H.R. 3567 – To require the General Accounting Office to conduct an investigation of the hig…

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2 earlier actions

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Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.

Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee

January 30, 2004

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 20, 2003

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

November 20, 2003

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.

Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee

January 30, 2004

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 3567 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Jon C. PorterR-NV-3 · Nov 17, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3198) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill

(H.R. 3198) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3198 reauthorizes the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for 3 years, authorizing funding for its capital repair and maintenance, allows for the GAO review of ongoing construction projects, and creates a new mechanism to ensure effective project oversight.

This bill is the product of a thorough legislative process. The subcommittee held an oversight hearing that included the GAO and the Kennedy Center, reviewed their comprehensive building plan and capital program, and discussed options for improving upon their programs. This process resulted in the bipartisan legislation we are bringing to the floor this afternoon.

I would like to recognize and congratulate the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), as well as full committee chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), for their hard work in developing this legislation.

Since its founding, the Kennedy Center has become one of the world's premier entertainment venues, featuring award-winning theater, opera, and symphony performances. The funds we are authorizing today will go solely towards the upkeep and maintenance of the facility, for such repairs as elevator upgrades, handicap accessibility, enhanced fire and life safety equipment, and improved security systems. These repairs are in line with a comprehensive building plan maintained by the Kennedy Center and created at the direction of Congress in 1994. This legislation also incorporates several provisions that ensure effective project oversight.

It is no secret that there are Federal construction projects that have gone beyond their original budget, beyond schedule, and well beyond their original scope. Oftentimes it is the lack of adequate project management and oversight that allow this type of growth. That was the finding of a GAO report requested by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the Kennedy Center's garage expansion project.

The provision in this bill, including the creation of a project team, the requirement of a project director, and enhanced oversight by the GAO, should prevent such problems as the Kennedy Center goes forward with the construction of a new plaza and two new buildings. However, this reauthorization does not include any money for the plaza project. All of the funding authorized in this bill will be used for the existing structure and its surroundings. By supporting the regular maintenance and upkeep of the Kennedy Center, we will ensure that the center will continue to be a world-class venue well into the future. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Timothy H. BishopD-NY-1 · Nov 17, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3198, a bill to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3198, a bill to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Almost a decade ago, the Committee on Public Works, recognizing the inefficiency of years of divided responsibility for the operations, maintenance, and capital repairs of the Kennedy Center, passed H.R. 3567, which gave the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center centralized responsibilities for these matters.

In an effort to prevent continued deterioration of this landmark structure and Presidential memorial, the board asked for and received authority to maintain and improve the center. Former presidents Wolfensohn and Wilker, along with the current president, Michael Kaiser, continually worked to identify and put in place a capital improvement program to enhance the building. They believed it was of the utmost importance that the Kennedy Center management have the responsible and accountability for the building as well as its performing arts and education activities.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's interest then, as it is now, focuses on the use of appropriated funds for the capital improvement program and the repair and alteration of this Presidential memorial. To avoid the previous situation of unmet building needs and delayed repair, the center is now required to submit a 5-year capital plan to the committee. H.R. 3198 authorizes $53 million over 3 years for routine repair and alteration and $52 million for capital projects.

To address improved management for the plaza project, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, our former colleague, Norman Mineta, to establish a project team and appoint a

project director. The president of the Kennedy Center and the administrator of General Services will serve on the team. The plaza project, when completed, will change the face of Washington in the West End. It is a monumental project that will not only enhance our Nation's Capital, but also provide safer and easier access to the center for patrons, visitors, and tourists. The center, under the leadership of Michael Kaiser, is working diligently to address general management of the facility as well as unmet personal needs. I support H.R. 3198 and urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Don YoungR-AK · Nov 17, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my strong support for H.R. 3198, ``The John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2003.'' The Kennedy Center serves an important role in our Nation. Not only is…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 20, 2003

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3567 Introduced in House (IH)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3567

To require the General Accounting Office to conduct an investigation of
the high price of college textbooks.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 20, 2003

Mr. Wu introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require the General Accounting Office to conduct an investigation of
the high price of college textbooks.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) It is in the interest of the Nation to ensure that the
people of the United States have the opportunity to obtain a
postsecondary education.
(2) According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2001 a
person with a bachelor's degree earned nearly 90 percent more,
on average, than a person with only a high school diploma.
(3) Since 1980, the rate of increase of the cost of
postsecondary education has far exceeded the rate of increase
of inflation, public assistance to students, and family income.
(4) Over the past decade, increases in tuition at private
colleges and universities in the United States have averaged
nearly 5 percent per year and have been twice as great as
increases in the Consumer Price Index.
(5) The rapidly rising cost of postsecondary education
poses a serious threat to the ability of the people of the
United States to ensure their and their children's access to
postsecondary education.
(6) Since 1992, the annual amount of new student loan
commitments has increased from $15,000,000,000 to
$35,000,000,000, which represents an increasing burden on
college graduates to pay for their college education long after
that education is completed.
(7) According to the National Association of Independent
Colleges and Universities, nearly 80 percent of their full
time, dependent undergraduates receive some sort of financial
assistance.
(8) Students can spend nearly $1000 a year on college
textbooks, and, for many students, particularly those in 2-year
degree and certificate programs, textbooks make up a large
percentage of postsecondary education costs.
(9) American college students often find that their
textbooks cost far less overseas than they do in United States;
oftentimes, the exact same textbook can be purchased overseas
at half the cost.
(10) Congress must do everything possible, including
addressing the cost of college textbooks, to make college more
affordable.

SEC. 2. COMPTROLLER GENERAL INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.

(a) Investigation Required.--Within 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct an
investigation to examine--
(1) the cost of college textbooks in the United States; and
(2) whether the same textbooks are being sold outside the
United States for substantially less than the cost in the
United States.
(b) Report Required.--Within one year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report on the
investigation required by subsection (a) to the Committee on Education
and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. Such report shall
include--
(1) the average amount of money a student spends on
textbooks;
(2) the average cost to produce a new textbook;
(3) the average cost to produce a new edition of a
previously published textbook;
(4) the reasons for the price discrepancy in textbooks in
the United States and outside the United States;
(5) the extent of the problem with such price discrepancy;
(6) whether the price discrepancy problem occurs more in
certain subject areas than others;
(7) the extent to which new editions of textbooks are
different from their previous editions, including the
percentage of work that is actually substantively changed from
one edition to the next; and
(8) the average time period between old and newer editions
of textbooks.
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To require the General Accounting Office to conduct an investigation of the high price of college textbooks.

Legislative Activity

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