Friend --

In just one week, a historic hearing will take place as the US House of Representatives will hold a hearing to consider HR 51, which would make the District of Columbia the 51st state in the nation! This is a really, really big deal -- it's been more than two decades since the House last took up the measure in a hearing. If you're just tuning in and need an update, here's a quick note of what next week will look like, what it means in the big picture, and give a little bit of history on how not having full representation in our national legislature has hurt District residents in the past.?

The Hearing

Thursday, Sept 19, 2019, 10 am
Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2154
45 Independence Avenue, SW
#ShowUp4DC for social media

We need a big turnout for this hearing! Can you RSVP and commit to coming?

I remember being blown away by the number of people who turned out on a cold winter in February to say Hands Off DC after former Rep. Jason Chaffetz threatened to overturn a law passed by DC's locally-elected leaders. We need that same energy next Thursday.?If you are coming, be sure to check out DC Vote's Hearing Day Guide.

Unlike hearings at the Council, the hearing at the House of Representatives is not open to the public to testify -- there's a set list of witnesses who will testify and answer questions from members of the Committee. There will be limited seating in the room, however there are plans for multiple overflow rooms. For DC residents, including myself, being present and visible and vocal throughout the morning is the best way to have an impact. This is where we have the advantage -- living where the nation's laws are written, we can and should have a big turnout.

The reality is, we know there's a lot of support nationwide and in the House to move forward with DC Statehood. Our Warrior on the Hill, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, has spent her career building relationships that have led to a record amount of support in both the House and the Senate for full DC Statehood this term. After the hearing, we know there will be more work to be done. But it all begins with a strong showing.

If we aren't passionate and fighting for our rights, how can we expect others around the country to stand with us and lend their support? And if you feel like progress isn't possible, remember we stand on the shoulders of those who fought for the right to vote for President (1964), the Home Rule Act (1973), and the fight for a non-voting Delegate (1970) who has a vote in committee (1993).?And of course, never forget Jason Chaffetz retired suddenly from congress rather than deal with angry DC residents!

The History and the Hypocrisy?

Because the District of Columbia has never had it's own fully empowered representatives in congress, there's a long history of interference from Congress in DC's local affairs -- interference that has done real damage. DC Vote has a great round-up, but I'll highlight a few here. Remember, in every single instance below, someone who never appeared on a ballot for District of Columbia voters spent their time restricting how local tax dollars could or could not be spent:?

Blocking Marijuana Legalization

If you've ever wondered why the District decriminalized, but not legalized marijuana the way many other states have, blame the lack of DC Statehood. In 2014, DC voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana. But a congressional rider by Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland blocked the District from using any tax dollars to set up a tax and regulatory framework - which left us in the half-baked state we still find ourselves in today.?

In 1998, District voters, again via a ballot initiative, overwhelmingly voted to legalize medical marijuana, but Rep. Bob Barr from Georgia added a budget rider that forbade District officials from using District tax dollars to set up the framework. The budget rider remained in place until 2010.?

Blocking Needle Exchange Programs

In one of the most infuriating and damaging examples, Rep. Bob Barr (once again, representing the state of Georgia and not the citizens of DC) blocked the District from using tax dollars paid by District residents to enact a needle exchange program to prevent the spread of HIV among injection drug users living with an addiction. That ban was in place from 1999 to 2007. Once the ban was lifted after the federal government realized needle exchanges were incredibly effective, the District saw a 72% drop in new HIV cases in the first three years. Comedian John Oliver, on his show Last Week Tonight, does a great job highlighting the damage and the hypocrisy behind this particular budget rider (the whole 17 minute segment is worth your time, but warning, it is an HBO program).?

Blocking Reproductive Rights

From 1998 to 2009, and then again from 2011 to today, Congress annually has passed legislation preventing the District (but not other states) from using local tax dollars to cover abortion services via Medicaid.?

Blocking Marriage Equality

The District of Columbia was a national leader in marriage equality, but it came with multiple battles with congress attempting to limit spousal health benefits and took a Supreme Court ruling to finally end meddling with the District's marriage equality law.?

Overturning Every. Single. District. Gun. Law.

In 2014, a rider was attached to a DC Statehood bill that would have overturned every single gun law (including a ban on semi-automatic firearms) and forbade the District from passing any new laws regulating firearms. Needless to say, it was a nonstarter and the bill was killed.

Of course, this is only recent history. There's a much longer history that ranges from outright racism to simply treating District residents as a political guinea pigs on a pet issue for any given representative in Congress.

So that's what's at stake -- we are the only capital city of a democratic nation to be disenfranchised in the national legislature anywhere in the world. Please do whatever you can to show up and bring your kids, your neighbors, your neighbors' kids, your friends, and people who meet on the street. Come if you've lived here for 80 years or come if you're just getting settled in. It matters to have lots of DC residents in the halls, bearing the state flag, and sharing your personal story for why you deserve the exact same rights as every other American.?

Next week's hearing is the result of years of hard work and advocacy from DC elected leaders starting and hundreds of residents who became advocates in their spare time or made it their career. It's time to once and for all say, Hands Off DC.

Charles Allen

P.S. - In case you scrolled all the way to the bottom after skimming, here's the link to RSVP. We really need you there next Thursday. #ShowUp4DC