February is Black History Month, a time to remember and reflect on the contributions and sacrifices made by Black Americans that have shaped our country and strengthened our fight to build a more perfect union. But we can’t stop there. We must honor those Black Americans and their sacrifices with action by fighting for justice and equality for everyone.

With that in mind, I want to follow up about my recent email to you about D.C. statehood because it’s relevant to the ongoing conversation we have been having as a country about systemic racial injustice and inequality.

John, there are more than 700,000 Americans who live in D.C. and do not have full voting representation in Congress. The majority of D.C.’s population is made up by Black and Brown Americans.

Their continued disenfranchisement goes against the very values on which this country was founded. For our fellow citizens in Washington, D.C., 'taxation without representation' is still a way of life.

I’m leading the charge in Congress to make D.C. our country’s 51st state and end this historic injustice against the Americans who call D.C. home, and I want to hear your thoughts about this important issue.

Do you think D.C. should be the 51st state of the United States? 

Thank you,

TC