[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 70 (Thursday, May 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1097]
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, May 7, 2009

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I told the District of Columbia National 
Guard 547th Transportation Company, who deployed to Iraq last Saturday, 
that I would introduce two D.C. National Guard bills this week in their 
honor. Therefore, today I first introduce the District of Columbia 
National Guard Retention and College Access Act, NGRCA, a bill to 
permanently authorize funding for a program to provide grants for 
secondary education tuition to the members of the D.C. National Guard. 
I also introduce the District of Columbia Executive National Guard Act 
to give the mayor of the District of Columbia authority to call the 
D.C. National Guard for assistance with natural disasters and non-
security civil disturbances. NGRCA authorizes an education incentive 
program, recommended by former Major General David Wherley and his 
successor, Major General Errol Schwartz, who suggested that education 
grants would be useful in stemming the troublesome loss of members of 
the D.C. Guard to units, in part, because surrounding states offer such 
educational benefits. I am grateful that the Appropriations Committee 
has allocated appropriation funds in some years, with smaller 
contribution from the District, in the Defense Authorization bill. An 
authorization is necessary to assure that the D.C. National Guard 
members receive equal treatment and benefits to other National Guard 
members on a regular basis, especially with surrounding states that do, 
in fact, have the higher education benefits we seek for D.C. National 
Guard members. The Guard for the Nation's Capital is severely under-
competing for members from the pool of regional residents, who find 
membership in the Maryland and Virginia Guards more beneficial. 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 D.C. National Guard, a federal instrument that is not under the 
control of the mayor of the District of Columbia (but see District of 
Columbia Executive National Guard Act), is losing personnel to other 
Guards, partly because it is not able to offer the same level of 
benefits that adjacent National Guards provide. The federal government 
supports most other D.C. National 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. National Guard to maintain the force necessary to protect the 
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 the advice of Guard personnel who 
know best what is necessary.
  A strong D.C. National Guard able to attract the best soldiers is 
especially important given the unique mission of the D.C. National 
Guard to protect the federal presence in addition to D.C. residents. 
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.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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