DC Vote Releases Statement Denouncing Sen. Lee’s Latest Assault on District Self-Determination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 2, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

Today, a leading DC Statehood organization, DC Vote, released the following statement regarding Sen. Mike Lee’s attempt to pass S.J.Res. 7—a  resolution to express disapproval over the District of Columbia’s Minor Consent for Vaccinations Amendment Act of 2020—via unanimous consent: 

“Once again, Senator Lee has demonstrated a complete lack of respect for Washington DC’s right to self-determination. It’s extremely disappointing to see the Senator from Utah, who claims to support local government control over local government affairs, continue in his efforts to assault laws passed by and for the people of the District of Columbia.

Today, Sen. Lee’s unanimous consent motion was rejected thanks to Sen. Tom Carper—but the residents of Washington DC should not be forced to rely on an elected representative from Delaware to stand up for the interests of the District. DC Vote salutes Sen. Carper for his continued commitment to the people of Washington DC, but that commitment is hardly the democratic representation the residents of DC deserve.

As has been the case for far too long, the residents of Washington DC deserve representation in Congress, and for the District to be admitted to the Union as the 51st state. As Sen. Lee’s rebuke of democracy has proven once again, the only path forward for the people of Washington DC remains Statehood.”

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