UPDATED: Congressmen Sires & Payne Favor Statehood For District of Columbia

Article Report

For the first time in history, a chamber of the United States Congress has passed a measure to advance making the District of Columbia the 51st state in the Union.

On Friday afternoon, the United States House of Representatives, by a vote of 232-180, approved the measure.  The bill, which was introduced by District of Columbia, non-voting House member, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton.  If this measure were to eventually become law, Washington, D.C. would substantially shrink in size to include the White House, the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, as well as other federal buildings located along the National Mall.

The remainder of Washington, D.C. would become the 51st state.  The new state would be named Washington Douglass Commonwealth, after abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Congressman Albio Sires of West New York tweeted the following:

The bill would give the new state two United States Senators, while giving its non-voting House member, voting status.

The only Democrat to join the Republican House members in voting against the bill was Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson.   One Independent Congressman also voted against the bill.

THIS STORY CONTAINS UPDATED INFORMATION