The measures advanced by Catania reauthorize a successful initiative that supports adoption; promote public transportation; protect the environment; provide increased job training and professional development opportunities; reduce fraud and reform administrative procedures in the District of Columbia Workers' Compensation program; and compel police to increase their enforcement of laws related to automobile theft. Below is a description of Catania's significant initiatives:

ADOPTION Councilmember David Catania allocated $500,000 from budgets under his own committee's purview for the Adoption Voucher Fund within the Child and Family Services Agency for home studies and attorneys' fees. The Adoption Voucher Fund offers foster parents more options and freedom by providing financial assistance for home studies and securing legal services in their effort to adopt current foster children. The Fund's original $2,000,000 appropriation was exhausted by September 30, 2003. Since then, there has been a 15% decline in adoption petitions filed with the Superior Court. Catania received commitments for an additional $700,000 from other sources, thus appropriating $1.2 million dollars to the Fund.

TRANSPORTATION At Councilmember Catania's urging, the budget allows for $486,000 to operate Metro Rail until 3:00 a.m. on weekends. The final document also includes continued funding of a Light Rail Demonstration Project that will increase access to public transportation throughout the District, and more than $200,000 for an elevator/escalator repair training program at Cardozo High School. In addition, language was included requiring at least 78 rail cars be dedicated to the overcrowded Green Line and that no District funds be used for the purchase of diesel buses, except for the proposed Downtown Circulator.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, JOB TRAINING and WORKERS' COMPENSATION Exemplifying Councilmember Catania's commitment to job training, $764,000 was allocated to the Department of Employment Services' Office of Apprenticeship and Training, $350,000 more than the Mayor proposed. He also advocated a new program that will allow unemployed and under-trained residents to leverage federal funds and unemployment benefits on accredited certification courses. In the measure that secured Council approval, Catania also required that decisions on Workers' Compensation appeals be announced within 30 days of its assignment to a newly established Review Board. Under the current system, appeals often languish up to two years before they are decided. In addition to an annual anti-fraud report, the bill requires an audit of the Workers' Compensation administrative fund and the special fund that covers pre-1999 second injury claims and those for which an employer has defaulted its obligation to pay benefits.

PUBLIC SAFETY Councilmembers Catania and Kathy Patterson (Ward 3) received approval of an amendment to the budget that requires the Metropolitan Police Department to deploy at least 3 teams of officers to combat auto theft and reckless driving. In light of the recent rash of car thefts and reckless driving resulting in property loss and death, both Councilmembers expect MPD to build upon the success of the Washington Area Vehicle Enforcement Initiative (WAVE), which has had remarkable success in combating these crimes despite personnel shortages.

For more information on these issues, please contact the Office of Councilmember David Catania by calling 202.724.7772 or visiting www.davidcatania.com.