Norton's College Tuition Bill Passed (5/14/07)
Norton's College Tuition Bill Passed and Forwarded to Senate
May 14, 2007
**(Reach DCTAG at 727-2824 or click here)
Washington, DC-At the request of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), the Democratic leadership today allowed one of Norton's top priorities, H.R. 1124, to extend the College Access Act, to be heard and passed on the suspension calendar of non-controversial bills for quick House floor consideration. The bill received final approval this evening on a 267 - 100 vote. H.R. 1124 will extend the D.C. Tuition Access Grant Program (DCTAG), scheduled to expire September 30, the end of the fiscal year, for another five years. The program provides multiple higher education opportunities for D.C. students by granting up to $10,000 annually, which covers the difference between in-state tuition at most public colleges, or up to $2,500 annually to attend private institutions in the city and region.
To ensure continuation of the popular and highly successful program without interruption, Norton engineered early passage by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on March 29, despite the rush to complete important business before the last spring recess. She said that committee approval and subsequent House consideration today is an indication of the strength and value of DCTAG. The Congresswoman praised Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), co-author of Norton's bill, for his work on the legislation since its initial passage in 1999.
In her floor remarks today, Norton cited the impressive college graduation rate as evidence that DCTAG has delivered on the federal investment. The program is credited with a 60 percent increase in college attendance over five years and has impressive retention rates. For example, of the 1,091 DCTAG freshmen in 2001-2002, 73 percent returned as sophomores. Of this group, 79 percent returned as juniors, 82 percent as seniors and 77 percent of the seniors graduated. For the 2005-2006 school year, almost 5,000 students received funding from DCTAG to enroll in 646 universities and colleges in 47 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
DCTAG acts as a substitute for a state university system for the District, which unlike every state, has only one open admissions state university, the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). As DCTAG moved, Norton also insisted on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) funding for UDC the District had long sought. The university has received thousands of dollars annually in HBCU funding since 1999 as a result.
Norton cited the program's proven benefits to the economy of the city and region and especially to the city's students and families. "It is difficult to think of congressional legislation that has brought such immediate and positive results so quickly or that is more appreciated by D.C. residents," Norton said. "To be sure, our D.C. homebuyer and business tax credits, unique to the District and reauthorized again last year, have had similar measurable and documented effects on increasing home ownership and keeping taxpaying residents and businesses in the city. However, if there are to be homeowners and taxpayers in the District of Columbia in the 21st century, many more of them must have college training." The regional business community, led by Donald Graham, Chairman of The Washington Post, who established the College Access Program, a complimentary privately funded program, and President Bush also have shown confidence in DCTAG. The President included $35 million in his FY 08 budget request, $2 million more than current funding, and "a sure signal that he will sign our bill when it lands on his desk." Norton said.
**(Reach DCTAG at 727-2824 or click here)