Senate bill would make Washington DC the 51st US state

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is bringing a new bill to the Senate floor that would officially make Washington, D.C. the 51st state in the United States. According to The Independent, the passing of legislation, S. 51, also referred to as the D.C. Admissions Act, would make the nation's capital an official state.

The prominent city's 700,000+ residents have long sought to become an official state arguing that the taxes they pay still do not afford them the luxury of having equal representation in the House and Senate chambers compared to other states. The effort has been largely backed by Democratic lawmakers as the city of Washington, D.C., is comprised of mostly Democrats.

On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Carper released a statement about the legislation he is proposing saying, "This isn't a Republican or Democratic issue; it's an American issue because the lack of fair representation for D.C. residents is clearly inconsistent with the values on which this country was founded."

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has also expressed support for the effort insisting it would give D.C. residents "full access" to the United States' democracy.

Bowser said, "Just like the millions of Americans who voted nationwide and the thousands who organized and voted in Georgia, we are ready to build a more perfect union — one in which all voices are heard, one in which we work together to uplift families in cities, and suburbs, and small towns, and one in which the 712,000 residents of Washington, DC have full access to our nation's democracy."