Higgins on Push for DC Statehood: "Follow the Constitutionally-Mandated Process"

Thank you Madam Chairwoman Madam Chairwoman with all due respect to my colleague that has presented this this legislation on in this hurried markup today and with great respect for my fellow Americans that have a passion support for this endeavor we as a body despite the the the passion of perhaps the fantastic idea. of. A particular passion that is driven through the National narrative and supported by many Americans. We we cannot just step away from the constitutional obligations to follow the document that founded our nation and specifically address the formation of our nation's capital and the means by which States are accepted into our Union in many many in this body that support term limits, let's. have a. For term limits, we can't do that it calls for a constitutional amendment let's balance the budget. I voted for that Amendment twice in my service to the people. let's just Mark the balanced budget up next week. We can't do that it calls for a constitutional amendment let's do away with the electoral College. Why not it's unpopular on Facebook? Let's Mark it up next week would call. A Constitutional Amendment section eight of Article one, It's very powerful section, including given Congress the right to the power to lay and collect taxes to declare war to raise and support armies it falls when in section eight to exercise and I quote exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district as May. Session of particular States and the acceptance of Congress become the seat of the government of the United States. Originally, Virginia and Maryland sovereign state seated land for the formation of our nation's capital sometime later 1840 - Six Virginia wanted to land back and they got it in order to have any of this move forward with it would first have to be considered by the by the citizens of the sovereign sedate, which seated this land to begin with and then they have to be a Article Three section three new States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union, but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state nor any state before by the junction of two or more States or parts of States without the consent of the Legislature of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress may, I say that our constitution is clear you wanna form a 50 first state. Knock yourself out Follow the constitutionally mandated process to make that happen this would call for an amendment to our constitution as ratified by sufficient number of the several States and before that could happen the land that was seated to the United States for our capital to begin with by the sovereign state of Maryland, that would have to be returned to the citizens of Maryland and their state Legislature. I have a great compassion and understanding I've met with men and women American solid Patriots that support this. this move the 50 -first state. I'm not against it whatsoever stand for all of the American people when I say, let us consider this yes, but I I I implored the chairwoman to withdraw this markup. let us have further significant hearings considering the very serious Are moving forward with a markup stepping away from our constitutional responsibilities to consider any endeavor is the first failure of a Committee. This is what we witnessed today.