Recognizing the enduring cultural and historical significance of emancipation in the Nation's capital on the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which established the "first freed" on April 16, 1862, and celebrating passage of the District of Columbia statehood bill in the House of Representatives.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · April 14, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
H.Res. 333 is a symbolic resolution honoring the anniversary of April 16, 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed approximately 3,100 enslaved people in the nation's capital—making it the first emancipation act during the Civil War. The resolution recognizes the historical and cultural significance of this event and calls attention to the fact that District of Columbia residents today pay federal taxes at higher per capita rates than any state residents, yet lack voting representation in Congress and face ongoing federal interference in local matters. The resolution also celebrates the House's previous passage of the Washington, DC Admission Act (which would grant D.C. statehood) and urges Congress to pass it again, framing statehood as fulfilling the founding principles of representative government and equal rights. This is a non-binding resolution with no funding or timeline requirements—it serves primarily to express the House's position on D.C. history and the ongoing push for statehood.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.