National Capital Planning Commission District of Columbia Home Rule Act

# HR 4259: National Capital Planning Commission District of Columbia Home Rule Act **What the bill would do:** This bill aims to give Washington, D.C. greater control over its own planning and development decisions. Currently, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC)—a federal agency—has significant authority over major construction and land use projects in D.C. This bill would shift more of that decision-making power to local D.C.

government officials, allowing the city to have greater say in how its own neighborhoods develop. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects D.C. residents, local government officials, and developers working on projects in the nation's capital. It also touches on the broader issue of D.C.'s limited self-governance, since the city cannot vote in Congress despite having a larger population than some states. **Current status:** The bill was introduced by D.C.'s non-voting representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House. The bill addresses a long-standing tension between federal oversight of the capital city and the desire for local democratic control over community development.