[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S722-S723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE D.C. APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, it is with some sadness that I come to 
the floor this evening. Those of us who have been on the District of 
Columbia conference committee have now worked some 90 days in trying to 
get a conference agreement. We have had a very difficult time. We have 
at times reached an agreement and then had those agreements disappear.
  This Congress has placed itself in a special relationship with the 
District of Columbia by recognizing the incredible problems it has, 
both with its financing as well with education. We have taken the 
responsibility of doing what we can to make this city proud and to give 
it the wherewithal in order to improve its educational system.
  I think we have a conference report that certainly, although it is 
not perfect--and that is obvious from the situation we find ourselves 
in--is nevertheless one which could bring about a resolution of the 
problems involved with the educational system. It could also, in a 
noncontroversial manner, provide the economic wherewithal for the 
District to be able to move forward.
  This is an appropriations bill that includes nearly $5 billion in 
spending authority for the city of Washington. We were held up by 
disagreement over a provision of $5 million for a scholarship program, 
that represents one-tenth of 1 percent of the money involved with this 
bill. Yet, it does reach such an emotional state with respect to those 
people who feel one way or the other about the utilization of Federal 
funds for scholarships to allow young people to go and seek another 
school in order to, hopefully, advance their education. However, this 
disagreement over the scholarship program is such a matter.
  I had hoped very much, and had expected, that we would be able to 
take up the D.C. appropriations conference report today. The House 
passed it yesterday. They did so with a fairly good vote. But I find 
now, after having verified with my counterpart on the other side of the 
aisle, what would happen in the event that I attempted to bring up the 
conference report this evening. There would be no time agreement at 
all, there would be a filibuster, and there would not be any desire to 
move that conference agreement, in its present state out of this body.
  I wish that we would stop damaging the District of Columbia's efforts 
to revitalize itself. And keeping in mind that by grabbing control as 
we have--and I do not disagree with that--over the power to do things, 
we have taken the responsibility, and I am only thinking of the kids. I 
have spent many, many hours of my own time in this city by going around 
from school to school.

  I spend every Tuesday reading to a young man in the third grade whom 
I have seen change and he has become so much more able to participate 
in class in a meaningful way through knowing English. He is a student 
to whom English is a second language, I am incredibly impressed with 
his progress. We have 200 Senate staff members who are going every 
Tuesday and reading to kids. This program is going on. We are trying to 
do the best we can. But there is a lot that cannot be done without the 
ability to reorganize what is going on in the school system.
  So I just stand before you very, very discouraged at all the effort 
that we have put forth to try to bring about a resolution which this 
body could consider, and hopefully adopt, to now find that that cannot 
be considered. So I will continue to do all I can to find the answers. 
I know that they will not be easy. But I also will do everything in my 
power to assure that we can proceed as best we can under the 
circumstances. I will work to pass the conference report at some later 
date, but if that cannot be done, I will do my best to work within the 
structure we have created with the Control Board and others to see what 
we can do while we wait for this legislation to pass.
  I know the school board in Washington, DC, met today and had some 
concerns. Before I learned those concerns, I had initiated a call and a 
meeting with the chairwoman of the school board for tomorrow. I will be 
meeting with her tomorrow and we will look toward the future.
  I am hopeful still that we will find this matter, which is of great 
national concern, should not be used to deprive those who want to help 
the schools to move forward. We are nearly halfway through the school 
year now, much needs to be done, and I hope both sides of this issue 
will calm down and let us proceed in some manner so that we can help 
the children of this city.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bennett). The clerk will call the roll. 
  
[[Page S723]]

  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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