[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 187 (Friday, November 7, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE SERVICE ACADEMIES DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA EQUALITY ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 2025

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Service Academies 
District of Columbia Equality Act, which would give the District of 
Columbia the same number of appointments and nominations to the U.S. 
service academies as states. Currently, each member of the House and 
each senator is allocated five appointments to each service academy--
the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air 
Force Academy--and each member of the House and each senator is allowed 
15 nominations for each appointment. Therefore, since D.C. has no 
senators, D.C. is deprived of 10 appointments and, assuming all 
appointments are vacant, 150 nominations to each service academy. 
Senator Tim Kaine has introduced the companion bill.
  This bill would provide equality for D.C. residents who choose to 
serve their country by applying to a service academy. It is remarkable 
that D.C. residents volunteer to fight and die for a country that 
denies them statehood, voting representation in Congress and full home 
rule. D.C. servicemembers have helped secure voting rights for people 
around the world, yet have always been denied those same rights when 
they returned home. D.C. residents, who pay the same federal taxes as 
residents of states, deserve the same opportunity as residents of 
states to attend our prestigious service academies.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________