[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IS TURNING AROUND

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) is recognized 
for 5 minutes.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this evening with some 
good news, and let me report it from a more objective observer. The 
Washington Times, in an editorial, said the following: The District is 
looking good. There is a $186 million surplus from fiscal 1997. People 
are buying homes in the District and businesses are expanding and 
setting up shop.
  I know that everyone on both sides of the aisle greets this good news 
about our Nation's Capital in the same spirit I do. Yes, a surplus. The 
District is turning around. It has balanced its budget, more than 
balanced it now 2 years ahead of the congressionally mandated year. How 
has this been done? Through prudent budgeting, Mr. Speaker, through 
fiscal discipline, and through preserving the fruits of an excellent 
economy rather than spending that money.
  The highlights are quite extraordinary, and I am sure to many 
Members, unexpected. Vendors are now being paid ahead of time rather 
than behind time. We have, Mr. Speaker, a clean opinion from an outside 
independent auditor, which means an unqualified opinion looking at the 
books and records of the District of Columbia, that the District is 
revitalizing itself financially.
  We have a general fund surplus of almost $186 million. This is a city 
that was close to bankruptcy just a few years ago. And the District is 
reaping increased revenue from taxes, not because it has raised taxes, 
but because improved operations have allowed the city to collect taxes 
from those who should have been paying taxes all along.
  Mr. Speaker, the District's problems have not been entirely self-
inflicted, but the city's repair must be completely self-generated. I 
think that we now have evidence that that self-generation is occurring, 
and it is occurring for a combination of reasons. It is occurring 
because this Congress set up a Control Board. It is occurring because 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), chair of the Subcommittee on 
the District of Columbia, and I, the ranking member, have worked 
collaboratively and in a bipartisan fashion on the District ever since 
the Control Board was set up 2 years ago.
  It is occurring because of the work of the Control Board, and yes, 
Mr. Speaker, it is occurring because of the work of the mayor and the 
members of the city council. They deserve our congratulations, even as 
they have gotten the criticism of this body when they have deserved it. 
And I must say, sometimes even when they have not.
  Mr. Speaker, the District's Government is now multilayered. The 
Congress seeks an efficient government from the District, but the fact 
is that the Congress has imposed a highly inefficient structure to do 
the job. The District needs better collaboration among its many layers 
until the Control Board sets and Congress will be hearing from me about 
streamlining its oversight as it requires the District to streamline 
its operations.
  Mr. Speaker, I began with editorial comment praising the District 
from the Washington Times. The Washington Post said as much when this 
audit was reported: The District is not enjoying a $185.9 million 
general fund surplus and a clean fiscal year 1997 annual audit by 
accident. It took hard work and a stiff spine to bring unchecked and 
irresponsible spending under control.
  That is exactly what has happened. I have been as impatient as many 
Members to see this day. Now it has come in spades, not little by 
little, but with a buildup of improvements that is now showing itself 
in a way that I think none of us anticipated seeing in this fashion.
  The District, knowing that this is no time to sit down, that there is 
much work to be done. The District has revved itself up to work now on 
its services and operations. It knows that those services and 
operations must improve and improve quickly. And that is not, Mr. 
Speaker, because of what this body wants, although that is part of it.
  First and foremost, it is because the residents of the District of 
Columbia, among the highest taxpaying citizens of the United States, 
deserve no less. My congratulations to the Control Board, to the chief 
financial officer, to the mayor, and to the city council for a job that 
is beginning to be well done.

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