	Most Recent Developments

On December 8, 2004, the President signed P.L. 108-447 , a consolidated appropriations actfor FY2005. The act includes a provision amending charter school-related language included in theDistrict of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005, P.L. 108-335 , which was signed by thePresident on October 18, 2004. 108-335 includes $560 million in special federalpayments and approves the District's $6.3 billion operating budget for FY2005. On October 6, 2004,by unanimous consent the Senate approved the conference committee version of H.R. 108-335

	Budget Request

		FY2005: The President's Budget Request

On February 2, 2004, the Bush Administration released its FY2005 budgetrecommendations. The Administration's proposed budget includes $560.4 millionin federal payments to the District of Columbia. (1) A majorportion of the President's proposed federal payments and assistance to the Districtinvolves the courts and criminal justice system. These three functions (court operations,defender services, and offender supervision) represent $457.1 million, or 81.6%, ofthe President's proposed $560.4 million in federal payments to the District ofColumbia (see Table 2 ). FY2005: District's Budget Request

On May 14, 2004, the District's city council unanimously approved the city's$8.2 billion budget for FY2005, (2) and forwarded it to the President for review,approval, and transmittal to the Congress. (3) The proposed budget includes a request for $1.03billion in special federal payments. The District has also requested $102million in special federal payments to support emergency preparedness activities,including $80 million for bioterrorism preparedness, $15 million for emergencyplanning and security, and $7 million for the unified communication center forregional emergencies. On July 7, 2004, the House AppropriationsSubcommittee on the District of Columbia conducted a markup of the District ofColumbia Appropriations Act for FY2005 and forwarded the bill to the fullAppropriations Committee for its consideration. On July 14, 2004, the HouseAppropriations Committee ordered reported the unnumbered draft bill, whichincluded $560 million in special federal payments for the District of Columbia. (6) 
On July 20, 2004, the House considered and approved the District ofColumbia Appropriations Act for FY2005, H.R. On September 21, 2004, the SenateAppropriations Committee reported S. 2826 , the District of ColumbiaAppropriations Act for FY2005. TheSenate bill, which was accompanied by S.Rept. The $560 million in special federal payments is $19 millionmore than appropriated in FY2004. In addition, the conference version of H.R.4850 would retain several provisions included in the House version of theact and the District's FY2004 appropriations act prohibiting the use of District andfederal funds for lobbying and advocacy activities related to statehood and votingrepresentation in Congress for residents of the District of Columbia with oneexception. The Districtof Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2002, P.L.
On February 2, 2004, the Bush Administration released its FY2005 budget recommendations. The Administration's proposed budget includes $560.4 million in federal payments to the Districtof Columbia. A major portion of the President's proposed federal payments and assistance to theDistrict involves the courts and criminal justice system. This includes funding for the Court Servicesand Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, Defender Services, and the courts. These three functions (court operations, defender services, and offender supervision) represent$457.1 million, or 81.6%, of the President's proposed $560.4 million in federal payments to theDistrict of Columbia.
On May 14, 2004, the District's city council approved the city's $8.2 billion budget forFY2005. The city's proposed budget includes $2 billion for enterprise funds and $6.2 billion ingeneral fund operating expenses. The proposed budget also included a request for $1.03 billion inspecial federal payments, which is substantially higher than the $560 million proposed by thePresident.
The District budget request also includes $165 million for the Washington Metropolitan AreaTransit Authority's capital fund, a $162 million increase above the amount appropriated in FY2004,and $102 million in special federal payments in support of emergency preparedness activities --including $80 million for bioterrorism preparedness, $15 million for emergency planning andsecurity, and $7 million for a unified communications center for regional emergencies.
On July 7, 2004, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbiaconducted a markup of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005 and forwarded theunnumbered draft bill to the House Appropriations Committee. One week later, on July 14, 2004,the House Appropriations Committee completed its markup of the bill, which includes $560 millionin special federal payments for the District of Columbia.
On July 20, 2004, the House considered and passed H.R. 4850 , the District ofColumbia Appropriations Act for FY2005. The measure was accompanied by H.Rept. 108-610 . OnSeptember 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 2826 , its version ofthe District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2005. The measure was accompanied by S.Rept.108-354 , and includes $560 million in special federal payments to the city. On October 6, 2004, theHouse and Senate passed the conference committee version of H.R. 4850.
On October 18, 2004, the President signed P.L. 108-335 , the District of ColumbiaAppropriations Act for FY2005. The act includes $560 million in special federal payments andapproves the District's $6.3 billion operating budget for FY2005. On December 8, 2004, thePresident signed P. L. 108-447, a consolidated appropriations act for FY2005, which includes aprovision amending charter school-related language included in P.L. 108-335 . This report will beupdated as events warrant.