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COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE
WORKFORCE October 20, 2005 Flexibility & Common Sense for Hurricane Relief COSPONSOR THE HURRICANE REGULATORY RELIEF ACT
Dear Colleague:
A key component of the Gulf Coast hurricane relief and recovery effort is flexibility and adaptability. Entire communities have been uprooted by these unprecedented natural disasters, and bureaucratic red tape must not stand in the way of efforts to rebuild the region. To provide common sense flexibility and assistance, we introduced the Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 3975). The bill emphasizes much-needed regulatory relief to help the students, schools, workers, families, and communities affected by the hurricanes.
FLEXIBILITY FOR TEACHERS & SCHOOLS
The Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act assists teachers and schools by easing burdensome requirements and encouraging greater flexibility for impacted areas. For one year, the bill eases some financial requirements for K-12 schools in the impacted Gulf Coast region. This type of regulatory relief will provide much needed flexibility, free up resources and ensure states and schools are able to effectively serve affected students. The bill also assists teachers by: allowing displaced teachers to be considered highly qualified when teaching outside their home state in areas that are serving large numbers of displaced students; expanding the special education Paperwork Reduction Pilot program; and protecting student loan forgiveness opportunities for displaced teachers.
FLEXIBILITY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Colleges and universities have been especially hard hit by the storms, and they need both flexibility and financial relief as they work to reopen and continue providing opportunities for students and communities. To assist the affected higher education systems, the bill strengthens financial aid opportunities for affected students, eases financial burdens on students and schools, and encourages college credit mobility. In addition, the bill expands access to educational opportunities through distance learning to assist displaced students and provides greater flexibility for colleges and universities.
FLEXIBILITY FOR FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES
The bill eases burdensome requirements and provides additional guidance and flexibility to ensure affected families have access to child care and early childhood education through programs such as Head Start. In addition, the bill promotes community-based recovery services by allowing additional flexibility within the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program, which provides an array of services and assistance through Community Action Agencies.
FLEXIBILITY FOR DISPLACED WORKERS
The Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act provides displaced workers the training and flexibility they need. It provides states and local communities impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita the ability to seek federal waivers so they may transfer certain Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds and federal employment services funds. The bill also cuts red tape to ensure displaced workers seeking emergency loans and hardship distributions from their personal retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, may access them more quickly and easily. Finally, the bill enhances safety and reduces bureaucracy in relief projects.
A summary of the Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act is available on the Education & the Workforce Committee “Gulf Coast Hurricanes: Rebuilding & Recovery” website at http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/hurricane/hrrabillsummary100605.htm. For more information or to sign on as a cosponsor, contact Jessica Gross with the Committee at x5-4527 or email Jessica.Gross@mail.house.gov.
Sincerely,
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