[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11866-S11867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             OMNIBUS CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I earlier spoke about the problems with 
this bill actually resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of 
individuals actually being fired from their jobs.
  I would like to turn to some good news this time about the bill about 
the District of Columbia. It includes important provisions for the 
District of Columbia. In addition to provisions on school facilities, 
the conference agreement improves the ability of public charter schools 
to operate in the city.
  The condition of school facilities in the District of Columbia has 
reached a crisis stage. Those who live here know that. It has been 
front-page news in the papers for weeks.
  As of Friday, four public schools still remained closed due to fire 
code violations, displacing almost 2,000 students. A breakdown in 
oversight and accountability has occurred at the expense of the 
children in this city.
  Strong and immediate action must be taken to reverse this situation. 
This bill does it. Children in the District of Columbia must be able to 
attend public schools that are safe and free of facility deficiencies 
that lead to their closure. The General Services Administration 
estimates the cost of repairs at $88.6 million for severe facility 
deficiencies in fiscal year 1997. The total deficiencies are about $2 
billion.
  As estimated, $40.7 million will be available from existing 
appropriations and borrowing. Additional resources are needed to 
prevent unsafe conditions and school closures. But these resources 
cannot be provided to a school system which has demonstrated an 
inability to effectively manage its resources.
  I have, therefore, sought inclusion of a provision in the omnibus 
bill to provide resources to combat facility deficiencies while placing 
responsibility for the expenditure of funds with the DC Financial 
Control Board, not the school system. In addition, the General Services 
Administration will provide program management services for the repairs 
and capital improvements.
  The provision makes available an estimated $52.7 million to the 
control board to carry out a program of facility repairs and capital 
improvements. The bill makes these funds by reallocating $40.7 million 
to the Authority from operations funds appropriated, and capital 
financing authority provided, in previous appropriations acts.
  The provision also makes available an estimated $12 million from the 
privatization of both the Student Loan Marketing Association, fondly 
known as Sallie Mae, and the College Construction Loan Insurance 
Association, commonly known as Connie Lee, as the Senator from 
Connecticut, who is on the floor, is well aware. We acted at his 
request.
  The availability of these resources means that immediate action will 
be taken to repair facility deficiencies in DC schools. In addition, 
the Congress will closely monitor the progress of facility repairs and 
will consider providing additional funds in a supplemental

[[Page S11867]]

appropriation during the spring of fiscal year 1997. This comes from my 
consultation with the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. 
In the interim, the control board will be able to reprogram funds for 
facility repairs, if necessary.
  Mr. President, I appreciate the concern that some of my colleagues, 
no doubt, have about any increase in Federal assistance for the 
District of Columbia, given its dismal track record in managing 
resources. However, I remind my colleagues that we have previously 
taken strong action to prevent future mismanagement by establishing the 
control board and the chief financial officer.
  The additional funds provided for improving school facilities, as 
well as previous funds provided, will be fully managed by the control 
board, not the school system nor the District of Columbia government. 
Moreover, I must also point out that we have an obligation to the well-
being of the children in the Nation's Capital. We have accepted that 
responsibility. This obligation includes the condition of the schools 
they attend.

  I thank Chairman Hatfield for including a provision for the District 
of Columbia in the conference agreement, given that the regular 
appropriations bill for the District has already been signed into law. 
He recognizes, as I do, and as Chairman Livingston does, the obligation 
of the Congress to the children of the Nation's Capital. We have a 
joinder on that understanding and have acted quickly and decisively to 
make sure what happened this year does not happen next year. I would 
also like to thank the ranking minority member on the Subcommittee on 
the District of Columbia, Senator Kohl, for working with me to include 
this provision.
  This is only a start. There is much more we need to do for the kids 
in this city. As long as I am in the Senate, I assure you I am going to 
do everything I can to make this a city we can be proud of, especially 
with respect to education.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DODD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

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