B 26-0726

                 COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
                           THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
                    1350 PENNSLYVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 406
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20004
                                   202.724.8068
 WENDELL FELDER  Chairperson
 Ward 7 Councilmember  Sub-Committee on Local Business
                                                      Development
July 6, 2026
Nyasha Howard, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Secretary Howard,
Today, I am introducing the “Willie J. Hardy Way Designation Act of 2026.” Please find
enclosed a signed copy of the legislation.
This legislation would designate the 5000 block of Benning Road SE, between H Street SE and
Southern Avenue SE, in Ward 7 as “Willie J. Hardy Way.” This designation is in honor of Willie
J. Hardy, a longtime Ward 7 resident, community advocate, and public servant.
Willie J. Hardy dedicated her career to advancing opportunity and dignity for District residents,
including service as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Community Aid Council, where she
worked to provide emergency assistance, employment support, and anti-poverty services to
families in need. She also served as the first ever Councilmember from Ward 7 on the Council of
the District of Columbia for six years, including two years as the Chair pro tempore.
With the support of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7E, the designation of Benning
Road SE as “Willie J. Hardy Way” would honor the memory of Willie J. Hardy, and her
dedication and legacy in the Ward 7 community.
Please feel free to reach out to me or my Legislative Director, Ben Raab, with any questions. He
can be reached at braab@dccouncil.gov or by phone at 202-741-0912.
Sincerely,
Wendell Felder
Ward 7 Councilmember
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3 ____________________________  _____________________________
4   Councilmember Anita Bonds  Councilmember Wendell Felder
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9 ____________________________  _____________________________
10  Councilmember Charles Allen  Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.
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15 _______________________________
16  Councilmember Christina Henderson
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18A BILL
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23IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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28 To symbolically designate Benning Road SE, between H Street SE and Southern Avenue SE in
29Ward 7, as “Willie J. Hardy Way.”
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31BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
32 act may be cited as the “Willie J. Hardy Way Designation Act of 2026”.
33Sec. 2. Pursuant to sections 401, 403a, and 423 of the Street and Alley Closing and
34 Acquisitions Procedures Act of 1982, effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official
35 Code §§ 9-204.01, 9-204.03a, and 9-204.23), the Council symbolically designates Benning Road
36 SE, between H Street SE and Southern Avenue SE, in Ward 7, as “Willie J. Hardy Way”.
37Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
38The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
39 impact statement required by 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved
40 October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
41Sec. 4. Effective date.
42This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
43 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review
44 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
45 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)).