703

1605

STATEMENT OF C. FRANCIS MURPHY,
CORPORATION COUNSEL, D.C. ON H. CON. RES.
399, A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO DISAPPROVE
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RENTAL ACCOMMODA-
TIONS ACT OF 1975.

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE:

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY AND EXPRESS ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OUR OPPOSITION TO THE APPROVAL OF H. CON. RES. 399. I REQUEST THAT THERE BE INCLUDED IN THE RECORD OF THIS HEARING THE VARIOUS DOCUMENTS TRANSMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE JOINTLY BY THE MAYOR AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL UNDER DATE OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1975, WHICH PROVIDE BACKGROUND AND SUPPORTIVE MATERIAL AND THE RATIONALE FOR THE ENACTMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RENTAL ACCOMMODATIONS ACT.

WE BELIEVE THAT ACT 1-46 REPRESENTS A REASONABLE

AND RATIONAL EFFORT BY THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT TO MEET
THE NEEDS OF LANDLORD AND TENANT INTERESTS.

OBVIOUSLY

BY THE VERY NATURE OF THE SUBJECT THIS IS A CONTROVER-
SIAL TOPIC AND AS IN MANY LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS OF THIS
TYPE OPPOSING DEMANDS CANNOT BE COMPLETELY MET. NEVER-
THELESS, THE DECISION ON WHAT SHOULD COMPRISE AN EFFEC-
TIVE RENT STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN THE DISTRICT IS A
MATTER OF LOCAL CONCERN WHICH SHOULD BE MADE BY THE