Extending District Of Columbia College Access Act Of 1999
Floor Speech
EXTENDING DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS ACT OF 1999 -- (House of Representatives - May 14, 2007)
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Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I've traveled a long road with the District of Columbia Access Act--from March 1, 1999, when it was introduced, until the present day.
That road took us through the predecessor subcommittee I chaired at the time, to the full Government Reform Committee, to the House and Senate floor, and then to the White House, where then-President Clinton signed the measure on November 12, 1999.
In all of its legislative approvals the College Access Act--also known as the Tuition Assistance Grant Program--was passed unanimously, by voice vote. President Clinton had included sufficient money in his budget submission that year, and a statement of administration policy endorsed the approach we had taken in authorizing use of those funds.
I am deeply proud of our hard, bipartisan effort in enacting this measure and in reauthorizing it 2 years ago.
My thanks to ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, who was ranking member of the District of Columbia Subcommittee in 1999, and who has worked tirelessly to enhance this legislation ever since.
I would also like to thank my then-counterpart in the Senate, GEORGE VOINOVICH, for his continuing support, and Senators WARNER and DURBIN for working with us to improve this legislation.
I'm also grateful to my namesake Chairman DANNY DAVIS, chairman of the subcommittee, for holding a hearing on this bill March 22, ranking subcommittee member KENNY MARCHANT for his support, and Chairman WAXMAN for marking this bill up so expeditiously.
The 5-year reauthorizing legislation before us today will enable District residents to continue to attend colleges and universities at in-State rates. President Bush, in his budget submission for fiscal year 2008, has included sufficient funds to make this happen.
Then-Mayor Anthony Williams and now D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty have both strongly supported this law as being very important for District high school graduates. The Tuition Assistance Program has doubled the total number of District students attending college since 1999-2000, the school year before the program started. We have incentivized getting a college education.
This law is a classic ``leveling of the playing field.'' No city or county in the country is required to supplement in-State rates with local funds, and neither should the taxpayers in the Nation's capital be saddled with this burden. Neither should the city be penalized for its own success in administering this program.
Back on March 4, 1999, when I first introduced this bill, I went to nearby Eastern High School with Ms. NORTON. I was deeply moved by the reaction of the students. I will never forget how so many took our hands, looked into our eyes, and thanked us for introducing the original bill.
I'm proud of all we have been able to do in the Nation's capital since 1995, when the city was literally bankrupt. Economic development, public safety, the real estate market, and so many other aspects of city life have changed for the better.
But nothing has given me more satisfaction than working to improve educational opportunity. Fighting for equal educational opportunity is one of the reasons I entered public life.
We need a healthy city to have a healthy Washington region.
Reauthorizing this law, which has expanded higher educational choices, is a strong part of our vision for the future.
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