Date: 2004-12-06
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4012. legislation to authorize the District of Columbia College Access Act for 2 additional years. The College Access Program has been a key component of the Districts revitalization efforts in recent years. It is critical that Congress continue to support its partnership with the District of Columbia in providing access to higher education resources and opportunities. Congress established the D.C. College Access Program in 1999 for two primary reasons. First. the program addressed the fact that the District of Columbia does not have a State university system like most States do for its high school graduates. The program essentially leveled the playing field for high school graduates in the Nations Capital by enabling them to attend colleges and universities around the country at instate tuition rates. This is State universities around the country. The programs second purpose was to deter taxpaying families in the District from moving to surrounding States in order to take advantage of instate higher education options available to residents in other States that were not available to District residents at the time that would deprive the District of very much needed stability in tax revenue should they leave the jurisdiction. I cannot tell you how many mothers and fathers have approached me to say thank you. We were going to have to leave the District of Columbia so our kid could go to college. but thanks to this program we can stay. or young people from the district that come up to me and say thank you for this act. I am now able to afford to go to a good college. At a Committee on Government Reform hearing on this program last March. it is clear that the program has been more than an anecdotal success over the past 5 years. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams testified that since creation of the program. the number of high school graduates in the District continuing on to college has increased 28 percent. The national average over the same period was an increase of approximately 5 percent. The impact of the College Access Program is undeniable. According to a survey of high school graduates in the District. the vast majority of students who have received assistance through the program have indicated that the existence of the grants made a difference in their decision to attend college and was a key factor in deciding which college to attend. H.R. 4012 represents a shot at a better education and. in turn. a better life for hundreds of D.C. students. The House passed a 5year authorization for the program in July. but after discussions with the other body. we have agreed to limit the reauthorization to 2 years while we in Congress continue to work with the city to refine the scope and the mission of the program. . Mr. Speaker. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4012 and to continue to support a level playing field for high school graduates in the District. I also want to acknowledge my friend and colleague. the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for her help in starting this bill and working through this legislation today as we reauthorize it. and my colleague. the gentleman from Alexandria. Virginia . who has also been very helpful and instrumental in getting this legislation originally established and reauthorizing it today. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.