	Most Recent Developments

On November 25, 2003, a House and Senate conference committee reported H.R. 2673 ( H.Rept. 108-401 ), the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2004. It combined sixappropriations bills that Congress was unable to complete before the close of the first session of the108th Congress, including H.R. The House agreed to the conferencereport on December 8, 2003, while the Senate postponed final consideration of the measure untilCongress reconvenes in January 2004. On November 18, 2003, the Senate passed its version of H.R.2765. 2765 recommended $466 million in special federalpayments, while the Senate and conference bills recommend $545 million. The conference version of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2004 includes special federal payments for several education initiatives, including $17 million for the District'sCollege Tuition Assistance Program, $13 million for a school voucher program, $13 million forpublic schools, $13 million for public charter schools, $4.5 million for public school facilities forplayground and window repair and replacement, 10.75 million appropriated to the CFO andearmarked for various education and related activities to be administered by organizations identifiedin the conference report, and $2 million for the Family Literacy Program, which would be match bythe District on a dollar for dollar basis. Budget Request

		FY2004: The President's Budget Request

On February 3, 2003, the Bush Administration released its FY2004 budget recommendations. The Administration's proposed budget included $420.5 millionin federal payments to the District of Columbia. This included $166.5 million for the Court Services andOffender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, an independent federalagency that has assumed management responsibility for the District's pretrialservices, adult probation, and parole supervision functions. In addition, theAdministration requested $163.8 million in support of court operations, and $32million for Defender Services. These three functions (court operations, defenderservices, and offender supervision) represent $362.3 million, or 86.3% of thePresident's proposed $420.5 million in federal payments to the District of Columbia(see Table 2 ). On July 9, 2003, the BushAdministration transmitted the city's budget to Congress for its review and approval.The city's proposed operating budget of $5.7 billion includes a $50 million cashreserve fund. On September 9, 2003, H.R. The bill included $17million for a college tuition assistance plan, $15 million for security planning, and$163.1 million for court services and offender supervision. 2765 alsoincluded $10 million in special federal payments for a school choice programdesigned to provide financial assistance to families of District school-age studentsattending private and parochial schools. The Senatebill also includes $40 million in special federal payments for elementary andsecondary education, including $13 million for a school choice program designed toprovide financial assistance to families of District school-age students attendingprivate and parochial schools. 2765 . 108-214 , S.Rept. 108-142 , H.Rept. 2673 , reflects the House position prohibiting the use of bothfederal and local funding for a needle exchange program, but allowing the use ofprivate funds. The District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2002, P.L. The House, Senate, and conference bills would continue to restrict the use of District and federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape or incest, orwhen the life of the mother is endangered. School Voucher Program. (21)
On July 17, 2003, House Committee on Appropriations reported H.R.
On February 3, 2003, the Bush Administration released its FY2004 budget recommendations. The Administration's proposed budget included $420.5 million in federal payments to the Districtof Columbia. This includes $166.5 million for the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agencyfor the District of Columbia, an independent federal agency that has assumed managementresponsibility for the District's pretrial services, adult probation, and parole supervision functions. In addition, the Administration requested $163.8 million in support of court operations, and $32million for Defender Services. These three functions represent 86.3% of the President's proposed$420.5 million in federal payments to the District of Columbia.
On July 9, 2003, the Bush Administration transmitted the city's $5.7 billion proposed operating budget to Congress for its review and approval. In addition, the District requested $916 million inspecial federal payments, including $159 million for emergency preparedness assistance and $75million for public safety.
On July 17, 2003, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 2765 , the District of Columbia Appropriations Act for FY2004 ( H.Rept. 108-214 ). On September 9, 2003,the House approved H.R. 2765. The House bill recommended $466 million in specialfederal payments for the District of Columbia. The bill includes $17 million for a college tuitionassistance plan, $15 million for security planning, and $163.1 million for court services and offendersupervision. H.R. 2765 also includes $10 million in special federal payments for a schoolchoice program designed to provide financial assistance to families of District school-age studentsattending private and parochial schools.
On November 18, 2003, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 2765 ( S.Rept. 108-142 ). As passed, the bill recommended an appropriation of $545 million in special federalpayments to the District. This includes $17 million for a college tuition assistance program; $15million for emergency planning and security; and $377.5 million in court and criminal justice-relatedassistance. The bill also includes $40 million for public education, charter schools, and schoolvouchers, including $13 million for a school voucher program.
On November 25, 2003, a House and Senate conference committee reported H.R. 2673 ( H.Rept. 108-401 ), the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2004, which combined sixappropriations bills -- including the FY2004 District of Columbia Appropriations Act -- thatCongress was unable to complete before the close of the first session of the 108th Congress. TheHouse agreed to the conference report on December 8, 2003, while the Senate postponed finalconsideration of the measure until Congress reconvenes in January 2004. The conference billincludes $13 million for a school voucher program, and would continue to allow the District to useits local funds to administer a domestic partners health insurance act, prohibit the use of District orfederal funds to prepare a medical marijuana ballot initiative, and restrict the use of federal orDistrict funds for a needle exchange program and for abortion services, except in instances of rapeor incest or a threat to the mother's health. This report will be updated as warranted.
Key Policy Staff
Division abbreviations: DSP = Domestic Social Policy Division; G&F = Government and Finance Division.