Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware has introduced a bill that would make the District of Columbia the nation's 51st state.

While the bill has little chance of passing, the introduction shows that Carper is taking up the cause of statehood for the district. Carper is the incoming chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the nation's capital. His predecessor, Joseph Lieberman, was a longtime advocate for district voting rights and introduced a statehood bill during the last Congress.

The bill is co-sponsored by three of Carper's fellow Democrats: Barbara Boxer of California, Richard Durbin of Illinois and Patty Murray of Washington.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the district in Congress, has introduced a statehood bill in the House.