to use absentee registration procedures 
and to vote by absentee ballot in general, spe-
cial, primary, 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 reg-
istration application from an absent District of 
Columbia 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, 
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a person who resides in the District of Columbia 
after the admission of the State of New Columbia 
into the Union and is qualified to vote in the State 
(or who would be qualified to vote in the State but 
for residing in the District of Columbia), but only if 
the State is the last place in which the person was 
domiciled before residing in the District of Colum-
bia. 
(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 
ACCESS TO POLLS BY ABSENT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
VOTERS.—To afford maximum access to the polls by ab-
sent District 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 
opportunity 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. 
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(c) ENFORCEMENT.—The Attorney General may 
bring a civil action in the appropriate district court for 
such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be necessary 
to carry out this section. 
(d) EFFECT ON CERTAIN OTHER LAWS.—The exer-
cise 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 Fed-
eral office taking place on or after such date. 
SEC. 205. 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 
subsection (a) shall take effect upon the date of the admis-
sion 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. 
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SEC. 206. 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, re-
spectively, 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 resolu-
tion described in subsection (b), and they supersede 
other rules only to the extent that they are incon-
sistent therewith; and 
(2) with full recognition of the constitutional 
right of either House to change the rule (so far as 
relating 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 
consideration of a joint resolution proposing an 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States 
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repealing the 23rd article of amendment to the Con-
stitution. 
(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 ‘‘Council’’ means the Council of 
the District of Columbia. 
(2) The term ‘‘Governor’’ means the Governor 
of the State of New Columbia. 
(3) The term ‘‘Mayor’’ means the Mayor of the 
District of Columbia. 
(4) The term ‘‘State Constitution’’ means the 
constitution of the State of New Columbia, as adopt-
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ed by the Council of the District of Columbia in the 
Constitution for the State of New Columbia Ap-
proval Act of 1987 (D.C. Law 7–8). 
(5) Except as otherwise provided, 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. 
Æ 
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