[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 41 (Thursday, March 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E533-E534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE MAJOR GENERAL DAVID F. WHERLEY, JR., 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, March 17, 2011

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today 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 tuition to members of 
the D.C. National Guard. The NGRCA authorizes an education incentive 
program, recommended by the late

[[Page E534]]

Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., 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 other 
units, in part because surrounding states offer such educational 
benefits to their Guards. I am grateful that the Appropriations 
Committee has provided funds in some years, most recently in 2010. 
Authorizing funding is necessary to ensure that D.C. National Guard 
members receive the same treatment and benefits as other National Guard 
members, especially those in states which provide the higher education 
benefits we seek for D.C. National Guard members. The Guard for the 
Nation's Capital has a severely limited ability to compete for 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 incentives and 
leverage to help counteract declining enrollment and level the field of 
competition. The D.C. National Guard is a federal instrument that is 
not under the control of the mayor of the District of Columbia, which 
we are trying to change for local emergencies. 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 and the Supreme Court, 
and visitors if a terrorist attack 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. National Guard to be able to 
attract the best soldiers, given the unique mission it has to protect 
the federal presence here, in addition to D.C. residents. This 
responsibility distinguishes the D.C. National Guard from all other 
National Guards. The D.C. National Guard is specially trained to meet 
its unique mission.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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