The Washington Commanders are another step closer to the possibility of returning to the franchise鈥檚 old home in the nation鈥檚 capital.
A provision to transfer the land that is the from the federal government to the District of Columbia is included in , which lawmakers are racing to pass.
It鈥檚 a significant victory for the organization and the NFL after controlling owner Josh Harris and Commissioner Roger Goodell on the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act earlier this month.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said it was a 鈥済iant step forward鈥� to unlocking the site鈥檚 potential.
鈥淎s a city, we have worked for years to get control of the RFK campus,鈥� Bowser said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e celebrating this moment, and we鈥檙e looking to the future of a field of possibilities on the banks of the Anacostia.鈥�
One possibility is obviously a football stadium.
The Commanders are considering places in the district, Maryland and Virginia to build a stadium in the coming years. Their lease at in Landover, Maryland, runs through 2027, and for a new one.
The team played at RFK Stadium 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) east of the Capitol from 1961-96 before moving to Maryland. Harris and several co-owners, including Mitch Rales and Mark Ein, grew up as Washington football fans during that era, which included the glory days of three Super Bowl championships from 1982-91.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., praised the move as evidence Congress is doing its job to oversee the city.
鈥淭his landmark legislation will unlock the district鈥檚 full potential, generate meaningful new jobs, and add millions in additional city revenue for the nation鈥檚 capital,鈥� Comer said in a statement. 鈥淲ithout Congressional action, this land would remain vacant, leaving ongoing maintenance costs and liabilities to burden the American taxpayer. Now is the time to get the federal government out of the way and empower local officials to clean up the RFK site, invest and create new economic opportunities."
The provision got into the bill after the team agreed to tear down the stadium in Landover in a timely manner and redevelop the site with a project of equal economic impact, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Also, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore secured full federal funding to rebuild the earlier this year and there is a fighter squadron moving to the state from D.C., the person said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement was not being publicized.
Moore said Maryland's position has not changed, saying state officials 鈥渁re not afraid of competition, and we believe that we can continue to build on decades of partnership with the team here in Maryland.鈥�
鈥淲e are confident that Landover is still the best, and fastest, path to a new stadium for the Washington Commanders,鈥� Moore said in a statement. 鈥淲e have said from the start of this process that regardless of what happens with the RFK legislation, we are focused on making sure that Landover receives the investment it deserves. While the stadium location is still an open question, the Commanders and the state of Maryland both agree on the importance of the team鈥檚 commitment to the Prince George鈥檚 community if the team decides to move.鈥�
The team has played in Maryland since 1997 and practices in Ashburn, Virginia, not far from Dulles International Airport.
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AP NFL:
Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
