[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OMNIBUS AUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 25, 2006

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, the District of Columbia Omnibus 
Authorization Act, a major bill to assist the District of Columbia in 
carrying out timely and critical operational responsibilities, received 
final approval as a result of House passage this evening and is on its 
way to the President for his signature. The DC Omnibus Authorization 
Act, sponsored by Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis and 
me, includes permanent midyear budget autonomy in a collection of 
crucial provisions that have been approved or passed by the District, 
but must come to Congress before becoming law. The most important 
omnibus authorization provision, long sought by the District since home 
rule was granted, allows the city to spend local funds without coming 
back to Congress for approval through the congressional mid-year 
supplemental appropriations process. We worked hard to convince 
appropriators to implement this critical change for the first time 
beginning this year, but the provision in today's bill is needed to 
authorize mid-year budget autonomy permanently. This is the first 
structural change in the original Horne Rule Act since it was enacted 
over 30 years ago and brings the city close to obtaining full budget 
autonomy. It is impossible to overestimate the hardship to this or any 
city of being unable to carry on normal business and engage in fiscal 
transactions--from spending local revenue already in the bank for vital 
city needs to floating baseball stadium bonds--without coming to 
Congress. Budget autonomy from the congressional supplemental process 
essentially enacts part of the DC Budget Autonomy Act that Chairman 
Davis and I have introduced to give the District greater freedom from 
the annual congressional appropriations process that redundantly 
requires the District's balanced budget to come to the Congress before 
it becomes effective.
  The Omnibus Authorization Act includes many other vital provisions, 
including one that gives greater city control and use of reserve 
funds--up to 50 percent--with specific procedures for reimbursement. 
The District's sound fiscal practices, along with limitations required 
by Congress, have led to an impressive reserve fund. However, residents 
watched the neglect of basic services and continued to send their 
children to dilapidated public school buildings while the District grew 
an ever larger reserve fund that could not be tapped. As a result of 
work with appropriators last year, DC already is spending part of its 
reserves that had been piling up.
  Both the House and the Senate approved an omnibus authorization bill 
earlier this session. However, the House needs to approve the Senate 
version that added provisions not in the House bill. The new provisions 
include: a change in the fiscal year that the District of Columbia 
Public Schools requested; permission for the DC libraries to accept 
gifts--currently only the Mayor's office can receive them; enhanced 
dental and vision benefits for court employees; and a requirement that 
within 1 year of congressional passage, the District must start using a 
metered system for taxicabs, unless the Mayor signs an executive order 
opting out. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________