Hearing on Commanders RFK stadium bill postponed

WASHINGTON — Congress has punted on legislation which would give DC Government long-term control of the RFK site, clearing the way for the Washington Commanders potential return to the District.

Legislators are leaving town without considering the bill. The Senate Committee on Energy and National Resources was scheduled to hold a hearing on Thursday, but it was canceled. Now lawmakers say the bill won't be considered until after the November election.

The RFK Bill will be one in a package of 79 land use bills considered by the Senate Committee on Energy and National Resources, in a procedural vote which could ultimately send the entire package onto to the full Senate floor for passage.

The RFK Bill easily passed the House of Representatives, but Sen. Steve Daines (R.-Mont.) had put a hold once the bill got to the Senate Energy and National Resources subcommittee. In blocking the bill, Daines cited objections by family members of the creator of the Native American head image, the former team logo. 

Before the team’s home opener Sept. 14, the Commanders honored the old logo by unveiling the Walter "Blackie" Wetzel Memorial, located in the Club Section of the Commanders newly named Northwest Stadium.

A number of Wetzel’s family members were on hand for the ceremony, Daines called the gesture, "a step in the right direction.”

A spokesperson for Daines office did not immediately respond to a text message regarding whether he planned to remove his block.

Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, both Democrats, have said they oppose the RFK Bill. Both Sens. Van Hollen and Cardin said they were concerned about what would happen to the site of the old stadium in Prince George's County should the team leave.