Washington, D.C. — In anticipation of the passage of H.R. 51, the Washington D.C. Admission Act, through the House of Representatives, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) issued the following statement from Voting Rights Program Director Justin Kwasa:

“This is a victory for our democracy and environment. On this 51st anniversary of the first Earth Day, one of the very best things we can do to protect people and the planet is to ensure everyone can participate equitably in our political system. Low-income and Black communities have historically suffered the consequences of pollution and public health risks, and D.C. residents, more than half of whom are people of color, have experienced this environmental racism for generations — yet have been denied full representation in Congress. By establishing Washington D.C. as a state, while preserving a constitutionally required Federal District, this legislation finally grants power to the people, where it belongs. Now it’s up to the Senate to right a historic wrong, fully enfranchise the more than seven hundred thousand people in Washington, D.C., and realize our nation’s values of equal representation.” 

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