I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1658 
To extend to the Mayor of the District of Columbia the same authority 
over the National Guard of the District of Columbia as the Governors 
of the several States exercise over the National Guard of those States 
with respect to administration of the National Guard and its use to 
respond to natural disasters and other civil disturbances, while ensuring 
that the President retains control of the National Guard of the District 
of Columbia to respond to homeland defense emergencies. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2017 
Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the 
Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To extend to the Mayor of the District of Columbia the 
same authority over the National Guard of the District 
of Columbia as the Governors of the several States exer-
cise over the National Guard of those States with respect 
to administration of the National Guard and its use 
to respond to natural disasters and other civil disturb-
ances, while ensuring that the President retains control 
of the National Guard of the District of Columbia to 
respond to homeland defense emergencies. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘District of Columbia 
National Guard Home Rule Act’’. 
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF NATIONAL GUARD AUTHORITIES TO 
MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
(a) MAYOR AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.—Section 6 of 
the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to provide for the organization 
of the militia of the District of Columbia, and for other 
purposes’’, approved March 1, 1889 (sec. 49–409, D.C. 
Official Code), is amended by striking ‘‘President of the 
United States’’ and inserting ‘‘Mayor of the District of 
Columbia’’. 
(b) RESERVE CORPS.—Section 72 of such Act (sec. 
49–407, D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking 
‘‘President of the United States’’ each place it appears 
and inserting ‘‘Mayor of the District of Columbia’’. 
(c) APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.— 
(1) Section 7(a) of such Act (sec. 49–301(a), D.C. Official 
Code) is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘President of the United 
States’’ and inserting ‘‘Mayor of the District of Co-
lumbia’’; and 
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(B) by striking ‘‘President.’’ and inserting 
‘‘Mayor.’’. 
(2) Section 9 of such Act (sec. 49–304, D.C. Official 
Code) is amended by striking ‘‘President’’ and inserting 
‘‘Mayor of the District of Columbia’’. 
(3) Section 13 of such Act (sec. 49–305, D.C. Official 
Code) is amended by striking ‘‘President of the United 
States’’ and inserting ‘‘Mayor of the District of Colum-
bia’’. 
(4) Section 19 of such Act (sec. 49–311, D.C. Official 
Code) is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘to the Sec-
retary of the Army’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘which board’’ and inserting ‘‘to a board of exam-
ination appointed by the Commanding General, 
which’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘the Sec-
retary of the Army’’ and all that follows through the 
period and inserting ‘‘the Mayor of the District of 
Columbia, together with any recommendations of the 
Commanding General.’’. 
(5) Section 20 of such Act (sec. 49–312, D.C. Official 
Code) is amended— 
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(A) by striking ‘‘President of the United 
States’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘Mayor 
of the District of Columbia’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘the President may retire’’ and 
inserting ‘‘the Mayor may retire’’. 
(d) CALL FOR DUTY.—(1) Section 45 of such Act 
(sec. 49–103, D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking 
‘‘, or for the United States Marshal’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘shall thereupon order’’ and inserting ‘‘to order’’. 
(2) Section 46 of such Act (sec. 49–104, D.C. Official 
Code) is amended by striking ‘‘the President’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the Mayor of the District of Columbia’’. 
(e) GENERAL COURTS MARTIAL.—Section 51 of such 
Act (sec. 49–503, D.C. Official Code) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘the President of the United States’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Mayor of the District of Columbia’’. 
SEC. 3. RETENTION OF PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY OVER 
USE OF NATIONAL GUARD OF THE DISTRICT 
OF COLUMBIA TO RESPOND TO HOMELAND 
DEFENSE EMERGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 9 of title 32, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
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