House Holds Hearing on D.C. Statehood for First Time in More Than 25 Years

The House Oversight Committee held a hearing Thursday on a bill that would pave the way for the District of Columbia to become the country's 51st state. The hearing on H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, was the first hearing of its kind in more than 25 years, the Oversight Committee's Democratic press office said.... In total, 220 representatives — all Democrats — are co-sponsoring the legislation, which was first introduced in January. Among the sponsors are Maryland Reps. Elijah Cummings, Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes.