Contact Congress about H.R. 5856: District of Columbia Government Title Equality Act

This bill changes the official titles for D.C.’s top elected offices to “governor,” “legislative assembly,” “representative,” and “speaker.” It automatically applies the new titles to current officeholders and to how all laws and regulations refer to these offices. It does not change the powers or duties of the offices as written.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

District of Columbia Government Title Equality Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Latest action on H.R. 5856: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Who this affects: This affects D.C.’s elected leadership and anyone who interacts with D.C. government through laws, regulations, forms, and official communications. It also affects courts, lawyers, and agencies that rely on older legal language, because they would be required to read older terms as the new titles.

Why this matters: The bill matters because it changes the official language used to identify D.C.’s top elected offices across federal and District laws, rules, and regulations. In daily life, that can change what people see on official paperwork and how government leaders are addressed, even though the bill does not change the offices’ legal powers or duties as written. It also matters for legal interpretation, because it tells courts and agencies to treat older wording as if it already used the new titles, which is intended to prevent confusion when different laws use different terms.

Key provisions in H.R. 5856

• Changes the legal name of the D.C. mayor’s office from the “Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia” to the “Office of the Governor of the District of Columbia.”
• Automatically treats the person serving as mayor on the date the bill becomes law as having been elected “governor,” with no separate election just to approve the new title.
• Tells readers that whenever federal or D.C. laws, rules, or regulations say “Mayor” or “Office of the Mayor,” they must be understood to mean “Governor” or “Office of the Governor.”
• Renames the D.C. Council as the “Legislative Assembly of the District of Columbia,” and renames its members from “councilmembers” to “Representatives.”
• Automatically treats every sitting councilmember on the enactment date as having been elected a Representative in the Legislative Assembly.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 5856

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 5856

What is H.R. 5856?

This bill changes the official titles for D.C.’s top elected offices to “governor,” “legislative assembly,” “representative,” and “speaker.” It automatically applies the new titles to current officeholders and to how all laws and regulations refer to these offices. It does not change the powers or duties of the offices as written.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 5856?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 5856?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 5856 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.