[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 155 (Friday, November 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE ACCESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                      HON. ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR.

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 1, 1999

  Mr. EHRLICH. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 974, the District 
of Columbia College Access Act. It is legislation long overdue and 
deserves an immediate Presidential signature. This legislation expands 
the educational choices and opportunities of eligible District of 
Columbia students by establishing a program that permits these 
graduates to pay in-state tuition rates upon admission to state 
colleges in Maryland or Virginia. Moreover, this will benefit the 
already first-rate educational opportunities in these states by 
increasing the number and quality of candidates for admission.
  Unlike the 50 states, the university system in the District of 
Columbia is significantly limited. The University of the District of 
Columbia is the city's only public university. Thus, if high school 
graduates from the District's schools want to attend an institution of 
higher learning and pay-in-state tuition they have no choice except the 
District's university. This is unacceptable.
  H.R. 974 levels the playing field. It provides eligible high school 
graduates from the District's schools a network of state-supported 
colleges to attend. Specifically, this legislation establishes a 
program to permit D.C. residents who are recent high school graduates 
the ability to pay in-state tuition rates upon admission to state 
colleges in Maryland or Virginia. Under this proposal, the federal 
government will pay the difference between the two rates, creating no 
additional cost to state universities. Public university grants may not 
exceed $10,000 in any award year, with a total cap of $50,000 per 
individual.
  Additionally, this legislation provides tuition assistance grants of 
$2,500 for students attending private colleges in the District or the 
adjoining Maryland and Virginia suburbs, including historically black 
colleges and universities as another educational option for the 
District's students.
  Access to quality education in the United States is essential. This 
bill goes a long way to ensure that the students of the District of 
Columbia are afforded a variety of educational opportunities at a 
reasonable cost. It will encourage the young people of the District of 
Columbia to complete high school and seek further education. This will 
enable them to acquire better jobs in the future, earn good salaries, 
and improve the quality of life in the entire Washington, D.C. 
metropolitan region.

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