U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure to make the District of Columbia the 51st state This is the second time a bill for DCs statehood has passed the house "We look forward to a swift vote in the Senate on this essential legislation," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said ahead of Thursday's 216-208 vote. Some worry moving too quickly with the narrowly controlled senate could More senators have co-sponsored the statehood bill than ever 5 members of the Democratic caucus have not signed on Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona; Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire; Joe Manchin of West Virginia; and Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.