Davis Bill to Fund D.C. College Access Program Clears Committee
Vote on Metro Authorization Legislation Postponed Until After Recess

March 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said today he was pleased the committee approved his measure to re-authorize the D.C. College Access Act.

The Committee adjourned before voting on Davis' Metro authorization bill because an opponent of the legislation, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., requested a roll call vote on it and there were not enough members present for a quorum.

"I thank my fellow Committee members for helping move forward this legislation critically important to residents of this area," Davis said. "D.C. residents have found, in huge numbers, that the College Access Program quite simply makes college affordable. And we all know how much it helps a community and its tax base when more of its high school graduates can go to college."

The District of Columbia College Access Act, which allows graduates of D.C. high schools to attend colleges nationwide at in-state rates, is up for re-authorization after a five-year run of unparalleled success. The legislation, reported out of committee by voice vote, has helped to double, in just five years, the percentage of D.C. high school graduates going on to college - who now have the incentive of college availability lying before them beyond high school.

"The D.C. College Access Act has helped level the playing field for District students and create strong incentives for them to stay in school and pursue a college education," Davis said. "For their parents, it has helped encourage them to stay in the city, rather than leave for the suburbs, and keep the District's tax base strong. This is a unique and highly successful federal investment."

The Metro bill, The National Capital Transportation Amendments Act (H.R. 401), authorizes $1.5 billion in federal funds to operate and provide system upgrades and revitalization to the 103-mile system. It also shores up management of the system by creating an Inspector General position and putting on the board four federal representatives two voting, two non-voting to represent the interests of the federal government.

Perhaps most significantly, the legislation requires that Virginia, Maryland the District of Columbia formally dedicate funding to the system. Metro is the only major transit system in the country without dedicated funding. This would end its yearly journeys to the jurisdictions - tin cup in hand - to beg for money to run a system on which nearly 300,000 depend each day.