RFK Stadium Bill Passed By Senate Committee To Return Control To Washington D.C.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed legislation that would give Washington D.C. control over the land that was the former site of the RFK Stadium, taking the District of Columbia one step closer to having the Washington Commanders return to the capital of the US.
The legislation passed by a 17-2 vote this past Tuesday, and now it will move to a floor vote in the Senate.
“Let’s go Commanders,” Joe Manchin, committee chairman, stated once the roll call vote ended.
The bill is officially titled the “D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act.” The overall purpose of this bill is to transfer control of the federal land the stadium is located on from Congress to the local government of the District of Columbia.
Some of the purposes behind this transfer of land control include commercial and residential development, like a new professional football stadium.
“Today’s result is an exciting and significant step forward for the city of Washington D.C. as it looks to gain long-term control of the RFK site,” a Commanders spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Commanders have been fortunate to have three incredible jurisdictions as we search for a new home and stadium. The vote today brings us one step closer towards continuing conversations with D.C., along with Maryland and Virginia, as a potential future home for our franchise.”
Senator Steve Daines previously halted the legislation from moving forward to a full committee vote due to the organization no longer using the logo that was associated with its former nickname.
The bill initially passed the House of Representatives back in February and was introduced in July 2023. It was one of 74 bills that was on the committee’s schedule this week.
The Commanders played at RFK Stadium from 1961 until 1996 when the team moved to its current stadium in Landover, Maryland.
Josh Harris, the owner who purchased the team last year, has been campaigning for the franchise to return to D.C.’s city limits. USA Today reported that Mayor Muriel Bowser has lobbied Congress to give D.C. the control over the land in order to redevelop the stadium and attract the Commanders back; the team is currently being pursued by Maryland and Virginia as well.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.