Norton Announces RFK Stadium Bill Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that President Biden signed into law her bipartisan bill with Rep. James Comer (R-KY) to transfer administrative jurisdiction over the RFK Stadium campus from the federal government to D.C. for a term not less than 99 years.

The RFK Stadium bill clears the way for D.C. to use the land where the crumbling old stadium sits for redevelopment, commercial and residential development, or other public purposes. Norton has worked on prior versions of the bill aimed at revitalizing the RFK Stadium campus, which, at 174 acres, is the largest unused tract of land in the District, since 2017.

"After a long and difficult fight, D.C. can finally decide for itself what to do with the largest unused tract of land remaining in the District," Norton said. "I look forward to seeing the site transformed from crumbling blight to a productive and bustling complex that will generate significant revenue for the nation's capital."

"Throughout my career in Congress, I've prioritized transferring unused federal land to D.C. or the private sector, enabling the redevelopment of neighborhoods, generating tax revenue and bringing much-needed space to the District."

"Thank you to Rep. Comer for his partnership on this bill this Congress."

The Senate passed the bill in dramatic fashion, after 1:00 a.m. on December 21. Hours earlier, the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) that had been stripped of the RFK Stadium bill.

The bill requires D.C. to reserve 30 percent of the campus for parks and open space and prohibit D.C. from building along the waterfront.

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