Comer and Norton introduce bill that would pave way for RFK Stadium redevelopment
Jack Birle
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Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced legislation on Thursday that would pave the way for the site where RFK Stadium sits in Washington, D.C., to be redeveloped.
The legislation, titled the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, would transfer control of the land where the former home stadium of the NFL’s Washington Commanders sits from the secretary of the interior to the administrator of the General Services Administration. Under control of the General Services Administration, the bill requires the administrator to enter a lease with the Washington, D.C., government to allow them to redevelop the land into whatever they want, including a new stadium, commercial or residential developments, or recreational facilities.
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“I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act, which is long overdue legislation that will provide D.C. leaders the opportunity to revitalize the RFK stadium site. This legislation is set to pave the way for local officials to create meaningful new jobs, add millions in city revenue, and transform the Anacostia River waterfront into a lively destination for all,” Comer said in a statement.
Norton, who is the District of Columbia’s sole representation in Congress as a nonvoting delegate, said that the bill would put the site in southeast D.C. to “productive use.”
“The RFK site sits on underused federal land in D.C. that could be redeveloped, generating tax revenue for D.C.,” Norton said in a statement.
“Neither the Mayor nor the Council Chair opposes this bill, which would allow D.C. to put the site to productive use — a vast improvement on the current state of affairs. I look forward to working with Chairman Comer to pass this bill as quickly as possible,” she added.
The bill comes as ownership for the NFL’s Washington Commanders has changed and new owner Josh Harris appears eager to find a new stadium for the team in either D.C., Virginia, or Maryland. The team currently plays at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, but played at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., from 1961-1996.
At a press conference on Thursday, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said she is excited about the legislation that would give control to the city to develop the land.
“Getting control of that is a win for the city, it’s a win for the federal government, it’s a win for our kids,” Bowser said.
When asked if she has spoken with the new owners of the Commanders, Bowser said she had and that D.C. is the only place where the NFL team should be playing.
“I have talked to the new group of owners … they visited with me at City Hall yesterday. Josh [Harris] called me immediately after the sale was complete last week. And this is what I say: There’s really only one place for this team in the region,” Bowser said.
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The bill comes months after Bowser and other D.C. officials testified before the House Oversight Committee on crime in the nation’s capital. Congress’s vote to overturn a crime bill, which was passed by the D.C. Council earlier this year, caused tension between the city and the federal government, but Thursday’s proposed legislation appears to be an olive branch after earlier friction over crime laws.
“The House Oversight Committee remains committed to working with Washington, D.C. officials to ensure a capital that is prosperous for residents and visitors for generations to come. After discussing city initiatives with D.C. Mayor Bowser and other local stakeholders, it has become clear that addressing the deteriorating conditions at the RFK Memorial stadium site is a top economic priority for the city,” Comer said in a statement.