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This Statement of Administrative Policy provides the Administration's views
on H.R. 4380, the District of Columbia Appropriations Bill, FY 1999, as
reported by the House Appropriations Committee.
The Administration appreciates the Committee's support in developing a bill
that provides sufficient Federal funding to implement the National Capital
Revitalization and Self-Government and Improvement Act of 1997
successfully. While the Committee bill is an improvement over the
Subcommittee version of the bill, the Administration is deeply concerned
about inadequate funding for the D.C. economic development initiative and
objects to a number of provisions of the Committee bill, as described
below. We urge the House to adopt a bill that addresses the
Administration's concerns.
Economic Development Initiative
The Administration has requested $100 million for an economic development
initiative in the District of Columbia: $50 million to capitalize the
locally-chartered National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC), $25
million for critically needed management reforms authorized by the
Revitalization Act and related to the city's economic development
infrastructure, and $25 million for Metrorail improvements that would
support the Washington Convention Center project. We appreciate the
Committee's action to provide $25 million to support transportation
improvements associated with the Washington Convention Center, as
requested, as well as $21 million for infrastructure improvements in the
District. However, we regret that the Committee has provided no funding
for critically needed management reforms or funding to capitalize the
locally-chartered NCRC. The Administration strongly urges the Committee to
appropriate additional resources for economic development.
Public Education
The Administration appreciates the Committee's full support of charter
schools and other public schools in the District and supports the
Committee's appropriation of $20.4 million in Federal funding for D.C.
charter schools.
Abortion
The Administration strongly opposes the abortion language of the Committee
bill, which would prohibit the use of both Federal and District funds to
pay for abortions except in those cases where the life of the mother is
endangered or in situations involving rape or incest. The Administration
continues to view the prohibition on the use of local funds as an
unwarranted intrusion into the affairs of the District and would support an
amendment, if offered, to strike this prohibition.
Micromanagement
The Administration opposes provisions of the Committee bill that would
further restrict or otherwise condition management of the District
Government, thereby undercutting the Financial Responsibility and
Management Assistance Authority's (the Authority's) oversight and
responsibility for the District's budget and financial condition. Further,
the Administration is concerned about provisions that would undermine the
responsibilities of the Superintendent of the District of Columbia Public
Schools by legislating how local funds are used for salaries and pay
raises.
The Administration is committed to working with the House to produce a bill
that will assist the District in its continued efforts toward financial
recovery. We look forward to working with the House to address our mutual
concerns.
Objectionable Amendments
The Administration understands that three amendments may be offered that
would seriously undermine local control. If such amendments were adopted
and included in the bill presented to the President, his senior advisers
would recommend that the President veto the bill.
- An amendment to provide for the use of private school vouchers in the
District. We would strongly oppose any legislation allowing the use of
Federal taxpayer funds for private school vouchers. Instead of investing
additional resources in public schools, vouchers would allow a few
selected students to attend private schools and would draw resources and
attention away from the hard work of reforming public schools that serve
the overwhelming majority of D.C. students. Establishing a private school
voucher system in the Nation's Capital would set a dangerous precedent for
using Federal taxpayer funds for schools that are not accountable to the
public.
- An amendment that would prohibit adoptions in the District by couples
that are unmarried or not related by blood.
- An amendment that would prohibit the use of Federal and local funds
for needle exchange programs and would prohibit private agencies from
supporting needle exchange programs if they receive Federal or local funds
(even if the funds used for the needle exchange programs are their
own).
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