Bernie Sanders joins push for DC statehood

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie SandersBernard (Bernie) SandersWarren, Nadler introduce bill to allow student loan borrowers bankruptcy relief Co-founder's call to break up Facebook energizes its critics Sanders to join Ocasio-Cortez in headlining Green New Deal rally Monday MORE and a group of more than a dozen senators are calling for Washington, D.C., to become the 51st state in the nation.

In their proposal, the federal government would still maintain control over portions of the nation’s capital that surround the White House, Congress, Supreme Court and National Mall.

The rest of the nation’s capital would be renamed New Columbia and given full representation in Congress under the legislation introduced by Sen. Tom CarperThomas (Tom) Richard CarperOvernight Energy: Dems challenge Trump UN nominee on climate change | Senators seek probe into head of EPA air office | UN report warns 1 million species threatened by extinction Dem senators call for probe into EPA officials over memo language Biden cements spot as 2020 front-runner MORE (D-Del.). 

Sen. Sanders (I-Vt.), one of 16 co-sponsors of the New Columbia Admission Act, said it is "morally wrong" to block District residents from federal representation.

“Washington D.C. is currently home to more people than the state of Vermont, yet its residents lack voting representation in Congress," Sanders told The Hill in a statement. "I think it is morally wrong for American citizens who pay federal taxes, fight in our wars, and live in our country to be denied the basic right to full congressional representation.”

The sentiment was echoed by Carper.

“The District of Columbia is not just a collection of government offices, monuments and museums,” Carper said in a statement. "It is home to more than 600,000 people who build lives, families, and careers here. These Americans serve in our military, die defending our country, serve on our juries, and pay federal taxes. Yet, despite their civic contributions, they are not afforded a vote in either chamber of Congress."

- Updated at 3:46 p.m.