No More D.C. Waste Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1686

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Last Updated

2025-09-02T17:53:20Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "No More D.C. Waste Act" (H.R. 1686) aims to ensure that federal funds provided to the District of Columbia (D.C.) for resident tuition support programs are spent within the fiscal year they are allocated. It prevents unused portions of these funds from carrying over indefinitely, promoting timely use, and requires annual reporting on how the funds are used to increase transparency and accountability.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Carryover Funds (Section 2): Any part of the federal payment to D.C. for tuition support that is not committed (unobligated) by the end of the fiscal year must lapse and cannot be used afterward. This applies to both public and private school programs under the D.C. College Access Act of 1999.
• Amendments to Existing Law: Removes language from the D.C. College Access Act that allowed these funds to "remain available until expended," meaning they could be carried over indefinitely.
• Effective Date: The changes apply to funds appropriated starting from fiscal year 2016 onward.
• Annual Reporting Requirement (Section 3): Beginning with fiscal year 2026, D.C.'s Chief Financial Officer must submit a report to Congress within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year. The report must include:
• The number of payments made to students under the program.
• The average amount of financial assistance per payment.
• The amount of federal funds that remained unobligated at the end of the year.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Previously, under the D.C. College Access Act of 1999, federal tuition support funds for D.C. residents could be carried over and used in future years without expiration. This bill eliminates that flexibility, forcing all funds to be obligated (committed to specific uses) by the fiscal year's end or lose them.
• Introduces a new federal mandate for D.C. to report detailed usage data annually, which was not required before.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: D.C. government agencies managing the tuition program will need to accelerate spending and planning to avoid losing funds, potentially improving budget efficiency but increasing administrative pressure. Federal agencies overseeing payments to D.C. may see reduced long-term fiscal commitments.
• On Citizens: D.C. residents, particularly students relying on tuition support for college (e.g., at public or private institutions), could face disruptions if funds lapse due to delays in processing applications or awards. This might limit access to financial aid in subsequent years.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses solely on domestic federal funding to D.C.
• Overall, the legislation could lead to more disciplined use of taxpayer dollars but risks underfunding the program if administrative hurdles slow obligation of funds.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• D.C. Residents and Students: Primary beneficiaries of the tuition support program, who may experience changes in aid availability.
• D.C. Government: Including the Chief Financial Officer and education agencies responsible for administering the program and complying with reporting.
• U.S. Congress: Gains oversight through required reports and controls federal spending on D.C. programs.
• Federal Agencies: Such as the Department of Education or Treasury, involved in appropriating and monitoring payments to D.C.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill amends D.C.'s local code (D.C. Official Code sections 38-2702 and 38-2704) through federal legislation, reinforcing Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over D.C. It ensures federal funds are used as intended without local discretion for carryover.
• Constitutional: Highlights the unique status of D.C. as a federal district without full statehood, where Congress can directly regulate local finances, potentially raising debates on home rule (D.C.'s limited self-governance).
• Political: The short title ("No More D.C. Waste Act") implies a focus on reducing perceived inefficiencies in federal spending on D.C., which could fuel partisan discussions on D.C. autonomy and federal oversight, though the bill itself is procedural and non-partisan in application.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
• 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• No More D.C. Waste Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (3 pages)