Norton Introduces Bill to Give Education Grants to D.C. National Guard, In Memory of Tragic Red Line Crash

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today, marking the four-year anniversary of the tragic June 22, 2009 Metro Red Line crash that killed Major General David F. Wherley, former Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard, his wife, Ann, and seven others, introduced the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Act, to permanently authorize funding for a program that provides grants for higher education to members of the D.C. National Guard. Norton has continued to get funds for the program through the appropriations committee but she has fought for permanent funding because programs that are not permanently authorized are in greater danger of cuts than others.

"Naming a permanently authorized program after General Wherley would memorialize his service to the country and to the Guard in a way that I believe he would have appreciated," Norton said in her statement on the introduction of the bill. "Authorizing funding is necessary to ensure that D.C. National Guard members receive the same treatment and benefits as other National Guard members…It is especially important for the D.C. National Guard to be able to attract the best soldiers, given its unique mission to protect the federal presence here, in addition to D.C. residents."

Last week, Norton introduced a bill to give the District home-rule authority over the D.C. National Guard and strengthen the Guard itself. The bill would give the mayor of the District authority, as governors have in their states, to deploy the D.C. National Guard during local emergencies, including natural disasters and civil disturbances unrelated to national or homeland security, after consultation with the Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard.

Norton's full introductory statement follows.

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Grant

June 20, 2013

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the four-year anniversary of the tragic June 22, 2009, Metro crash, in which Major General David F. Wherley, former Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard, his wife, Ann, and seven others were killed when Metro trains collided on the Red Line, I introduce a bill, the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Act (NGRCA), to permanently authorize funding for a program that provides grants for higher education to members of the D.C. National Guard. In 2010, I renamed this bill after General Wherley because he worked tirelessly with me to get funding for the program for many years, and because of his devotion to the youth of the District of Columbia.

The NGRCA authorizes an education incentive program, recommended by the late Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., and his successor, Major General Errol Schwartz, to stem the troublesome loss of members of the D.C. Guard to other units. Surrounding states offer such educational benefits to their Guards. I am grateful that the Appropriations committees have provided funds for the program in some years, most recently in fiscal year 2013. Naming a permanently authorized program after General Wherley would memorialize his service to the country and to the Guard in a way that I believe he would have appreciated. Authorizing funding is necessary to ensure that D.C. Guard members receive the same treatment and benefits as other National Guard members, especially those in states that provide the higher education benefits we seek for D.C. Guard members. The Guard for the nation's capital has a limited ability to compete for regional residents, who find membership in the Maryland and Virginia Guards more beneficial. A competitive tuition assistance program for the D.C. Guard will provide significant incentives and leverage to help maintain enrollment and level the field of competition. The D.C. Guard is a federal instrument not under the control of the mayor of the District of Columbia. The federal government supports most other D.C. Guard functions and should support this small benefit as well.

The small education incentives in my bill would not only encourage high-quality recruits, but would have the important benefit of helping the D.C. Guard to maintain the force necessary to protect the federal presence, including members of Congress and the Supreme Court, and visitors if a terrorist attack or natural disaster should occur. I am pleased to introduce the bill based on the advice of Guard personnel, who best know what is necessary.

It is especially important for the D.C. Guard to be able to attract the best soldiers, given its unique mission to protect the federal presence here, in addition to D.C. residents. This responsibility distinguishes the D.C. Guard from all other National Guards. The D.C. Guard is specially trained to meet its unique mission.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Published: June 20, 2013