The full U.S. House of Representatives will soon consider a historic bill to provide the District a voting member after the Judiciary Committee on Thursday agreed to move the measure forward.
The panel voted 21-13 to approve the legislation, which would expand the House by two seats — one for the District and the other for Utah. After years of political wrangling, compromise, hope and heartbreak, voting rights proponents finally will have their day before the full chamber.
“Lawmakers have done the right thing,” U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., a lead sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “They have voted to enfranchise the citizens of the capital of the free world.”
The floor schedule set by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland has the D.C. vote bill up for debate next week.
Judiciary Chair John Conyers, D-Mich., whose support for the legislation proved critical, said the measure represents an “important step in filling a gaping hole in our democracy.” Though there are other viable options for D.C. voting rights, Conyers said, such as a constitutional amendment or even ceding the District to Maryland, “this is the way that shows the most promise at this time.”
Ranking member Lamar Smith, R-Texas, reiterated his opposition based on constitutional grounds. Backed by others in the GOP, Smith said the constitution permits representation only for residents of “the several states.” The debate over the bill’s legality will certainly continue on the House floor.
Local leaders praised the vote.
“This is major step toward realizing full representation for District residents, a right too long denied,” D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray said in a statement.
Mayor Adrian Fenty said he will look into the use of his floor privileges to address the House before the voting rights debate.
“We’re going to do whatever we can to make sure this bill passes,” the mayor said.
Even if the bill passes the House, as is expected with Democrats in control, the measure still must survive the Senate and President Bush.
