January 27, 2021
WASHINGTON — Rep. Dusty Johnson reintroduced the D.C. – Maryland Reunion Act on Wednesday, which would return the D.C. suburbs to the state of Maryland. Only the National Capital Service Area – the National Mall and Federal buildings – would remain as the District of Columbia.
He also introduced a constitutional amendment to repeal the 23rd Amendment. The 23rd Amendment provides electoral college votes to the District of Columbia. Should the D.C. suburbs be merged into the state of Maryland, residents would have full congressional representation in Congress as well as the Electoral College.
“The District of Columbia-Maryland Reunion Act kills two birds with one stone,” said Johnson. “It removes the need for D.C. statehood, while also providing representation to individuals living in the district by merging the suburbs with Maryland. This proposal isn’t out of the question; Congress has done it before, in 1847, when large parts of D.C. were returned to Virginia. My proposal accomplishes the goal of representation without creating a 51