House GOP bill would slash funding for DC college tuition assistance

For all the latest developments in Congress follow WTOP Capitol Hill correspondent Mitchell Miller at In current times on the Hill A House panel has distributed details of an appropriations bill that includes a wide range of restrictions on D C including a plan to cut in half funding for a D C college assistance operation and a prohibition on using local funds to pay for automated traffic enforcement The measures are included in the fiscal Financial Services and Ruling body Appropriations bill which was issued Sunday by the House Appropriations Committee D C Del Eleanor Holmes Norton revealed she was outraged at the number of what she called anti-D C home rule riders included in the bill In my long career representing D C residents in Congress I have rarely seen a bill as unreasonable and patronizing to the more than people who live in the nation s capital as this one she disclosed in a message adding she intended to fight the measures The bill calls for cutting million in funding for the D C Tuition Assistance Grant which presently gets million The grant seeks to make up part of the difference for D C residents paying out-of-state college tuition since the District doesn t have a major inhabitants university Students attending residents universities in other states are eligible for up to While the bill would cut the funding for the tuition assistance grant to million Norton noted she was able to include a provision to boost the figure for individual students to It remains unclear whether the increase for individual students will survive as lawmakers move forward with various funding proposals The lifetime cap would be increased from to Bill prohibits DC from paying for various traffic enforcement provisions The statute also would disallow D C from using local funds to carry out automated traffic enforcement such as traffic cameras It would also prohibit the District from using local funds to enforce a law that prevents motorists from making right turns on red traffic lights House Republicans previously sought similar restrictions in a bill they proposed last year D C leaders have explained prohibiting fines from automated traffic enforcement could cause the city to lose hundreds of millions of dollars needed for the District budget Other measures included in the provision would Allow anyone with a concealed carry permit from another state or territory to carry a concealed handgun in D C and on the Metro Prohibit use of local funds to commercialize recreational marijuana Prohibit using local funds to implement its law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections Prohibit using local funds on abortion services for low-income women Repeal D C s Death with Dignity Act Prohibit use of local funds to enforce any COVID- mask or vaccine mandate Norton disclosed she was pleased that the law would continue to exempt D C from federal cabinet shutdowns Are chances of a executive shutdown growing Congressional leaders are trying to move forward with taking up major appropriations bills before they break in August When they return in September they will only have a sparse weeks to avert a leadership shutdown when the new fiscal year starts Oct It is widely expected they will need to pass another continuing resolution rather than a budget for the full year President Donald Trump signed a continuing resolution into law in March Congressional Republicans last week voted to claw back billion from that measure which had previously been agreed to by both parties The funding that was cut included billions of dollars for foreign aid programs as well as close to billion for the Corporation for Masses Broadcasting which provides funding for PBS and NPR The cuts have upset Democrats who charge that the Trump administration and GOP are undermining trust in the appropriations process That has led to discussion on Capitol Hill about whether a cabinet shutdown showdown could be coming when lawmakers return after their summer break Source