Norton Files Pro-D.C. Amendments to Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) filed several D.C.-related amendments to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including amendments to:

• Give the Mayor of the District of Columbia the same authority over the D.C. National Guard that the governors of states and territories have over their National Guards.
• Give the District of Columbia the same number of appointments and nominations to the U.S. service academies as states.
• Permanently authorize the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program.
• Correct a longstanding drafting error and clarify that District of Columbia National Guard members who were federal civilian 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 FY22 NDAA.
• Prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) and the District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) from transferring personnel and equipment of the DCNG to DOD or the National Guard of a state or territory.
• Require the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard to reside in D.C.
• Insert the text of Norton’s Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2023 (H.R.2775).

“These critical amendments would increase equality for D.C. in relation to the states, address operational and human needs for D.C. residents, and benefit all of us by redirecting resources from nuclear weaponry to solving human needs and addressing the climate crisis,” Norton said.

“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.

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

“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 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.

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

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