[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 74 (Tuesday, May 2, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT TITLE EQUALITY ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2023

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
Government Title Equality Act. This bill would amend the D.C. Home Rule 
Act to redesignate the Mayor as the Governor, the Council as the 
Legislative Assembly, the Councilmembers as Representatives and the 
Chair of the Council as the Speaker. The new titles are the ones used 
in the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth constitution, which 
the District adopted in 2016 in anticipation of passage of the 
Washington, D.C. Admission Act which would make D.C. the 51st state.
  I introduce this bill to highlight to the American people and Members 
of Congress that there would be a seamless transition to D.C. statehood 
because D.C. already operates as the functional equivalent of a state, 
providing state-, county- and city-level services, despite being denied 
voting representation in Congress and full local self-government.
  This bill would not change any legal authorities.
  This is an important step to provide greater equality for the 
District, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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