STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1325
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.R. No. 44
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 44 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT FEDERAL LEGISLATION GRANTING STATEHOOD TO THE PEOPLE OF WASHINGTON, D.C,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to enact federal legislation granting statehood to the people of Washington, D.C.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.
Your Committee finds that the passage of the Organic Act of 1801 placed the District of Columbia under the exclusive authority of the United States Congress and abolished residents' right to vote for members of Congress and the President and Vice President of the United States. Residents of the District of Columbia were granted the right to vote for the President and Vice President through passage of the Twenty–Third Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1961. Residents of the District of Columbia share all the responsibilities of United States citizenship, including paying more federal taxes than residents of twenty-two states, service on federal juries, and defending the United States as members of the United States armed forces in every war since the War for Independence, yet they are denied full representation in Congress. The residents of the District of Columbia lack full democracy, equality, and citizenship enjoyed by the residents of the fifty states. This measure will urge the United States Congress to provide the residents of the District of Columbia with the same democratic rights guaranteed to the residents of the existing fifty states.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 44 and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,
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________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair |
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