[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 191 (Thursday, December 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1243]
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 PROGRAM ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2022

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Major General David 
F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and 
College Access Program Act. This bill would permanently authorize 
funding for the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of 
Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Program, which 
provides tuition and other financial assistance for higher education to 
members of the D.C. National Guard, which is an exclusively federal 
entity.
  This program and bill are named for Major General David F. Wherley, 
Jr., 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. I renamed this bill 
after Major General Wherley because he worked tirelessly with me for 
many years to get funding for this program, and because of his devotion 
to D.C. youth and to the D.C. National Guard.
  This program was recommended by Major General Wherley and his 
successor at the D.C. National Guard, Major General Errol Schwartz, to 
stem the troublesome loss of D.C. National Guard members to other 
units, including National Guards in surrounding states that offer 
assistance for higher education to their members. I am grateful that 
Congress has consistently provided funding for this program, most 
recently $600,000 in fiscal year 2022. Permanently authorizing this 
program will help ensure that members of the D.C. National Guard 
receive the same benefits as members of other National Guards and help 
the D.C. National Guard recruit and retain members.
  This program not only benefits D.C. National Guard members, the great 
majority of whom live in Maryland or Virginia, but also helps the D.C. 
National Guard to maintain the force necessary to protect the federal 
presence in D.C.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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