[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 130 (Tuesday, July 29, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD COMMANDING 
                         GENERAL RESIDENCY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2025

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia 
National Guard Commanding General Residency Act, which would require 
the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard to 
reside in D.C. Two Congresses ago, the House Committee on Oversight and 
Reform passed this bill.
  The president controls the D.C. National Guard. In contrast, 
governors of the states and the three territories that have National 
Guards each control their National Guards.
  The Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard is the top official 
in the D.C. National Guard, is appointed by the president and is a 
federal employee. There are residency requirements for government 
officials in federal law, D.C. law and the laws of jurisdictions 
throughout the country. In fact, several states have laws that require 
the top official in their National Guard to reside in the state, and it 
is highly likely that every state and territory only appoints residents 
as the top official in their National Guard. The primary reason 
residency requirements exist is so that government officials have a 
connection to the residents they serve and knowledge of the unique 
issues and challenges faced by residents.
  Congress has justifiably required certain federal officials to reside 
in the jurisdiction to which they are appointed, including U.S. 
district court judges, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Attorneys. Similarly, 
Congress, which controls the local D.C. court system, has justifiably 
required local D.C. judges and members of the D.C. Judicial Nomination 
Commission and the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure 
to reside in D.C.
  There is no reason that the Commanding General of the D.C. National 
Guard, a federal entity that serves D.C. residents and that has both a 
military and law enforcement role, should not be required to reside in 
D.C. A D.C. residency requirement for the Commanding General of the 
D.C. National Guard will lead to a better relationship between the D.C. 
National Guard and D.C. residents and is a matter of fairness for D.C. 
residents.
  The D.C. mayor should control the D.C. National Guard. Until then, I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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