[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 132 (Wednesday, September 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11889-S11890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004--Continued

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, as we proceed with the District of 
Columbia appropriations bill, I again thank Senator Landrieu for her 
great work on this bill. We will be proceeding later on today on the 
issue of the District of Columbia vouchers. I thank Senator Landrieu 
for her contribution to this discussion.
  We are working on some possible amendments, but I wish to take this 
moment, if I can, to also thank Senator Feinstein for her contribution 
to that section of the bill. As I have stated publicly in the past--I 
said it yesterday in a press conference--that section of the bill which 
has to do with vouchers, the scholarship section was significantly 
improved because of what my colleague from California, Senator 
Feinstein, contributed to the bill.
  She came to me and Senator Gregg and said: I have some suggestions; I 
have some changes; I have some ideas that I think need to be in this 
bill to improve the bill, to bring more accountability; to ensure the 
bill's constitutionality; and also to make sure that the Mayor of the 
city of Washington is much more directly involved in running this 
scholarship program.
  We took those suggestions from Senator Feinstein. She drafted 
sections of the bill, and we incorporated them in the bill. Those 
changes are now in the bill that is now before the Senate. I appreciate 
very much her work.
  I yield, without losing my right to the floor, for a question from 
Senator Landrieu.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I thank the Senator for his comments. He 
is correct that there have been some improvements made to this section 
of the bill, but it remains a work still in progress. There are many 
Members on the Democratic side and some Members on the Republican side 
who are still not comfortable with the language. There are some who are 
absolutely opposed to the underlying concept of private school vouchers 
or scholarships.
  I thank the chairman for remaining open and working on some 
amendments and language. That is taking

[[Page S11890]]

place at this time. We will proceed with the debate later in the 
afternoon.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I take back my time. I look forward to 
working with Senator Landrieu to try to accommodate the concerns she 
has. I know she is well intentioned, certainly dedicated to the 
children of the District of Columbia, as I talked about earlier today.
  I believe the bill before us is a good bill. I believe the 
scholarship program before us is a good scholarship program. I believe 
it is clearly constitutional. I believe it is a good program in the 
sense, as I discussed earlier this morning, that it is value-added. It 
is a balanced program. It is a program that provides a third of the 
money for scholarships for the children, $13 million. This is all new 
money, $13 million new money for the District of Columbia schools, and 
$13 million additional money for charter schools. It is a three-pronged 
approach, a very balanced program. I think the language is good 
language. The bill before us is a good bill.
  In deference to my colleague, with whom I have worked so very closely 
on this bill over the last few years, certainly we can take some more 
time to see if it is possible to reach any kind of compromise or 
accommodation with regard to any additional language that would satisfy 
her. I am more than happy to take some time to try to do that. I do 
believe we have a good bill right now. It is a bill that I think is 
good for the children of the District of Columbia.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the limited 
private school choice provisions in the District of Columbia 
Appropriations bill.
  As you know, private school choice, also commonly known as a voucher, 
refers to the use of public money to allow a limited number of students 
to attend a K-12 private school.
  As a strong supporter of our Nation's public schools, I certainly 
appreciate the views of those who believe that public money should be 
used to improve only public schools.
  However, as a member of the Senate's Education Committee, I also 
strongly believe that if our educational system is to improve, as 
needed, we cannot remain stuck in the status-quo. We must look for 
innovative ways to improve our schools. While providing additional 
money into an educational system can help--money alone is never enough.
  I commend the Mayor of Washington, DC--Mayor Anthony Williams--who 
along with others have all come together in support of an innovative 
idea to improve the educational system in the District of Columbia: an 
infusion of money into the public school system along with a limited 
private school choice option for the District of Columbia.
  How fortunate we are to have the leadership of Mayor Williams in the 
District of Columbia.
  The legislation before us does just what Mayor Williams has 
requested. It adds an additional $40 million in education spending in 
the District. $27 million of that $40 million will go to the District's 
public schools and charter schools. The remaining $13 million will be 
used for the limited private school choice option provided in this 
bill.
  And while some may be critical of spending $13 million on private 
school choice, I believe it is important to view this money in the 
context of other education spending.
  In comparison to the $13 million we will spend in this bill on 
private school choice, the Federal Government currently spends about 
$12.5 billion on the Pell Grant program. And as we all know, the Pell 
Grant Program provides grants to students to help them afford the cost 
of tuition at an institution of higher learning, regardless of whether 
the institution is a public or private one.
  Similarly, the proposal before us today will allow certain low-income 
students in the District to attend private K-12 school.
  More specifically, the school choice provisions in this legislation 
will provide scholarships of up to $7,500 to allow 2,000 low-income 
students the opportunity to attend private school.
  These scholarships will be sufficient in dollar amount to cover the 
cost of tuition at approximately two-thirds of the private schools in 
the District. It is my hope that the remaining one-third of private 
schools in the District, whose tuition is more expensive than $7,500 a 
year, will consider making special exceptions to also open their doors 
to the low-income students in the District who are scholarship 
recipients.
  In my view, the proposal supported by Mayor Williams and put forth in 
this legislation is a win-win situation. The school system gets more 
money and low-income students are given a unique educational 
opportunity.
  Over 50 years ago, I was given a similarly unique opportunity to 
obtain a quality education as I was a recipient of the GI bill. The 
education that I was fortunate enough to receive as a result of the GI 
bill has allowed me to achieve most of the dreams to which I have 
aspired. Without the GI bill, I certainly would not be standing here 
today.
  Similarly, the private school choice proposal before the Senate today 
will provide certain students in the District with an opportunity to 
receive a strong education. And, along with that education, these 
scholarships will provide these students the same opportunity I had to 
achieve my goals in life.
  I commend the work and leadership of the chairman, Senator DeWine, my 
colleague in the Virginia congressional delegation, Tom Davis, Mayor 
Anthony Williams, the local media, and other philanthropists and 
community leaders who have worked closely together in support of this 
private school choice initiative.
  It is my intention to support this limited private school choice 
initiative, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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