You may be wondering why 51-star flags are flying in D.C. this week. They are marking the District government's stance on the upcoming House Committee hearing on H.R. 51, a bill granting statehood to Washington, D.C.

The roads were lined with the modified flags, and residents and tourists alike took note. The issue of statehood for D.C. is not a new one; it is just finally coming to an official vote again. On September 19, at 10 a.m., the House Committee on Oversight and Reform will hold a hearing on the statehood bill. 

Count the stars #DCStatehood #51stState pic.twitter.com/uJE0oPaZmi

— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) September 13, 2019

If you want to attend in person, the hearing will be at the Rayburn House Office Building (45 Independence Avenue SW | Washington, D.C.) in Room 2154. With over 200 co-sponsors and countless community partners, the bill's representatives will pack the house well before the public can hope to enter the building. You can watch the livestream of the event here, through the official committee website.

Courtesy of the Architecht of the Capitol

Regardless of where you stand on the subject, this is an important event in our nation's history. This is the first Congressional Committee hearing on the subject in over two decades. According to WashingtonDC.org, the District of Columbia was created as the seat of the federal government in 1790 with land ceded by both Virginia and Maryland. Over the years, it has grown significantly to the thriving metropolis it is now.

Today's District has over 700,000 residents, a population larger than that of two states: Wyoming and Vermont. D.C. currently has no voting representation in Congress, and all D.C. judges are federally appointed. These are just two of the issues inherent to the statehood bill.

Will you be following the committee hearing? Are you going to a watch party in the city? Let us know your plans in the comments!