Overview
Title
To prohibit the continuing availability of any portion of a Federal payment to the District of Columbia for a program of District of Columbia resident tuition support for a fiscal year which remains unobligated as of the end of the fiscal year, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to make sure that money given to Washington, D.C., for helping people pay for college is all used up each year. If there's any money left at the end of the year, they can't use it anymore, and there will be checks to see how this money is spent.
Summary AI
The bill titled the “No More D.C. Waste Act” aims to restrict federal funds given to the District of Columbia for resident tuition support that remain unused by the end of the fiscal year. This means that any federal money that is not spent by the end of a fiscal year will no longer be available after that year. The bill also amends existing legislation to remove language allowing unspent funds to remain available. Additionally, it requires the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia to report to Congress annually, detailing how these federal funds are used, starting with fiscal year 2026.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed bill, known as the “No More D.C. Waste Act”, aims to manage federal funds provided to the District of Columbia for resident tuition support programs more strictly. Specifically, it mandates that any federal funds allocated for D.C. resident tuition support that remain unused, or “unobligated,” by the end of a fiscal year will not carry over into subsequent years. Furthermore, the bill requires that an annual report be submitted by the Chief Financial Officer of D.C. to Congress, detailing financial activities related to these funds.
Summary of Significant Issues
One of the main issues arising from this bill is the prohibition on retaining unobligated funds beyond the fiscal year. While this could lead to more efficient use of funds, there is a potential drawback if these funds were intended for future use or unforeseen expenses. This rigid approach could diminish flexibility in financial planning for tuition support programs and may result in valuable funds lapsing unnecessarily.
Another notable concern is the retrospective application of the rule starting from fiscal year 2016, which complicates the financial management of past years’ budgets. Amendments to the District of Columbia College Access Act present further issues by removing the previous ability to retain and use funds beyond a specific fiscal year, potentially causing sudden funding shortages that institutions might struggle to accommodate.
The requirement for an annual report lacks details on mechanisms for monitoring accuracy, handling delayed submissions, and addressing unobligated funds. This vague framework may lead to inefficiencies and challenges in ensuring accountability.
Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
The bill’s impact on the public, particularly students and educational institutions in D.C., could be significant. If tuition support funds lapse due to the new stipulation, it could limit financial resources available for student aid, adversely affecting students who rely on consistent funding for their education. Schools and colleges could face funding inconsistencies, which might disrupt educational services or expansion plans.
Conversely, the legislation might encourage more efficient fiscal management within D.C.’s education administration by pushing for clearer budgeting and timely use of funds. This pressure to obligate funds appropriately within a fiscal year could foster better planning and prioritization of educational expenditures.
Overall, while the bill aims to reduce fiscal waste and enhance accountability, it also imposes rigidity that could have unintended negative consequences on educational funding and planning. Stakeholders such as students, educational institutions, and policymakers must consider both the efficiencies and potential disruptions that such a bill would entail.
Issues
The prohibition on the continuing availability of unobligated funds as outlined in Section 2 may lead to efficient use of funds, but it could result in the lapse of funds that could have been used beneficially in subsequent years. This is significant for fiscal planning and the continuation of educational support programs for District of Columbia residents.
The effective date clause applying the prohibition retroactively from fiscal year 2016 onward, as per Section 2(c), may complicate financial planning and existing commitments. Retroactive changes could lead to controversy regarding financial management in previous years.
The amendment in Section 2(b) to the District of Columbia College Access Act strips the previous flexibility of funds, potentially causing abrupt funding shortages for public and private school programs. This could have a significant impact on educational institutions and students relying on consistent funding.
The text in Section 3 is vague regarding the monitoring and accountability mechanisms for the annual report by the Chief Financial Officer. The lack of specific criteria for ensuring the report's accuracy may impact transparency and accountability in handling public funds.
Section 3 does not specify what happens if the annual report is submitted late by the Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia, which could lead to delays in addressing any potential issues with fund management.
There is no mention in Section 3 of the consequences or required actions if there are unobligated funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year, which might undermine the bill's intent to ensure all allocated funds are efficiently used.
The absence of detailed criteria or methodology for calculating the average amount of financial assistance in Section 3 could lead to inconsistent reporting, affecting the assessment of fund distribution and utilization.
The section lacks language regarding transparency measures or Congress's use of the information provided in the report, limiting public oversight and understanding of how the funds impact educational opportunities.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act indicates that its official short title is the “No More D.C. Waste Act”.
2. Prohibition on continuing availability of unobligated funds appropriated for District of Columbia resident tuition support Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, any unused federal funds given to the District of Columbia for resident tuition support must be returned after the fiscal year ends, and changes to existing laws ensure these funds cannot be carried over to future years. This rule applies to funds starting from fiscal year 2016 onward.
3. Annual report on use of payments Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia must provide a report to Congress within 60 days after each fiscal year in which the District receives Federal payment for a tuition support program. This report should detail the number of student payments made, the average financial assistance, and any unused funds remaining at the end of the year.