America’s capital is nearly as beautiful as it is important, as it houses all three branches of the federal government of the United States. But the human capital of Congress, the White House and the Supreme Court must share the stage with the majesty of national monuments and museums, all located near the National Mall. Educationally, D.C. is a mix of traditional public, charter and private schools with the District’s public schools struggling to retain students and student success. Yet the city is home to some of the best colleges in the country, especially in the field of political science. Among the colleges are Georgetown University, George Washington University, American University and Howard University. In 2014, D.C. Councilman David Catania successfully pushed DC Promise legislation through the council, but he stepped down and made an unsuccessful ran for mayor and the D.C. Promise has been stalled.

But city lawmakers are considering a bill to provide scholarships to cover tuition and fees for eligible students attending the District of Columbia Community College. Council member Vincent Orange, who co-introduced the D.C. bill in February 2015, emphasized the intent is to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce, which will fuel local economic development. “This bill is not a handout. It is an investment,” he said.