WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee passed legislation granting voting rights to the District of Columbia:

"I commend the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for advancing the goal of righting a 200-year wrong by approving legislation to grant the District of Columbia full voting rights in the U.S. House of Representatives.  I am especially encouraged that the Committee approved the legislation by a vote of 9 to 1, proof that this important issue has bipartisan support.
 
"As a strong advocate of House voting rights for the nation's capital, I am hopeful the full Senate will follow the House's lead and pass this legislation soon so that the House and Senate can adopt final legislation for the President's signature.  As both houses of Congress move forward on DC voting rights, it is plain that this is as much a moral issue as it is a political one.  I would hope that the White House would recognize it as such and reconsider its opposition to this critical legislation."

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