[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 174 (Friday, October 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 26, 2018

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduced the National Capital 
Planning Commission District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This bill would 
remove the authority of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) 
to review or approve the development of District of Columbia-owned 
land. This bill would also remove the requirement that the Mayor of the 
District get NCPC's approval before selling D.C.-owned real estate, and 
would allow D.C. agencies to transfer jurisdiction over District-owned 
land among themselves without NCPC's approval.
  Under federal law, the development of District-owned public 
buildings, including the location, height, bulk, number of stories and 
size of such buildings, in the ``central area'' is subject to NCPC 
approval. The District is required to consult with NCPC on its 
buildings outside the central area, but NCPC has only advisory 
authority in those areas. The central area is defined by the concurrent 
action of NCPC and the D.C. Council, and currently consists of the 
Downtown and Shaw Urban Renewal Areas.
  This authority is unnecessary, as shown by the virtual absence of its 
use to disapprove sales or development. This latent authority of the 
federal government should not be able to slow or block the development 
of District-owned land, or add to the cost of development. The District 
is not a federal agency and should not be treated any differently by 
federal law than other local jurisdictions, where local development 
proceeds without federal interference.
  NCPC consists of 12 members, three appointed by the President, two 
appointed by the Mayor, the Mayor, the Chair of the D.C. Council, the 
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator 
of General Services, and the Chairs of the Senate Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Oversight and Government 
Reform Committee.
  This bill is one more important step to increase home rule for the 
District, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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