Calendar No. 481
Reported from the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 21, 1998, by a vote of 27-1 (Senator Leahy voted nay). S. Rept. 105-254.

• Total Resources: It is estimated that a total of $6.77 billion will be available to the District of Columbia for FY 1999. Included in this figure are appropriations from local funds, federal grants, and private and other funds. The financing of appropriations from District funds is from various local taxes, fees, charges, and other collections received by the District government.
• Federal Funds: A total of $2.78 billion in federal funds will be available to the District government during FY 1999. Included in this total are the federal payments for the D.C. correctional facilities, the operation of both the D.C. court system and offender services, management reform, and Boys Town U.S.A. expansion project. Other federal funds will be received by the District from the various federal grant programs. In addition, federal reimbursements are received from such programs as Medicaid and Medicare.
• Federal Payment for Management Reform: The Committee provides $25 million in federal funds to continue the implementation of management reforms authorized in the District of Columbia Management Reform Act of 1997.
• Federal Payment to Corrections Trustee Operations: The Committee provides $184.8 million for payment to the D.C. corrections trustee for payment to the D.C. corrections trustee for the administration and operation of correctional facilities for sentenced adult felons. Of this total, $178.3 million is for housing the District's sentenced adult felon population in private, federal and District facilities. The remaining $6.5 million is for personnel services; internal controls and audits; and administrative expenses.
• Federal Payment for D.C. Courts: A total payment of $128 million is provided, including $121 million for operation of the D.C. courts and $7 million for the courts' capital improvement program for FY 1999.
• Federal Contribution for Boys Town U.S. Operations: The Committee appropriates $7.1 million for the expansion of Boys Town U.S.A. operations in the District of Columbia. Boys Town has requested the one-time appropriation to cover the capital costs and first year operating expenses for additional facilities.
• Federal Payment for the Nation's Capital Infrastructure Fund: The Committee recommends a payment of $75 million for the repair and maintenance of the District's roads, highways, bridges and transit. The President's budget did not include funding for this. From these funds, the D.C. Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority may transfer $25 million to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for improvements to the Metro Station located at the site of the proposed convention center project.
• Federal Support for Economic Development: No federal funds are recommended for the capitalization of the National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC). The Committee notes with concern that Congress has not been consulted on the composition of the Board of the NCRC, its duties or the scope of its activities. While the Committee rejects the request for $50 million to capitalize the NCRC, it does support further study of the concept. Therefore, the Committee has provided $500,000 to study the feasibility of such an economic development corporation.
• Federal Grants: The District participates as a State, county, and city in the various federal grant programs. At the time the FY 1999 budget was submitted, the District estimated that it would receive a total of $2.3 billion in federal grants during the coming year. This grant assistance includes $886.7 million for human support services, $110.2 million for the public education system, $80.4 million for economic development and regulation, $14 million for governmental direction and support, and $25.9 million for public safety and justice.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Abortion Funding: Section 129 prohibits the use of all appropriated funds to perform abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother would be endangered.
• D.C. Public Schools: Section 130 is a new provision that grants the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers limited contracting authority for engineering and construction services in connection with capital improvements to certain D.C. public schools. The provision allows the Corps to provide the same services that are currently provided to other Federal agencies.
• Domestic Partners Law: Section 131 prohibits the use of any funds by the District to implement a domestic partners law. The domestic partners law would extend city health care benefits to any live-in partner registered by a city employee.
• Nonprofit Partnerships: Section 144 requires the D.C. government to report to Congress on the status of current and former partnerships or agreements the District has or had with non-profit organizations that provide services to underprivileged citizens in the District.
• Adoption: Section 149 sets forth the District of Columbia Adoption Improvement Act of 1998 to facilitate the adoption of District children. The Act requires the D.C. Child and Family Services (DCCFS) to identify the number of children who are legally free for adoption and report to Congress within 30 days, as well as develop a data base to list and track these children. Additionally, the Act requires DCCFS to competitively bid some of the adoption recruitment and placement functions.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would result in outlays of $479 million in FY99, and $3 million in FY2000.

Coats. Charter Schools

Brownback. Charter schools.

Jeffords. Education Partnership Program.