Reaffirming 1997 Policy on D.C. Home Rule

WHEREAS, the struggle for home rule in Washington, DC has been long fought and hard fought; and

WHEREAS, the NAACP has stood with the citizens of Washington, DC for decades in this struggle; and

WHEREAS, despite this long-standing solidarity from the NAACP, the citizens of Washington, DC are still the only citizens of a national capital in the world to have on representation whatsoever in their national legislature; and

WHEREAS, the annual cost to the citizens of Washington, DC for the federal presence and the cost of services rendered by Washington, DC is $3 billion annually; and

WHEREAS, the citizens continue to pay more per capita in federal income tax than 49 states, and pay for more than eighty (80) percent of the local budget with an annual federal payment from Congress that is only 1/6 of the $3 billion cost of the federal presence and services rendered to the federal government by Washington, DC.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its support for home rule and full self-determination for the citizens of Washington, DC; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP shall encourage its local branches to educate their members and the community at large on issues concerning Washington, DC; and

NOW, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP branches shall solicit support from their respective members of Congress for maintaining home rule and realizing full self-determination for the citizens of Washington, DC and shall hold their respective members of Congress accountable in this regard.