[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4541-H4542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISTRICT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Peterson of Pennsylvania). 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 have informed this body a few weeks ago 
that I would be coming to report on how the District of Columbia is 
proceeding as it moves to improve itself in the city. But my internal 
campaign is behind the times because the improvements are coming so 
fast and furious.
  Have you seen this morning's Washington Post? On the front section of

[[Page H4542]]

the Metro section, two stories lead. D.C. Test Results Seen as 
Progress; that is about our youngsters who were doing so poorly in the 
schools. The other, Mr. Speaker, says For Washington a Positive Mark of 
Distinction.
  Let me be explicit. The District of Columbia is the best large city 
or place to live in the eastern United States, according to Money 
Magazine's latest ranking of the 300 most livable areas in the Nation. 
It is not us, Mr. Speaker; that is an objective observer, Money 
Magazine, which has not always rated your Nation's Capital thusly. New 
York City has already been heard to complain, but I do not believe that 
anyone in this Chamber has any reason to complain, because, Mr. 
Speaker, while this is our hometown, it is your capital of the United 
States.
  We have all be criticizing that capital. It is time for us to now 
start rooting for that capital as it pulls itself up by its own 
bootstraps.
  Money Magazine has an objective formula which it uses to designate 
the city. The entire details of that formula are not public, but we do 
know that they rated air quality, medical care, property taxes and 
cultural facilities.
  There are other improvements in the District that we know cleared the 
way for this designation. For example, Money Magazine noted our higher 
than average crime rate. But, Mr. Speaker, the crime rate in the 
District of Columbia went down 20 percent, virtually the largest 
reduction in the country last year.
  The national news recently had a story about crime going down in the 
country, and they used as an example public housing in the District of 
Columbia.
  Something important and different is happening in this city, and this 
body needs to take note of it.
  Much else has happened in hometown Washington that cleared the way 
for this designation. A surplus, Mr. Speaker, not a balanced budget, 
but a surplus 2 years ahead of when it was expected. Public housing now 
off the troubled housing list; a Summer Stars program which will end 
social promotion here in the District of Columbia, one of the first 
cities to do so in the Nation.
  Scores up in our schools, and, Mr. Speaker, I do want to read from 
that so that you will hear it from the newspaper and not from the 
Member:
  D.C. Public School System showed improvements in most grade levels in 
the last scores from standardized tests. That follows last year when 
students showed no improvements whatsoever. Our hats should be off to 
Dr. Arlene Ackerman, the new superintendent who has helped make this 
happen.
  Mr. Speaker, the control board is going to set 2 years earlier than 
anticipated because the District has moved ahead with such energy to 
improve its finances and now to improve its management. Money Magazine 
has gotten the word. I come to the floor this evening to make sure that 
this House gets the word, too.

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