PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Vetoed by President.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 9, 1997
District of Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act of 1997 - Authorizes the establishment of the District of Columbia Scholarship Corporation as a private, nonprofit corporation to administer, publicize, and evaluate the District of Columbia (District) scholarship program and to determine student and school eligibility for program participation. Establishes the District of Columbia Scholarship Fund, to be administered by the Secretary of the Treasury, through which annual funds shall be provided to the District and used by the Corporation for the program. Authorizes appropriations to the Fund for FY 1998 through 2002. Provides for: (1) organization and management of a Corporation Board of Directors, as well as related offices and staff; and (2) the annual audit of Corporation records. Authorizes the Corporation to award tuition scholarships and enhanced achievement scholarships to District students in kindergarten through grade 12 with family incomes not exceeding 185 percent of the national poverty line. Provides for: (1) certification requirements for educational institutions for eligibility to participate; (2) payments from the Corporation to participating institutions; (3) scholarship payments and amounts; (4) participation requirements for such institutions; (5) annual institution reporting requirements; (6) program appraisal by the Comptroller General, performed through an independent evaluation agency (with an authorization of appropriations for such appraisal); (7) an annual program progress report from the Corporation to the appropriate congressional committees; and (8) judicial review of actions challenging the program. Authorizes appropriations for the Scholarship Fund.
People & committees
Sen. Coats, Daniel [R-IN] · R–IN
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Vetoed by President.
Vetoed by President.
Veto message received in Senate. Held at the desk.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 214 - 206, 1 Present (Roll No. 119).
House roll call 119 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 214 - 206, 1 Present (Roll No. 119).
House roll call 119 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit Failed by recorded vote: 198 - 224 (Roll No. 118). (consideration: CR H2670)
House roll call 118 · Individual votesThe previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered without objection.
Ms. Norton moved to recommit to Government Operations.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - The House resumed debate.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 413, the House proceeded with 2 hours of debate on the bill.
Rule provides for consideration of S. 1502 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. Measure will be considered in the House. At the conclusion of debate, the rule provides for one motion to commit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 413. (consideration: CR H2623-2629, H2651-2671)
Rule H. Res. 413 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 413 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 1502 with 2 hours of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions. Measure will be considered in the House. At the conclusion of debate, the rule provides for one motion to commit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S12271-12277)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S12271-12277)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.1502 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.1502 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.1502 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.1502 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.