Ryan Evans, Author at DC Vote

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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“The U.S. Census Bureau released the results of their every-decade count Thursday. The 2020 figures now give a glimpse of a new America with a shrinking White population and more Hispanic and Asian residents. This updated picture will change the face of America, not only in how $1.5 trillion, with a ‘T,’ in funds are distributed—but also how federal districts get redrawn.”

READ THE REST OF ARTICLE.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 10, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

WASHINGTON — Today, leading Statehood organization in DC, DC Vote, released the following statement regarding the House Oversight Committee’s decision to allocate COVID relief money for DC at the same level as states—and not as a territory—in the American Rescue Plan Bill:

“As the home to more than 700,000 Americans, we are pleased to see the House Oversight Committee recognize the needs of our communities by expanding COVID relief and allocating much-needed funding that was denied to us in the CARES Act.

After the passing of the CARES Act last spring, the District was intentionally shorted $755 million in federal funding due to our lack of statehood. As a result, our residents, small businesses, public services and more were denied the same help our fellow Americans received.

Once the American Rescue Plan is enacted, DC can expect to receive nearly $1.5 billion in federal assistance, plus an additional $755 million to fill the hole left by the CARES Act.

Treating the District as a state and expanding COVID relief funding will have a significant and positive effect on our residents, economy and public services. We sincerely thank the House Oversight Committee for correcting this injustice which will help our communities weather this pandemic.”

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The South Carolina native and current Maryland resident is a veteran of Tom Steyer’s 2020 campaign and Deval Patrick’s TogetherFund PAC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 19, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

Patrice N. Snow
[email protected]

WASHINGTON — Today, leading statehood organization DC Vote announced the hire of Patrice Snow as the group’s Director of Communications. Snow joins DC Vote as the former Communications Director and National Press Secretary for TogetherFund, a PAC dedicated to economic justice and progressive candidates and founded by former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Snow was previously National Press Secretary for Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign in 2020.

To announce this hire, DC Vote Executive Director Bo Shuff released the following statement:

“Patrice is an outstanding communicator with proven national experience in meeting the great social, economic and political challenges of our time. At this watershed moment for not only DC statehood but voting rights, I can think of no one more capable of meeting it.”

“Patrice will lead a robust and expansive communications campaign both within the District and around the country—all in pursuit of statehood for the people of Washington, DC. By amplifying the stories of 700,000 Washingtonians who live and breathe ‘taxation without representation,’ by informing our fellow Americans of the unjust application of democracy and voter suppression in their nation’s capital, and by engaging political leaders in DC and across the country, I’m confident Patrice will be the champion for DC statehood our movement needs—and deserves.”

“Patrice knows what it takes to lead a strong, national campaign that puts justice, equity, and democracy first. I’m truly excited to welcome Patrice to our team and our movement, and invigorated to know our work toward statehood is stronger because of it.”

Following her hire, Director of Communications Patrice Snow released the following statement:

“Over 700,000 of our fellow Americans living in the nation’s capital do not have a vote. These people are nurses, teachers, bus drivers, veterans, doctors, lawyers, mothers, fathers, social workers, and students. It is time they have a say in the direction of the country and implementing statehood would give them just that.”

“One of the reasons I moved to Montgomery County from Washington, DC is because my vote matters in Maryland, thus influencing politics not just locally but on a national level. On election day, I can choose to cast a ballot for my congressional representatives and a governor who all have the power to make and implement public policies that benefit me and determine the future of the country. Residents of Washington, DC deserve this same right.”

“Communicating both policy and politics at the intersection of race, gender, and equity to where even the most apolitical or apathetic person can understand is my passion. I am beyond grateful for Bo’s belief in me to lead the communications team for DC Vote. Washington, DC is closer to statehood than ever before, and support from President Biden, the House of Representatives, and 46 U.S. Senators prove it. Let’s get to work.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 4, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

Today, DC Vote, a leading Statehood organization in the District, released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 1 late Wednesday night:

“H.R. 1 presents an important and necessary step forward for American democracy and voting rights. We applaud the efforts of House Democrats to prioritize this monumental bill that will significantly improve the accessibility and fairness of our country’s elections.

H.R. 1 is expansive in its scope, and it’s critical to recognize that bill laid the foundation for Washington DC’s admission as our union’s 51st state. As a result, a natural next step exists in H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.

With 212 co-sponsors and momentum from the For the People Act behind it, H.R. 51 brings Washington DC closer to Statehood than ever before. With a hearing scheduled in the House Oversight & Reform Committee on Thursday, March 11, Congress now has the opportunity to double down on its support for democracy.

DC Statehood is the next big step for the House of Representatives and for democracy. Now more than ever, this is the time to grant equal representation to the 712,000 residents of Washington DC, and H.R. 51 is what will make that happen.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 24, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

With Senators Booker, Carper, Cardin, Kaine and Van Hollen set to support Statehood for the residents of Washington, DC on the floor of the U.S. Senate, DC Vote, one of the leading organizations for DC Statehood, released the following statement of support:

“Today, we witnessed history as five U.S. senators from four different states spoke for the 700,000 Americans who have neither a senator nor a state themselves—all on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

DC Vote and the residents of the District of Columbia applaud Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) for his unwavering commitment to the people of Washington, DC as the sponsor and driver of the Washington D.C. Admission Act.

With speeches of support from five of the record-46 co-sponsors of S. 51—Sens. Carper, Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)—the voices in support of liberty, equality and ultimately Statehood for the people of Washington, DC cannot go grow louder every day.

While the people of Washington DC appreciate the advocacy of lawmakers from across the country on our behalf, such advocacy is no substitute for full and equal representation of our own. Each and every day that passes without such representation in our national government is a failure of justice and a failure of democracy that must be rectified.

With all questions of the constitutionality of Statehood summarily dispelled by both history and our country’s leading experts in constitutional law, S. 51 must be provided a hearing and the opportunity to advance to the floor of the Senate for a vote, and Washington DC must be admitted as the 51st state to our Union.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 14, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

The Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD), a coalition of 200+ organizations working to make democracy real for all of us, announced today a reaffirmation of DC Statehood as a core policy priority, just a week before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the issue. DC Vote, a member of DFAD and one of the leading organizations for DC Statehood, released the following statement:

“The Declaration for American Democracy has always stood for a stronger and more inclusive democracy, and DC Vote is proud to stand alongside more than 200 organizations nationwide in our shared mission to address the deep systemic, institutional challenges facing our democracy today.

“DC Statehood—and the present lack thereof—is an unmistakable oversight that continues to disenfranchise more than 700,000 Americans to this day. Any serious effort to address the historic barriers to democracy faced by Black and Brown Americans must prioritize Statehood for the people of Washington DC. The Declaration for American Democracy’s commitment does exactly that by affirming support for the Washington DC Admission Act, and lays out the path to a critical legislative package, including the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to strengthen and protect our democracy for everyone.

“DC Vote and the residents of our nation’s capital will continue to work as a part of this national coalition to ensure our democracy is truly inclusive and accessible throughout the United States of America. Make no mistake: that mission includes the District of Columbia, and that mission is not complete without DC Statehood.”

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DC Vote: ‘Members of Congress should focus on their own constituents instead of trying to score cheap political points’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 23, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

This week, House members proposed several amendments in an attempt to force their own agenda on the residents of DC. Once again, the people of Washington are subject to political grandstanding from representatives refusing to work for their own constituents. So long as the people of Washington, DC live without Statehood, these battles for local control over local issues will continue.

Included below is a list of the issues House members are trying to force through in the latest version of the DC appropriations bill:

DC needle exchange: Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) proposed a prohibition on the use of federal funds to purchase clean syringes for exchange in DC. This program has been overwhelmingly effective at saving lives, preventing HIV, and saving money.

Presidential takeover of DC Police: Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) is attempting to sneak in a late amendment to strike a critical provision that would block the president from taking control of the DC Metropolitan Police Department. Coming just one summer after President Trump threatened a DC police takeover amid protests over police violence and the murder of George Floyd, Rep. Perry’s amendment would ensure a future president could take full control over more than 3,600 officers with the flick of a pen—not to mention zero input from DC officials or residents.

Local abortion funding: A group of over 60 members, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), proposed prohibiting federal funding from being used for abortions for low income women in DC, severely limiting access to reproductive health services in the District amid increasing demand.

Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) also proposed an amendment directly overriding a law passed by the DC council prohibiting employers from discriminating against employees based on their reproductive choices.

An amendment purely for show: Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) proposed increasing and then decreasing funding for DC courts to ensure that the District of Columbia can not decriminalize or reduce penalties associated with sex work. Once again, DC residents are at the whims of politicians trying to score themselves a talking point.

In response to yet another example of overreach by Members of Congress on local issues in the District, DC Vote issued the following statement:

“Time and time again, Congress has tried to dictate local affairs in DC, abusing Congress’s unjust authority over the District for their own political gain. Amendments to this appropriations bill are far from the first attempt to take control over local issues that are left to local officials everywhere else in this country. They will certainly not be the last.

“Whether it’s a life-saving needle exchange program, control of local law enforcement or access to reproductive healthcare, each of these amendments is an attempt to score cheap political points at the expense of people who are denied voting representation in Congress.

“Members of Congress should focus on their own constituents instead of trying to score cheap political points at the expense of DC residents. Did their constituents send them to Washington so they could dictate what DC residents can and cannot do?

“DC residents deserve the same rights and representation promised to all Americans. To fulfill that promise, it’s clear that the time for Statehood is now. ”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 29, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

WASHINGTON — Following news that Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) and a number of other U.S. Senators are prepared to introduce a revised version of the For the People Act, DC Vote, a leading Statehood organization in the District, released the following statement:

“A revised version of the For the People Act is in the works at the U.S. Senate. President Biden, Majority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi are meeting to discuss voting rights legislation at the White House later today. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) appears closer than ever to supporting the advancement of major national voting rights legislation.

“As revisions and compromises on voting rights legislation take place in our nation’s capital, the residents of the District of Columbia have a reminder: Any voting rights bill to make the floor of the U.S. Senate—and ultimately President Biden’s desk—must maintain support for DC Statehood.

“National voting rights legislation that ensures equal access to the ballot box, critical campaign finance reforms, and a nationwide ban on partisan gerrymandering are essential to the future of our democracy. So too is full and equal representation in our government for 700,000 disenfranchised, tax-paying, Americans.

“The For the People Act, as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April, included a historic and essential provision supporting Statehood for Washington, DC. Any Senate compromise bill must maintain that provision—the fate of democracy for us 700,000 Washingtonians depends on it.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 30, 2021

PRESS CONTACT:
Will Soltero
[email protected]

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