Statement on Congressional Attempts to Block the Death with Dignity Act

(Washington, DC)  Today, Mayor Bowser released the following statement regarding the resolutions of disapproval to block the District’s ‘Death with Dignity Act’ led by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Representative Brad Wenstrup (R-OH):

“In Senator Lankford and Congressman Wenstrup’s resolutions, the District has two new examples of why statehood is so important to the residents of Washington, DC. Like Americans do all over the country, the residents of Washington, DC elect their leaders through a democratic process, and they entrust us with creating and passing laws and policies that represent their values. While the Senator and Congressman may feel passionate about this issue, it is my belief that there is no single political issue more important than upholding the core principles of democracy. I hope that Senator Lankford and Congressman Wenstrup will  realize what they are really doing here – attempting to sidestep the democratic process in order to impose their personal beliefs on the 681,000 residents of Washington, DC. In the meantime, we will continue to fight for statehood so that District residents – residents who serve in our country’s military and pay more per capita in federal taxes than any state – can finally gain full access to our country’s democracy.”