HI HCR198

Hawaii House of Representatives supports the admission of Washington, D.C. as a state of the United States of America.

District of Columbia has a population of approximately 689,545 (as of 2021), comparable to Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and North Dakota, yet residents lack full voting representation in Congress.

D.C. residents pay more federal taxes than residents of 22 states and serve in the armed forces, but are denied full congressional representation despite sharing all citizenship responsibilities.

A November 8, 2016 District-wide referendum on statehood passed with 86 percent support, and the Washington D.C. Statehood Act was introduced with 165 cosponsors in the 118th Congress in January 2023, having previously passed the House in June 2019 and April 2021.

Resolution urges members of Congress to enact federal legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. and directs transmission of certified copies to the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Hawaii's Congressional delegation.