Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, the motion, as it was read, would instruct the conferees to accept the Senate version of the District of Columbia appropriations bill for fiscal year 2001. The reason is that the Senate bill is a superior bill. The Senate bill is a bill that was supported by virtually all of the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, will be supported by virtually all of the Democrats and I think a great many Republicans in the House. It is a bill that is supported by the Mayor of the District of Columbia and by the D.C. City Council, the properly elected officials to govern the district. And it is the only bill that the President will sign. This bill provides $34 million more in Federal funds to enable the District to undertake important economic development, environmental restoration and educational opportunity activities. It fully funds the Federal commitment to build the New York Avenue metro station; and, in fact, it represents only a third of the cost, given the fact that if we provide this money; the private sector will provide another third; another third will come from local funds. The Senate bill also enables the Poplar Point remediation project to begin. It provides tuition assistance for D.C. students to be able to take advantage of the ability to attend college outside of the District of Columbia. Without these funds, that program cannot be fully implemented.”