Lawmakers debate D.C. statehood

"Adding DC statehood and adding a state should not be about politics. It's about equality. It's about democracy. It is the responsibility of Congress to ensure that Americans are given their full rights, demanded by the Constitution," Maloney said.

H.R. 51 would ensure more than 700,000 DC residents have representation in Congress. It would also turn the district into the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth in honor of Frederick Douglass, CBS reports.