Renewed Push For D.C. Statehood Underway

A Washington, D.C., councilman is preparing an aggressive new push toward making the nation's capital the 51st state, the Associated Press reports.

Councilman Michael Brown's office told the AP that his plans include asking all 50 states to pass ceremonial resolutions supporting the district's statehood. Supporters say it is important to build a nationwide coalition of support for the statehood movement.

In 1978, Congress voted on a Constitutional amendment granting the District of Columbia full representation in the U.S. House and Senate, but it fell two states short of the 38 it needed to be approved.