Pelosi Remarks at Press Event Ahead of House Vote on H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act

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Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon.

Once again, it is an honor to welcome the Mayor of Washington to the Capitol of the United States and the President of the City Council and the Councilman, who I also thank. Thank you for being here as well.

I thank – I join in singing the praises of the Mayor. She has made us all so proud throughout her tenure, but in the last month or so, the world knows why we are so proud to a greater degree than they might have. Thank you so much, Madam Mayor.

And we are here today with common cause about justice. It's always about justice and fairness. So, I am pleased to join my colleague, Leader Hoyer, who's been – for whom this has been a major priority in his service in Congress and, of course, Eleanor Holmes Norton. When we were together recently, I sang the praises of Eleanor and how she has been such a leader in so many ways in the Congress of the United States. Helping women have the right to vote really effectively, honoring the 100th anniversary and the rest, but also ensuring that people's votes are counted as cast. In so many ways, justice has been Eleanor Holmes Norton's call.

So, here we are to correct an injustice. The people of Washington, D.C. – as we've heard Steny say and Eleanor say and others say over and over again. And I'm so glad our colleague Sheila Jackson Lee is here, and to follow Carolyn Maloney is an honor for me because this is the committee of jurisdiction, this is the committee on which Eleanor Holmes Norton sits among others, among others and this is where it happens.

But here we are. The people of Washington, D.C. pay taxes, more important than that, serve in the military, contribute to the vitality of America and the economic strength of our country in a very political way and, what, do not have the right to representation in the Congress of the United States? How could it be? Whose idea was that?

For more than two centuries, the residents of Washington, D.C. have been denied their right to fully participate in democracy. And tomorrow, tomorrow, we will be having, on the Floor of the House, we will right this grave injustice, which is an affront to our democracy – passage of H.R. 51 – I love the name – Washington, D.C. Admissions Act, will be heroic – historic and heroic yes, and will take the strong step toward admitting the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the Union. And it will bring our nation closer to our founding ideals, which were to create equal and just representation in our country.

And with that, I'm pleased to yield back to Eleanor Holmes Norton who made this day possible in so many ways.

It probably will come as a surprise to you mayors and representatives and the rest that Eleanor Holmes Norton has been relentless, persistent, dissatisfied.

[Laughter]

And here we are.

Leader Hoyer. Which is to say, she's been Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Congresswoman Maloney. Eleanor the great.

[Laughter]

Speaker Pelosi. I yield back.

[Applause]