Make DC Square Again Act

Richard McCormick

Republican · GA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA-1)Original· 2026-04-22
• Randy Fine (R-FL-6)· 2026-04-23
• Clay Fuller (R-GA-14)· 2026-04-30

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

2026-04-22

Source: Congress.gov

This proposal would undo a historical law that transferred Alexandria County from Washington D.C. back to Virginia in the 1800s, effectively returning that land to federal control as part of the District of Columbia. The change would affect residents and property owners in Alexandria, Virginia, as well as the jurisdiction and governance of the area. The bill has been sent to two House committees to review whether it's legally and practically feasible to reverse this long-standing arrangement.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8455 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8455 To repeal an Act entitled ``An Act to retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia,'' and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 22, 2026 Mr. McCormick (for himself and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To repeal an Act entitled ``An Act to retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia,'' and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Make DC Square Again Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Article I, section 8, clause 17 of the Constitution known as the Enclave Clause enumerates the power of the Federal Government to ``exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of government of the United States''. (2) The Constitution does not enumerate authority for the Federal Government to retrocede portions of such a district back to states. (3) An Act of Congress approved July 16, 1790, ten miles square of territory was accepted from the States of Maryland and Virginia to serve the permanent seat of government subsequently being known as the District of Columbia. (4) Act of Congress approved on July 9, 1846, the portion of the District of Columbia lying south of the Potomac River was ceded back to the State of Virginia in violation of the intent and meaning of the Constitution of the United States. (5) Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio introduced S. 280 to repeal the 1846 Act of retrocession on April 23, 1866, during the 1st Session of the 39th Congress. SEC. 3. REPEAL OF RETROCESSION AND RESTORATION OF TERRITORY. (a) Repeal.--The Act of July 9, 1846 (9 Stat. 35, Chapter 35), entitled ``An Act to Retrocede the County of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia'', is repealed. (b) Restoration.--The territory retroceded under the Act repealed by subsection (a), consisting of the area now comprising Arlington County, Virginia, and the independent City of Alexandria, Virginia, is restored to, and shall constitute part of, the District of Columbia. (c) Governing Law.--Effective on the date of enactment of this Act, the laws of the District of Columbia shall apply to the territory restored under subsection (b), and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall cease to apply to such territory, except that-- (1) all rights, titles, and interests in property held by any person on such date shall remain undisturbed; and (2) any civil or criminal proceeding pending in a court of the Commonwealth of Virginia on such date arising in such territory may be concluded in that court as if this Act had not been enacted. (d) Effective Date.--This Act shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. <all>

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