HR 51 DC Statehood Bill: Legislation introduced to make DC the 51st state

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has introduced a bill to make the District the 51st state.

H.R. 51, the D.C. Statehood Bill, was introduced by Holmes Norton on Thursday, the day that the 116th Congress was gaveled into session.

"I have a commitment that there will be a hearing on H.R. 51 from our good Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings that this bill will get a prompt hearing and then, of course, go to the floor," Holmes Norton said in a video posted to her official Twitter page.

Holmes Norton has introduced the legislation several times without success, but The Hill reports that this would be the first hearing and markup for the bill since 1993. Holmes Norton also told The Hill she has 151 co-sponsors, a record high for the legislation.

Granting the District statehood would create two additional U.S. senators and likely an additional voting representative in the House. The GOP has opposed statehood for D.C. and its 700,000 taxpaying citizens in the past because it would likely benefit Democrats.