District of Columbia
The Committee has worked for more than a decade to secure equal voting rights in the House, Senate or both for the citizens of the District of Columbia. Over the years, the Committee has favorably reported out different versions of a D.C. Voting Rights bill. In 2009, for the first time in recent memory, the Senate passed the bill reported out of the Committee. The House never acted.
The Committee also has worked to improve educational opportunities for the students of the District, most recently urging reauthorization of and holding hearings on the Opportunity Scholarship Program, which allows low income students to attent private schools on scholarship. The Committee has also long overseen the D.C. Tution Assistance Program, which allows college-bound students who live in the District to attend any state university's at in-state rates.
The Committee also investigates and holds hearings for nominees to the District of Columbia court system. And the Committee has initiated and worked to secure passage of legislation to assist with the smooth and proper functioning of the D.C. court system.