Norton Says Good News on DCTAG, Work for the Senate and Administration to Do on Rider

Norton Says Good News on DCTAG, Work for the Senate and Administration to Do on Rider

June 16, 2011

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that, as expected, there were no new riders added today at a House Subcommittee markup of the fiscal year 2012 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, but warned that it would not be the first time that there is quiet before a storm as the bill goes to the full appropriations committee next Thursday and then to the House floor. Norton said that, just as with the 2011 appropriations bill, "Keeping home-rule intact in the 2012 appropriations bill is essentially a job for the Senate and the Obama administration." Norton said that the best news of the day was the vote approving funding for the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program (DCTAG), which has doubled college attendance here.

Norton said that she does not expect changes to DCTAG as the bill goes to the House floor, a relief for students now in college and those who plan to attend. Earlier this year, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) proposed means-testing for DCTAG to pay for the new congressionally imposed D.C. private school voucher program, a change that would have all but killed DCTAG. Norton said she thanked Subcommittee on Financial Services Chair Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) for preserving DCTAG funding in both the fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2012 bill.

"We can never afford to be unprepared for trouble," said Norton. "We particularly appreciate the work of the new coalition of 100 national and local groups working to preserve home-rule, that, we understand, expect to continue to be in touch with Members and their constituents before the full committee markup."

Norton said that she was heartened by the passionate statements in opposition to the provision barring D.C. from spending its local funds on abortions for low-income women in the 2012 appropriations bill by the subcommittee's Ranking Member Jose Serrano (D-NY), and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA). "I know that D.C. residents join me in appreciation for the comments of my colleagues, Representatives Serrano and Lee, because of the heartbreak we feel from seeing any rider in the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill, only a year after having an anti-home-rule rider-free appropriations bill for the first time."