[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 176 (Tuesday, October 31, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1461]
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

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Major General David 
F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and 
College Access Act (NGRCA). This bill is named for General Wherley, 
former Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard, who, along with 
his wife, Ann, and seven others were tragically killed when Metro 
trains collided on the Red Line on June 22, 2009. The bill would 
permanently authorize funding for a program that provides grants for 
higher education to members of the D.C. National Guard, which is under 
the control of the federal, not District of Columbia, government. I 
renamed the bill after General Wherley because he worked tirelessly 
with me to get funding for the program for many years, and because of 
his devotion to the youth of the District and to the National Guard.
  The NGRCA authorizes an education incentive program, recommended by 
the late General Wherley and his successor, Major General Errol 
Schwartz, to stem the troublesome loss of D.C. Guard members to other 
units, including National Guards in surrounding states that offer such 
educational benefits to their Guards. I am grateful that Congress has 
provided funds for the program at our request, most recently $450,000 
in fiscal year 2017. Permanently authorizing the program is necessary, 
however, to ensure that D.C. Guard members receive the same treatment 
and benefits as other National Guard members, particularly those in 
neighboring states that compete with the District for members and 
provide these higher education benefits. Today, the Guard for the 
nation's capital has a diminished ability to compete for regional 
residents if membership in the Maryland or Virginia Guards is more 
economically beneficial. A competitive tuition assistance program for 
the D.C. Guard would provide a significant and much-needed incentive to 
help maintain enrollment and level the field of competition. The 
federal government supports D.C. Guard functions and understands it 
should support this small benefit as well, because the appropriators 
have always funded the D.C. Guard program, even without authorization. 
However, depending on appropriations alone leaves the D.C. Guard 
program in a tenuous condition at odds with the tuition programs in 
nearby states. Because the program is not controversial, there is no 
reason not to permanently authorize funding for these D.C. National 
Guard grants.
  I appreciate that the appropriators and ultimately Congress have not 
hesitated to fund the education benefits for the D.C. National Guard, 
arguing strongly for permanent authorization. These small education 
incentives have not only encouraged high-quality recruits, but have 
helped the D.C. Guard to maintain the force necessary to protect the 
federal presence here, including the possibility of a natural disaster 
or terrorist attack. I am pleased to introduce the bill based on the 
advice of Guard personnel, who best know what is necessary.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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