Assisting Students, Parents, and Schools: Congressional Action after the Gulf Coast Hurricanes 

April 26, 2006

 

The prayers of all the American people are with the families who have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as well as all those working on the relief and recovery effort.  Congress responded by approving billions in immediate aid to help address the short-term needs of the victims, but there is much more work to be done.  The House Education & the Workforce Committee continues to work closely with federal agencies to determine how best to meet the needs of the children, families, teachers, and schools impacted by these tragedies.  Below are legislative responses spearheaded by Committee Members to aid students, schools, and families impacted by the Gulf Coast hurricanes.

 

H.R. 2863, the Hurricane Relief Supplemental (signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations bill):

  • Reimburses public, private, and charter schools that have enrolled displaced students, up to $6,000 per student ($7,500 per student in special education).

  • Helps public, private, and charter schools get the supplies and equipment to reopen their doors, including funds to help damaged schools in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas access services, equipment, and supplies.

  • Provides funds to assist higher education institutions that have enrolled displaced students, as well as resources for institutions in Louisiana and Mississippi impacted by the hurricanes.

  • Includes funds for the Head Start early childhood program to assist with the costs not covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and insurance to renovate Head Start facilities affected by the hurricanes.

  • Eases federal requirements for state administration of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to give displaced families easier access to child care services.

 

H.R. 3169, the Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act (signed into law)

  • Sponsored by 21st Century Subcommittee Chairman Ric Keller (R-FL)

  • Waives Pell Grant repayment requirements for students forced to withdraw from higher education due to a natural disaster.

 

H.R. 3668, the Student Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act (signed into law)

  • Sponsored by Committee Member Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

  • Extends repayment waiver authority to other types of grant aid under title IV of the Higher Education Act.

 

H.R. 3863, the Natural Disaster Student Aid Fairness Act (signed into law)

  • Sponsored by Committee Member Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

  • Extends by one year the deadline the U.S. Department of Education has to reallocate funds returned to the department under the campus-based aid programs (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study, and Perkins Loans).

  • Permits the Secretary of Education to waive matching requirements for campus-based aid funding for affected institutions and institutions that have enrolled displaced students.

  • Allows the U.S. Department of Education to redirect aid to students and campuses that have most needed it in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Aid has also been redirected to institutions that have enrolled students displaced by the storms.

 

H.R. 3975, the Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act (passed by the House)

  • Sponsored by Committee Member Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

  • Would expand outreach efforts to ensure disadvantaged students and families have access to information about financial aid that may be available as they pursue higher education.

  • Would require colleges and universities to adjust financial aid award calculations through the Expected Family Contribution, taking into account changes in families’ financial circumstances caused by the hurricanes.

  • Would encourage institutions of higher education to ease the process for displaced students to transfer academic credits.

 

The Education & the Workforce Committee has been active in driving legislation to provide resources to schools and families as quickly as possible, and likewise, it has been and will remain active in investigating why there occasionally may be obstacles as part of that process.  The Committee and the Congress have the opportunity and the obligation to look back, learn from shortcomings, and build upon successes.  This is a process that the Committee will remain committed to in the months and years ahead.