[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 72 (Thursday, June 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1080-E1081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD RETENTION AND 
                           COLLEGE ACCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2006

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the District of Columbia 
National Guard Retention and College Access Act, a bill to authorize 
funding for the College Access program, which provides grants for 
secondary education tuition to the members of the D.C. National Guard. 
This bill is the eighth in the ``Free and Equal D.C.'' series of bills 
to remedy obsolete or inappropriate intervention into the local affairs 
of the District of Columbia or denials of federal benefits or 
recognition routinely granted to other jurisdictions. I decided on this 
bill to authorize an education incentive program after meeting with 
Major General David Wherley, the Commanding General of the D.C. 
National Guard (DCNG), who suggested that education grants would be 
useful in stemming the troublesome loss of members of the DCNG to Guard 
units in surrounding states that offer such benefits. I am grateful 
that last Congress, Representative David Hobson understood the 
importance of educational benefits in retaining appropriate D.C. 
National Guard levels in our nation's capital and was instrumental in 
getting a D.C. National Guard educational grant program included in the 
House version of the Defense Authorization bill. Unfortunately, the 
program was dropped in conference.
  However, this bill is necessary now more than before because the D.C. 
National Guard has been experiencing a disproportionate decline in 
force as compared to the Guards of neighboring jurisdictions, 
particularly Maryland and Virginia. For example, although National 
Guards throughout the United States have had difficulty maintaining and 
increasing their numbers, the decline of the D.C. National Guard has 
been precipitous. Since 1994, even before the war on terror, statistics 
show that the D.C. Army Guard has declined 34 percent, as compared to a 
26 percent decline for Maryland and Virginia's 16 percent decline. 
Between 2002 and 2005, the D.C. Air Guard experienced a 6 percent 
decline, as compared to Maryland's 5 percent decline and Virginia's 2 
percent increase.
  The declining D.C. National Guard enrollment is especially serious 
given the unique mission of the D.C. National Guard to protect the 
federal presence. This responsibility distinguishes the D.C. National 
Guard from any other National Guard. The D.C. National Guard is 
specially and specifically trained to meet its unique mission.
  The D.C. National Guard, a federal instrument, is losing personnel to 
other guards because it is not able to offer the same level of benefits 
that adjacent National Guards provide. The DCNG is severely under-
competing for members from the pool of regional residents, who find 
membership in the MD and VA Guards much more attractive. A competitive 
tuition assistance program for the D.C. National Guard will provide 
significant incentive and leverage to help counteract declining 
enrollment and level the field of competition.
  The small education incentives in my bill would not only encourage 
high quality recruits;

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this benefit would have the important benefit of helping the DCNG to 
maintain the force necessary to protect federal presence, including 
Members of Congress, the Supreme Court, and visitors if an attack on 
the Nation's capital should occur. I am pleased to introduce this bill 
on advice of Guard personnel who know best what is necessary.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________