[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1278 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1278

To provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the 
                                 Union.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 25, 2017

   Mr. Carper (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Cardin, Mr. Coons, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. 
    Hassan, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mrs. McCaskill, Mrs. Murray, Mr. 
   Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Warren) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the 
                                 Union.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 ``Washington, D.C. 
Admission Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                   TITLE I--STATE OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

                  Subtitle A--Procedures for Admission

Sec. 101. Admission into the Union.
Sec. 102. Election of officials of State.
Sec. 103. Issuance of presidential proclamation.
         Subtitle B--Description of Washington, D.C. Territory

Sec. 111. Territories and boundaries of Washington, D.C.
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 Washington, D.C.

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 Government.
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 procedures for consideration of constitutional 
                            amendment repealing 23rd Amendment.
                     TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. General definitions.
Sec. 302. Certification of enactment by President.

                   TITLE I--STATE OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

                  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 103(b), the State of 
Washington, Douglass Commonwealth 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 Constitution 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. 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 proclamation for the first elections, subject to 
        the provisions of this section, for two Senators and one 
        Representative in Congress.
            (2) Special rule for election of senators.--In the election 
        of Senators from the State pursuant to paragraph (1), the 2 
        Senate offices shall be separately identified and designated, 
        and no person 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 election 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 returns shall be 
        made and certified in the manner required by law, except that 
        the Mayor shall also certify 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 Representative 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 Members 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 
admission shall be deemed the Governor, members of the Legislative 
Assembly, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the State, 
respectively, as provided by the State Constitution and the laws of the 
State.
    (e) Continuation of Authority and Duties and Judicial and Executive 
Officers.--Upon the admission 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 Representatives 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 Representative shall be in addition to the membership of the House 
of Representatives as prescribed by law on the day before the date of 
enactment of this Act, except that such temporary increase in the 
membership shall not operate to either increase or decrease the 
permanent membership of the House of Representatives or affect the 
basis of apportionment for the Congress.

SEC. 103. ISSUANCE OF PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.

    (a) In General.--The President, upon certification of the returns 
of the election of the officers required to be elected as provided in 
section 102(a), shall, not later than 90 days after receiving such 
certification, issue a proclamation announcing the results of such 
elections as so ascertained.
    (b) Admission of State Upon Issuance of Proclamation.--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 Washington, D.C. Territory

SEC. 111. TERRITORIES AND BOUNDARIES OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

    (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 this Act, subject to the results of the 
technical survey conducted under subsection (c).
    (b) Exclusion of Portion of District of Columbia Remaining as 
National Capital.--The territory of the State shall not include the 
area described in section 112, which shall remain as the District of 
Columbia for purposes of serving as the seat of the Government of the 
United States.
    (c) Technical Survey.--Not later than 180 days 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 subsection (c), 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 Capitol 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 (as such terms are used in section 8501(a) of title 
40, United States Code).
    (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 intersection 
of the southern right-of-way of F Street NE and the eastern right-of-
way of 2nd Street NE--
            (1) thence south along said eastern right-of-way of 2nd 
        Street NE to the eastern right-of-way of 2nd Street SE;
            (2) thence south along said eastern right-of-way of 2nd 
        Street SE to its intersection with the northern property 
        boundary of the property designated as Square 760 Lot 803;
            (3) thence east along said northern property boundary of 
        Square 760 Lot 803 to its intersection with the western right-
        of-way of 3rd Street SE;
            (4) thence south along said western right-of-way of 3rd 
        Street SE to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        Independence Avenue SE;
            (5) thence west along said northern right-of-way of 
        Independence Avenue SE to its intersection with the eastern 
        right-of-way of 2nd Street SE;
            (6) thence south along said eastern right-of way of 2nd 
        Street SE to its intersection with the southern right-of-way of 
        C Street SE;
            (7) thence west along said southern right-of-way of C 
        Street SE to its intersection with the eastern right-of-way of 
        1st Street SE;
            (8) thence south along said eastern right-of-way of 1st 
        Street SE to its intersection with the southern right-of-way of 
        D Street SE;
            (9) thence west along said southern right-of-way of D 
        Street SE to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 
        South Capitol Street;
            (10) thence south along said western right-of-way of South 
        Capitol Street to its intersection with the southwestern right-
        of-way of the northwest-bound lanes of Canal Street SE;
            (11) thence southeast along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of the northwest-bound lanes of Canal Street SE to its 
        intersection with the southern right-of-way of E Street SE;
            (12) thence east along said southern right-of-way of said E 
        Street SE to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 
        1st Street SE;
            (13) thence south along said western right-of-way of 1st 
        Street SE to its intersection with the southernmost corner of 
        the property designated as Square 736S Lot 801.
            (14) thence west along a line extended due west from said 
        corner of said property designated as Square 736S Lot 801 to 
        its intersection with the southwestern right-of-way of New 
        Jersey Avenue SE;
            (15) thence southeast along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of New Jersey Avenue SE to its intersection with the 
        northwestern right-of-way of Virginia Avenue SE;
            (16) thence northwest along said northwestern right-of-way 
        of Virginia Avenue SE to its intersection with the eastern 
        right-of-way of South Capitol Street;
            (17) thence north along said eastern right-of-way of South 
        Capitol Street to its intersection with the southern right-of-
        way of E Street SE;
            (18) thence west along a line extending westward said 
        southern right-of-way of E Street SE to its intersection with 
        the western right-of-way of South Capitol Street;
            (19) thence north along said western right-of-way of South 
        Capitol Street to its intersection with the southwestern right-
        of-way of Washington Avenue SW;
            (20) thence northwest along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of Washington Avenue SW to its intersection with the 
        southeastern boundary of the property designated as Square 640 
        Lot 70;
            (21) thence clockwise around said boundary of said property 
        designated as Square 640 Lot 70 to its northernmost point;
            (22) thence generally northeast along a line extending the 
        boundary of said property designated as Square 640 Lot 70 
        northeast to its intersection with the southwestern right-of-
        way of Washington Avenue SW;
            (23) thence northwest along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of Washington Avenue SW to its intersection with a line 
        extending northward the western boundary of the property 
        designated as Square 582 Lot 49;
            (24) thence south along said line extending northward the 
        western boundary of said property designated as Square 582 Lot 
        49 to the northwestern corner of said property designated as 
        Square 582 Lot 49;
            (25) thence clockwise along the boundary of said property 
        designated as Square 582 Lot 49 to its southwestern corner;
            (26) thence west along a line extended west from said 
        southwestern corner of said property designated as Square 582 
        Lot 49 to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 2nd 
        Street SW;
            (27) thence south along said western right-of-way of 2nd 
        Street SW to its intersection with the southwestern right-of-
        way of Virginia Avenue SW;
            (28) thence northwest along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of Virginia Avenue SW to its intersection with the western 
        right-of-way of 3rd Street SW;
            (29) thence north along said western right-of-way of 3rd 
        Street SW to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        D Street SW;
            (30) thence west along said northern right-of-way of D 
        Street SW to its intersection with the eastern right-of-way of 
        4th Street SW;
            (31) thence north along said eastern right-of-way of 4th 
        Street SW to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        C Street SW;
            (32) thence west along said northern right-of-way of C 
        Street SW to its intersection with the eastern right-of-way of 
        6th Street SW;
            (33) thence north along said eastern right-of-way of 6th 
        Street SW to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        Independence Avenue SW;
            (34) thence west along said northern right-of-way of 
        Independence Avenue SW to its intersection with the western 
        right-of-way of 12th Street SW;
            (35) thence south along said western right-of-way of 12th 
        Street SW to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        D Street SW;
            (36) thence west along said northern right-of-way of D 
        Street SW to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 
        14th Street SW;
            (37) thence south along said western right-of-way of 14th 
        Street SW to its end at the southeastern corner of the property 
        designated as Square 231 Lot 802;
            (38) thence northwest along the southwest boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 231 Lot 802 to its first 
        intersection with a corner of the property designated as 
        Federal Reservation 2;
            (39) thence southwest along the boundary of said property 
        designated as Federal Reservation 2 to its southernmost point;
            (40) thence southwest and west along the northwestern edge 
        of pavement of the southbound lanes of 14th Street SW to the 
        point where said southbound lanes of 14th Street SW merge with 
        the southbound lanes of Interstate 395;
            (41) thence continuing southwest along the northwestern 
        edge of pavement of the southbound lanes of Interstate 395 to 
        its intersection with the eastern shore of the Potomac River;
            (42) thence generally northwest along said eastern shore of 
        the Potomac River to its intersection with a line extending 
        westward the northern boundary of the property designated as 
        Square 12 Lot 806;
            (43) thence east along said line extending westward the 
        northern boundary of the property designated as Square 12 Lot 
        806 to the northern property boundary of the property 
        designated as Square 12 Lot 806, and continuing east along said 
        northern boundary of said property designated as Square 12 Lot 
        806 to its northeast corner;
            (44) thence east along a line extending east from said 
        property designated as Square 12 Lot 806 to its intersection 
        with the western boundary of the property designated as Square 
        33 Lot 87;
            (45) thence south along said western boundary of the 
        property designated as Square 33 Lot 87 to its intersection 
        with the northwest corner of the property designated as Square 
        33 Lot 88;
            (46) thence counter-clockwise around the boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 33 Lot 88 to its southeast 
        corner, which it shares with the property designated as Square 
        33 Lot 87;
            (47) thence east along the southern boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 33 Lot 87 to its southeast 
        corner;
            (48) thence south along a line running due south from said 
        southeast corner of the property designated as Square 33 Lot 87 
        to its intersection with the southern edge of pavement of E 
        Street NW;
            (49) thence east along said southern edge of pavement E 
        Street NW to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 
        18th Street NW;
            (50) thence south along said western right-of-way of 18th 
        Street NW to its intersection with the southwestern right-of-
        way of Virginia Avenue NW;
            (51) thence southeast along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of Virginia Avenue NW to its intersection with the northern 
        right-of-way of Constitution Avenue NW;
            (52) thence continuing southeast along a line extending the 
        southwestern right-of-way of Virginia Avenue NW to its 
        intersection with the southern right-of-way of Constitution 
        Avenue NW;
            (53) thence east along said southern right-of-way of 
        Constitution Avenue NW to its intersection with the eastern 
        right-of-way of 17th Street NW;
            (54) thence north along said eastern right-of-way of 17th 
        Street NW to its intersection with the southern right-of-way of 
        H Street NW;
            (55) thence east along said southern right-of-way of H 
        Street NW to its intersection with the northwest corner of the 
        property designated as Square 221 Lot 35;
            (56) thence counter-clockwise around the boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 221 Lot 35 to its southeast 
        corner, which is along the boundary of the property designated 
        as Square 221 Lot 37;
            (57) thence counter-clockwise around the boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 221 Lot 37 to its southwest 
        corner, which it shares with the property designated as Square 
        221 Lot 818;
            (58) thence south along the boundary of said property 
        designated as Square 221 Lot 818 to its southwest corner, which 
        it shares with the property designated as Square 221 Lot 809;
            (59) thence south along the boundary of said property 
        designated as Square 221 Lot 809 to its southwest corner, which 
        it shares with the property designated as Square 221 Lot 800;
            (60) thence counter-clockwise along the boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 221 Lot 800 to its southwest 
        corner, which it shares with the property designated as Square 
        221 Lot 810;
            (61) thence counter-clockwise along the boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 221 Lot 810 to its southwest 
        corner, which is along the northern right-of-way of 
        Pennsylvania Avenue NW;
            (62) thence east along said northern right-of-way of 
        Pennsylvania Avenue NW to its intersection with the western 
        right-of-way of 15th Street NW;
            (63) thence south along said western right-of-way of 15th 
        Street NW to its intersection with a line extending northwest 
        from the southern right-of-way of the portion of Pennsylvania 
        Avenue NW north of Pershing Square;
            (64) thence southeast along said line extending the 
        southern right-of-way of Pennsylvania Avenue NW to the southern 
        right-of-way of Pennsylvania Avenue NW and continuing southeast 
        along said southern right-of-way of Pennsylvania Avenue NW to 
        its intersection with the western right-of-way of 14th Street 
        NW;
            (65) thence south along said western right-of-way of 14th 
        Street NW to its intersection with a line extending west from 
        the southern right-of-way of D Street NW;
            (66) thence east along said line extending west from the 
        southern right-of-way of D Street NW to the southern right-of-
        way of D Street NW, and continuing east along said southern 
        right-of-way of D Street NW to its intersection with the 
        eastern right-of-way of 13\1/2\ Street NW;
            (67) thence north along said eastern right-of-way of 13\1/
        2\ Street NW to its intersection with the southern right-of-way 
        of Pennsylvania Avenue NW;
            (68) thence east and southeast along said southern right-
        of-way of Pennsylvania Avenue NW to its intersection with the 
        western right-of-way of 12th Street NW;
            (69) thence south along said western right-of-way of 12th 
        Street NW to its intersection with a line extending to the west 
        the southern boundary of the property designated as Square 324 
        Lot 809;
            (70) thence east along said line to the southwest corner of 
        said property designated as Square 324 Lot 809, and continuing 
        northeast along the southern boundary of said property 
        designated as Square 324 Lot 809 to its eastern corner, which 
        it shares with the property designated as Square 323 Lot 802;
            (71) thence east along the southern boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 323 Lot 802 to its southeast 
        corner, which it shares with the property designated as Square 
        324 Lot 808;
            (72) thence counter-clockwise around the boundary of said 
        property designated as Square 324 Lot 808 to its northeastern 
        corner along the southern right-of-way of Pennsylvania Avenue 
        NW;
            (73) thence southeast along said southern right-of-way of 
        Pennsylvania Avenue NW to its intersection with the eastern 
        right-of-way of 4th Street NW;
            (74) thence north along a line extending north from said 
        eastern right-of-way of 4th Street NW to its intersection with 
        a line extending west from the southern right-of-way of C 
        Street NW;
            (75) thence east along said line extending west from the 
        southern right-of-way of C Street NW to the southern right-of-
        way of C Street NW, and continuing east along said southern 
        right-of-way of C Street NW to its intersection with the 
        eastern right-of-way of 3rd Street NW;
            (76) thence north along said eastern right-of-way of 3rd 
        Street NW to its intersection with the southern right-of-way of 
        D Street NW;
            (77) thence east along said southern right-of-way of D 
        Street NW to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 
        1st Street NW;
            (78) thence south along said western right-of-way of 1st 
        Street NW to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        C Street NW;
            (79) thence west along said northern right-of-way of C 
        Street NW to its intersection with the western right-of-way of 
        2nd Street NW;
            (80) thence south along said western right-of-way of 2nd 
        Street NW to its intersection with the northern right-of-way of 
        Constitution Avenue NW;
            (81) thence east along said northern right-of-way of 
        Constitution Avenue NW to its intersection with the 
        northwestern right-of-way of Louisiana Avenue NW;
            (82) thence northeast along said northwestern right-of-way 
        of Louisiana Avenue NW to its intersection with the 
        southwestern right-of-way of New Jersey Avenue NW;
            (83) thence northwest along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of New Jersey Avenue NW to its intersection with the northern 
        right-of-way of D Street NW;
            (84) thence east along said northern right-of-way of D 
        Street NW to its intersection with the northwestern right-of-
        way of Louisiana Avenue NW;
            (85) thence northeast along said northwestern right-of-way 
        of Louisiana Avenue NW to its intersection with the western 
        right-of-way of North Capitol Street;
            (86) thence north along said western right-of-way of North 
        Capitol Street to its intersection with the southwestern right-
        of-way of Massachusetts Avenue NW;
            (87) thence southeast along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of Massachusetts Avenue NW to the southwestern right-of-way of 
        Massachusetts Avenue NE;
            (88) thence southeast along said southwestern right-of-way 
        of Massachusetts Avenue NE to the southwestern right-of-way of 
        Columbus Circle NE;
            (89) thence counter-clockwise along said southwestern, then 
        southern, southeastern, and eastern right-of-way of Columbus 
        Circle NE to its intersection with the southern right-of way of 
        F Street NE; and
            (90) thence east along said southern right-of-way of F 
        Street NE to the point of beginning.
    (c) Exclusion of District Building.--
            (1) Exclusion.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
        section, the District of Columbia shall not be considered to 
        include the District Building after the admission of the State 
        into the Union.
            (2) District building defined.--In paragraph (1), the term 
        ``District Building'' means the John A. Wilson Building 
        described and designated under section 601(a) of the Omnibus 
        Spending Reduction Act of 1993 (sec. 10-1301(a), D.C. Official 
        Code).

SEC. 113. CONTINUATION OF TITLE TO LANDS AND PROPERTY.

    (a) Continuation of Title to Lands of District of Columbia.--
            (1) In general.--The State and its political subdivisions 
        shall have and retain title to, or jurisdiction over, for 
        purposes of administration and maintenance, all property, real 
        and personal, with respect to which title or jurisdiction for 
        purposes of administration 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 Columbia 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 Virginia 
        with the District of Columbia after the admission of the State 
        into the Union.
    (b) Continuation of Federal Title to Property in State.--The United 
States shall have and retain title to, or jurisdiction over, for 
purposes of administration and maintenance, 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.

  Subtitle C--General Provisions Relating to Laws of Washington, D.C.

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 Constitution 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 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 jurisdiction of such courts, with full power to 
        proceed with such cases, and award mesne or final process 
        therein, and all files, records, indictments, and proceedings 
        relating to any such writ, action, indictment, 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 committed 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 in the United States 
District Court for the District of Columbia 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 admission. 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 admission of the 
        State into the Union.
            (2) Cases decided after admission.--Parties shall have the 
        same rights of appeal from and appellate review of all orders, 
        judgments, and decrees of the United States District Court for 
        the 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 therein, 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 Federal 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 ``, Washington, Douglass 
        Commonwealth'' 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 Washington, 
        Douglass Commonwealth comprise one judicial district.''.

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 COLUMBIA 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.

SEC. 202. TREATMENT OF MILITARY LANDS.

    (a) Reservation of Federal Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection 
        (b) and notwithstanding the admission of the State into the 
        Union, authority is reserved in the United States for the 
        exercise by Congress of the power of exclusive legislation in 
        all cases whatsoever over such tracts or parcels of land 
        located within the State that, immediately prior to the 
        admission of the State, are controlled or owned by 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 legislation 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 authority.
            (2) Service of process.--The State shall have the right to 
        serve civil or criminal process within such tracts or parcels 
        of land in which the authority of the United States is reserved 
        under subsection (a) in suits or prosecutions for or on account 
        of rights acquired, obligations incurred, or crimes committed 
        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 otherwise 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, recognizes, or confirms the validity 
        or invalidity of any claim referred to in paragraph (1), and 
        the determination 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 Individuals 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, special, 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 registration 
                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 defined.--In this 
        section, the term ``absent District of Columbia voter'' means, 
        with respect to a State, a person who resides in the District 
        of Columbia after the admission of the State of Washington, 
        D.C. 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 Columbia.
            (3) State defined.--In this section, the term ``State'' 
        means each of the several States, including the State of 
        Washington, D.C.
    (b) Recommendations to States To Maximize Access to Polls by Absent 
District of Columbia Voters.--To afford maximum access to the polls by 
absent District of Columbia voters, it is the sense of Congress that 
the States should--
            (1) waive registration requirements for absent District of 
        Columbia voters who, by reason of residence 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.
    (c) Enforcement.--The Attorney General may bring a civil action in 
appropriate district court of the United States for such declaratory or 
injunctive relief as may be necessary to carry out this section.
    (d) Effect on Certain Other Laws.--The exercise 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 of Washington, D.C. into the Union, and 
shall apply with respect to elections for Federal 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.--Chapter 1 of title 3, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking section 21; and
            (2) in the table of sections, by striking the item relating 
        to section 21.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect upon the date of the admission 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.

SEC. 206. EXPEDITED PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL 
              AMENDMENT REPEALING 23RD AMENDMENT.

    (a) Joint Resolution Described.--In this section, the term ``joint 
resolution'' means a joint resolution--
            (1) entitled ``A joint resolution proposing an amendment to 
        the Constitution of the United States to repeal the 23rd 
        article of amendment''; and
            (2) the matter after the resolving clause of which consists 
        solely of text to amend the Constitution of the United States 
        to repeal the 23rd article of amendment to the Constitution.
    (b) Expedited Consideration in House of Representatives.--
            (1) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in the House 
        of Representatives, the joint resolution shall be placed 
        immediately on the appropriate calendar.
            (2) Proceeding to consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--It shall be in order, not later 
                than 30 legislative days after the date the joint 
                resolution is introduced in the House of 
                Representatives, to move to proceed to consider the 
                joint resolution in the House of Representatives.
                    (B) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed to consider 
                the joint resolution--
                            (i) all points of order against the motion 
                        are waived;
                            (ii) such a motion shall not be in order 
                        after the House of Representatives has disposed 
                        of a motion to proceed on the joint resolution;
                            (iii) the previous question shall be 
                        considered as ordered on the motion to its 
                        adoption without intervening motion;
                            (iv) the motion shall not be debatable; and
                            (v) a motion to reconsider the vote by 
                        which the motion is disposed of shall not be in 
                        order.
            (3) Consideration.--When the House of Representatives 
        proceeds to consideration of the joint resolution--
                    (A) the joint resolution shall be considered as 
                read;
                    (B) all points of order against the joint 
                resolution and against its consideration are waived;
                    (C) the previous question shall be considered as 
                ordered on the joint resolution to its passage without 
                intervening motion except 10 hours of debate equally 
                divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
                opponent;
                    (D) an amendment to the joint resolution shall not 
                be in order; and
                    (E) a motion to reconsider the vote on passage of 
                the joint resolution shall not be in order.
    (c) Expedited Consideration in Senate.--
            (1) Placement on calendar.--Upon introduction in the 
        Senate, the joint resolution shall be placed immediately on the 
        calendar.
            (2) Proceeding to consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--Notwithstanding rule XXII of the 
                Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later 
                than 30 legislative days after the date the joint 
                resolution is introduced in the Senate (even though a 
                previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed 
                to) to move to proceed to the consideration of the 
                joint resolution.
                    (B) Procedure.--For a motion to proceed to the 
                consideration of the joint resolution--
                            (i) all points of order against the motion 
                        are waived;
                            (ii) the motion is not debatable;
                            (iii) the motion is not subject to a motion 
                        to postpone;
                            (iv) a motion to reconsider the vote by 
                        which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to 
                        shall not be in order; and
                            (v) if the motion is agreed to, the joint 
                        resolution shall remain the unfinished business 
                        until disposed of.
            (3) Floor consideration.--
                    (A) In general.--If the Senate proceeds to 
                consideration of the joint resolution--
                            (i) all points of order against the joint 
                        resolution (and against consideration of the 
                        joint resolution) are waived;
                            (ii) consideration of the joint resolution, 
                        and all debatable motions and appeals in 
                        connection therewith, shall be limited to not 
                        more than 30 hours, which shall be divided 
                        equally between the majority and minority 
                        leaders or their designees;
                            (iii) a motion further to limit debate is 
                        in order and not debatable;
                            (iv) an amendment to, a motion to postpone, 
                        or a motion to commit the joint resolution is 
                        not in order; and
                            (v) a motion to proceed to the 
                        consideration of other business is not in 
                        order.
                    (B) Vote on passage.--In the Senate the vote on 
                passage shall occur immediately following the 
                conclusion of the consideration of the joint 
                resolution, and a single quorum call at the conclusion 
                of the debate if requested in accordance with the rules 
                of the Senate.
                    (C) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals 
                from the decisions of the Chair relating to the 
                application of this subsection or the rules of the 
                Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating 
                to the joint resolution shall be decided without 
                debate.
    (d) Rules Relating to Senate and House of Representatives.--
            (1) Coordination with action by other house.--If, before 
        the passage by one House of the joint resolution of that House, 
        that House receives from the other House the joint resolution--
                    (A) the joint resolution of the other House shall 
                not be referred to a committee; and
                    (B) with respect to the joint resolution of the 
                House receiving the resolution--
                            (i) the procedure in that House shall be 
                        the same as if no joint resolution had been 
                        received from the other House; and
                            (ii) the vote on passage shall be on the 
                        joint resolution of the other House.
            (2) Treatment of joint resolution of other house.--If one 
        House fails to introduce or consider the joint resolution under 
        this section, the joint resolution of the other House shall be 
        entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section.
            (3) Treatment of companion measures.--If, following passage 
        of the joint resolution in the Senate, the Senate receives the 
        companion measure from the House of Representatives, the 
        companion measure shall not be debatable.
            (4) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the joint resolution, 
        consideration of a veto message in the Senate under this 
        section shall be not more than 10 hours equally divided between 
        the majority and minority leaders or their designees.
    (e) Rules of House of Representatives and Senate.--This section is 
enacted by Congress--
            (1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate 
        and House of Representatives, respectively, and as such is 
        deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but 
        applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in 
        that House in the case of the joint resolution, and supersede 
        other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent with 
        such rules; and
            (2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of 
        either House to change the rules (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.

                     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 Washington, D.C.
            (3) The term ``Mayor'' means the Mayor of the District of 
        Columbia.
            (4) Except as otherwise provided, the term ``State'' means 
        the State of Washington, D.C.
            (5) The term ``State Constitution'' means the proposed 
        Constitution of the State of Washington, D.C., as approved by 
        the Council of the District of Columbia on October 18, 2016, 
        pursuant to the Constitution and Boundaries for the State of 
        Washington, D.C. Approval Resolution of 2016 (D.C. Resolution 
        R21-621), and ratified by District of Columbia voters in 
        Advisory Referendum B approved on November 8, 2016, and 
        certified by the District of Columbia Board of Elections on 
        November 18, 2016.
            (6) The term ``Washington, D.C.'' means Washington, 
        Douglass Commonwealth.

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.
                                 <all>