The District of Columbia could be named the 51st state should the bill pass.
The U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled a vote for June 26 to vote on Washington, D.C.'s statehood, announced House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Tuesday. This historic vote would name Washington, D.C., as the 51st state.
Although D.C. has a population of more than 706,000 people (it's larger than both Wyoming and Vermont) and pays federal taxes, it lacks voting representation in Congress.
"We are the only nation—free nation—in the world whose capital does not have voting members of their parliament," said Hoyer.
Numbered HR51, the bill is sponsored by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and co-sponsored by 224 members of Congress.
"This bill provides for admission into the United States of the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, composed of most of the territory of the District of Columbia," states the bill. "The commonwealth shall be admitted to the Union on an equal footing with the other states."
This would provide residents with the right to elect two senators and one representative. In addition, sites like the National Mall and the Capitol would remain under federal control.
What do you think of Washington, D.C., possibly gaining statehood? Are you for or against this vote? Let us know in the comments below.