6173291 Public Hearing on Bill 21-826, Constitution of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016 (September 27, 2016)

 

CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING

on

Bill 21-826, Constitution of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016

on

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

11:00 a.m., Council Chamber, John A. Wilson Building

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20004

 

            Council Chairman Phil Mendelson announces a public hearing before the Committee of the Whole on Bill 21-826, the “Constitution of the State of New Columbia Approval Amendment Act of 2016.”  The hearing will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building. 

            The stated purpose of Bill 21-826 is to recommend to Congress a revised District of Columbia Statehood Constitution for the State of New Columbia.  The Council will hold two hearings on Bill 21-826 – on September 27^th and October 6^th – in advance of an advisory referendum on the November 8, 2016 general election ballot that asks the electorate whether the Council should petition Congress to enact a statehood admission act to provide for the State of New Columbia to be declared admitted to the Union and whether the Council should approve a state Constitution.  These two hearings supplement the community engagement that occurred this past April and June through the New Columbia Statehood Commission.

Those who wish to testify are asked to email the Committee of the Whole at
[e-mail], or call Evan Cash, Committee Director at [phone], and to provide your name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Friday, September 23, 2016.  Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on Friday, September 23, 2016, the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.  A copy of Bill 21-826 can be obtained can be obtained on http://lims.dccouncil.us, or through the Legislative Services Division (Room 10) of the Secretary of the Council’s office.

A second hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, October 6, 2016, to convenience those interested in testifying but not during daytime work hours.  However, witnesses will not be allowed to testify at both hearings.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  Written statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 410 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2016.