[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 46 (Monday, November 22, 1999)]
[Pages 2373-2374]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999

November 12, 1999

    Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 974, the ``District of 
Columbia College Access Act of 1999.'' This Act helps to level the 
playing field for the young people of the District of Columbia by 
expanding opportunities for affordable higher education. My FY 2000 
Budget requested $17 million to improve access to higher education for 
D.C.

[[Page 2374]]

residents by enabling them to attend public colleges and universities in 
Maryland and Virginia at in-State tuition rates. I am grateful for the 
bipartisan effort in the Congress to work with my Administration to 
build on that proposal and develop this Act.
    The District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 will allow the 
Federal Government, through a program run by the Mayor of the District 
of Columbia, to pay the difference between in-State and out-of-State 
tuition at public colleges and universities in Maryland, Virginia, and 
other States, under certain circumstances, on behalf of qualified D.C. 
residents. District of Columbia residents could receive up to $10,000 
per year, with a $50,000 maximum overall, in tuition subsidies under 
this Act. This tuition subsidy is critical, because it will provide an 
opportunity for D.C. residents, like the residents of all 50 States, to 
attend a variety of affordable public colleges and universities. A lack 
of financial resources can be a roadblock to entering college, as well 
as a major reason why many students who enroll in college do not 
complete their degree programs. By providing this tuition subsidy, we 
are providing D.C. residents more opportunities to attend college, and 
encouraging families with college-bound children to remain in, or move 
to, the District. By assisting individual D.C. residents through these 
tuition subsidies, we will also be contributing to the continued 
revitalization of the District of Columbia.
    In addition, the Act would authorize grants of up to $2,500 per 
year, with a $12,500 per student maximum, to D.C. residents who choose 
to attend private colleges and universities in the Washington, D.C. 
area, including private historically Black colleges and universities in 
Maryland or Virginia. Together with the tuition subsidy for public 
colleges and universities, these grants would greatly expand both public 
and private post-secondary opportunities for D.C. residents.
    Throughout the legislative development of this bill, my 
Administration stated its preference for ensuring that Federal resources 
are provided to those students with greater need for financial 
assistance. The Act goes a long way toward reaching that goal by 
providing the Mayor of the District of Columbia with the authority, in 
the event of insufficient appropriations, to establish priorities 
regarding the making or amount of tuition and fee payments on the basis 
of the income and need of eligible students.
    The Act would also authorize financial support to the University of 
the District of Columbia (UDC), if it does not receive funds under the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 on the basis of its status as a 
historically Black college and university. In order to provide a range 
of high quality higher education opportunities to D.C. residents, this 
Act will ensure that Federal funds are available to support the only 
public institution of higher education in the District of Columbia and 
to help ensure that D.C. residents who choose to attend UDC will receive 
a solid education.
    Finally, I must point out that this Act is only part of the efforts 
currently underway to improve higher education opportunities for D.C. 
students. I congratulate the private sector's outstanding efforts to 
prepare D.C. students to attend college, and to provide additional 
tuition assistance beyond that provided in this Act. The commitment of 
both the private and public sectors to broaden postsecondary education 
opportunities available to D.C. residents will have a significant impact 
on the education, economic well-being, and lives of many D.C. students 
and their families for years to come. I look forward to working with 
D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams as he implements this groundbreaking new 
program.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
November 12, 1999.

Note: H.R. 974, approved November 12, was assigned Public Law No. 106-
98. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.