Norton Expresses Disappointment After Rules Committee Did Not Make Her Amendments to Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in Order

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) expressed disappointment today after the House Rules Committee did not make her amendments to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in order. Norton filed several D.C.-related amendments to the bill, including:

• An amendment to give the D.C. Mayor the same authority over the D.C. National Guard that governors of states and territories have. Currently the president controls the D.C. National Guard. The House passed the amendment last year as part of the FY 2023 NDAA, but Republicans blocked it in the Senate. Congresswoman Norton introduced this amendment with Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD).
• An amendment to give D.C. the same number of appointments and nominations to the U.S. service academies, including West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, as states have. The House passed Norton’s amendment last year as part of the NDAA, but it was not included in the final enacted FY 2023 NDAA.
• An amendment to require the Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard to reside in D.C.
• An amendment to permanently authorize the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program.
• An amendment to further correct a longstanding legislative drafting error and clarify that D.C. National Guard members who were federal civilian or District of Columbia employees were entitled to leave without loss in pay or time from their civilian employment during their mobilization from January 6, 2021, until enactment of the FY 2022 NDAA. Congresswoman Norton was able to get this clarification enacted in the FY 2022 NDAA prospectively, so this amendment would make the same provision apply to the time from January 6, 2021, the date many D.C. National Guard members began using this leave due to the attack on the Capitol, until the enactment of that FY 2022 NDAA provision.
• An amendment to require that the United States redirect resources from nuclear weapons programs to address the climate crisis, human and infrastructure needs such as housing, health care and restoring the environment.

“While I am disappointed that the Rules Committee did not vote to make these critical, common-sense amendments to the NDAA in order today, I will continue working to make them law,” Norton said. “My amendments would have increased equality for D.C. in relation to the states, addressed operational and human needs for D.C. residents, and benefitted the public by redirecting resources from nuclear weaponry to solving human needs and addressing the climate crisis.”

“On January 6, 2021, as our democracy was under attack, D.C.'s mayor was unable to call out the D.C. National Guard, wasting hours and potentially costing lives. The January 6th attack on the Capitol demonstrated why this authority belongs in the hands of D.C.'s mayor and not the president, as my amendment would do. I appreciate Congressman Jamie Raskin for joining me in this important effort.

“District residents have fought in every American war, and my service academy amendment would have ensured they have the same opportunities to attend our prestigious service academies as residents of the states.

“My amendment to require the Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard to reside in D.C. would help ensure the Guard's connection to the residents it serves and in-depth knowledge of the unique issues and challenges faced by D.C. residents.

“Permanently authorizing the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program would help ensure members of the D.C. National Guard receive the same benefits as members of other National Guards and help the D.C. National Guard recruit and retain members.

“My nuclear weapons amendment would redirect the resources the United States uses for nuclear weapons to greater needs our country has, such as housing, restoring the environment, and infrastructure.”

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