18 AND EVEN AS I SPEAK, ONCE AGAIN, THE DISTRICT, BECAUSE IT LACKS SOVEREIGNTY, FACES STILL ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT CRISIS. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS FILED A LAWSUIT CONTENDING THAT THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COUNCIL LACKS THE AUTHORITY TO CONVEY TITLE AND CLOSE STREETS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHILE THE LAWSUIT IS DIRECTED AT A PLANNED CONSTRUCTION OF THE TECHWORLD PROJECT, IT HAS CAUSED DELAY IN STREET CLOSING APPLICATION BY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. THIS INTERFERENCE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS THREAT TO ANY FUTURE STREET CLOSING APPLICATIONS AND PLACES A CLOUD ON THE TITLE OF ALL PAST STREET CLOSINGS, AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS IMMEDIATE CONGRESSIONAL ACTION. WITHOUT SENATORS, WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SOMEONE WILL TAKE UP THE TORCH FOR US. STADIUM IS, AT THIS MOMENT, LANGUISHING IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS WHICH CAUSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE INABILITY FOR US TO ATTRACT A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM. THERE ARE MANY OTHER EXAMPLES THAT COULD BE CITED, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE I HAVE MADE MY POINT. MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS FOR THE REASONS I HAVE STATED THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT YOUR LEGISLATION, H.R. 325, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CREATION OF A STATE OUT OF THE NON-FEDERAL PARTS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE ARGUMENT THAT CONGRESS WAS GIVEN THE EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IS PRESERVED BY MAINTAINING THE FEDERAL ENCLAVE. - 20 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CURRENT FUNCTIONS IN A CURIOUS WAY. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE WOULD RUN A BUSINESS IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE DISTRICT MUST CONDUCT ITS AFFAIRS. AS A BUSINESSMAN, I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO RUN MY BUSINESS UNDER A SYSTEM WHERE THE LAST WORD MAY NOT BE THE LAST WORD. I URGE PASSAGE OF H.R. 325. I BEG YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, TO IMPRESS UPON YOUR COLLEAGUES THE UTTER SHAME IN THIS LAND OF DEMOCRACY OF CONTINUING THE SECOND CLASS CHARACTER OF OUR CITIZENSHIP IN STARK CONTRAST, I EMPHASIZE, WITH THE REST OF WORLD. - 21 OF THE 117 NATIONS OF THE WORLD WITH NATIONAL LEGISLATURES, THE UNITED STATES STANDS ALONE IN DENYING EQUAL REPRESENTATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF THEIR CAPITAL CITY IN THEIR NATIONAL LEGISLATURES. AUSTRALIA TAILORED THEIR CONSTITUTION AFTER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUT IN CREATING ITS CAPITAL, CANBERRA OUT OF VIRGIN TERRITORY, IN THE SAME MANNER AS WASHINGTON, D. C., THE AUSTRALIANS PROVIDED FOR CANBERRA RESIDENTS TO HAVE FULL AND EQUAL REPRESENTATION IN THEIR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE. - 22 LONDON, PARIS, BONN, EVEN MOSCOW FOR LORD'S SAKE...I REPEAT 117 NATIONS, ALL HAVE EQUAL NATIONAL REPRESENTATION. BRAZIL DENIED RESIDENTS OF BRAZILIA SUCH FULL REPRESENTATION, BUT THEY CORRECTED THIS LAST YEAR SO IT IS NOT TOO LATE..... WE, THE PEOPLE OF THIS SO CALLED CAPITAL OF THE FREE WORLD STAND AS THE ONLY FORGOTTEN PEOPLE OF THAT WORLD. |