A concurrent resolution urging Congress to support admitting Washington, D.C. into the Union as a state of the United States.
Summary
SCR 4009 is a concurrent resolution expressing the North Dakota Legislative Assembly’s support for admitting Washington, D.C. to the Union as a state. The resolution recites the constitutional and historical basis for Congress’s authority over the District, the District’s limited self-government under home rule, and the long-standing lack of full voting representation in Congress for D.C. residents. It also notes prior D.C. votes favoring statehood and references the U.S. House’s passage of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act in prior Congresses.
The resolution formally urges Congress and the President to enact federal legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. It also states opposition to federal actions that interfere with D.C. home rule, including laws disapproving or repealing local Council and mayoral actions and federal budget riders that restrict locally raised tax revenue. The Secretary of State is directed to send copies of the resolution to federal leaders and North Dakota’s congressional delegation.
Impact
SCR 4009 does not change North Dakota statutes or create state-level regulatory requirements; instead, it is an advisory memorial to Congress. Its practical effect is to place North Dakota on record supporting D.C. statehood and opposing federal limits on D.C. self-government, while transmitting that position to federal officials. The resolution is aimed at federal constitutional and legislative action affecting the District of Columbia, not at altering state law in North Dakota.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of D.C. statehood and of expanded local autonomy for the District. Because there were no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no evidence of debate in the available record. The bill’s introduction by Senators Mathern and Braunberger suggests sponsorship in favor of the measure, but the bill ultimately failed on February 24, 2025.
Contention
The central point of contention is the question of whether Washington, D.C. should become a state, which implicates constitutional interpretation, congressional authority over the federal district, and the balance between local self-government and federal oversight. Supporters emphasize democratic representation for D.C.’s roughly 700,000 residents and opposition to federal interference in local affairs. Opponents, though not identified in the provided record, would typically raise concerns about constitutional structure, the status of the federal seat of government, and whether statehood is the appropriate remedy versus other reforms such as home rule expansion.