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Introduction of the National Capital Planning Commission

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 26, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Federal, State and Local Relations

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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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