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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2005 |
CONTACT: Kevin Smith or Alexa Marrero Telephone: (202) 225-4527 |
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Boehner Highlights Hurricane Katrina Response Efforts by Secretaries Spellings & Chao
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) today praised the efforts of U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and the actions taken by both departments in response to Hurricane Katrina. Spellings and Chao today briefed members of the Education & the Workforce Committee, both Republicans and Democrats, on the response effort by both departments.
“Secretaries Spellings and Chao have been working to assess the situation and determine how their agencies can respond quickly and effectively in helping students, schools, families, and communities, and I’m pleased they came up to the Hill to brief Republican and Democrat committee members on their efforts,” said Boehner.
“The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina has impacted all facets of American life, and I’m pleased that both departments are making progress on their efforts to aid in the relief and recovery effort,” Boehner continued. “We’ve been working closely with federal agencies to determine how best to meet the needs of the children, families, teachers, and schools impacted by this tragedy, and will continue to ensure that all of the federal government’s resources are available to help each and every American in need.”
“We’ve worked
with federal agencies over the
past two weeks on the immediate response, and we’ll continue to work with
them on broader, longer-term solutions to ensure the full recovery of the
affected regions,” said Boehner. The House already has passed three bills, outlined below, to provide immediate relief for students and working families.
The Student Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act (H.R. 3668) protect students from having to repay other types of grant aid awarded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act (HEA), a requirement that could place undue burden on students already forced to contend with significant hardships due to natural disasters. The TANF Emergency Response & Recovery Act (H.R. 3672) provides additional funds and flexibility to the federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) grant program, which provides financial resources to residents in need of temporary economic assistance. Moreover, Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) today introduced the Flexibility for Displaced Workers Act (H.R. 3761), legislation to provide more flexibility for displaced Gulf Coast workers who are seeking employment and training through the U.S. Department of Labor’s National Emergency Grant (NEG) program. The NEG program provides temporary disaster relief employment and training of up to six months to individuals who participate in projects that provide assistance for victims of that particular disaster. The Labor Department recently awarded $191.1 million in NEGs to help provide more than 40,000 temporary jobs in the impacted region.
For additional information on administrative and legislative actions taken to assist students, schools, workers, families, and communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina, visit the “Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding & Recovery” website at http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/hurricane/katrina.htm. # # # # # |