[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3904-S3906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Grams, 
        Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Wellstone):
  S. 684. A bill to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act to provide assistance to local educational 
agencies in cases of certain disasters, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Environment and Public Works.


                      disaster relief legislation

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, last week on several occasions I spoke 
about the devastating impact of the floods along the Red River Valley 
on the residents of the communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Minnesota.
  I note that the current occupant of the chair sent me a very gracious 
note about the fact that he has relatives in North Dakota. I want to 
acknowledge his offer to help, which we appreciate very much.
  The impact of the floods on small communities and the city of Grand 
Forks, ND has been extraordinary. In Grand Forks alone, more than 
60,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters. Much of 
downtown Grand Forks has been destroyed by fires, and an estimated 28 
to 35 schools and higher education facilities have been severely 
damaged or destroyed by the floods.
  This disaster has left more than 11,000 elementary and secondary 
students and 10,500 university students

[[Page S3906]]

without school facilities for classroom instruction. Many of these 
elementary and secondary students are attending classes in more than 30 
school districts across the State. The North Dakota Office of 
Management and Budget has estimated that damage to local education 
facilities, as well as the unanticipated costs to provide education 
services for displaced students around the State, may exceed $250 
million.
  Mr. President, local school districts and the North Dakota University 
system will need considerable assistance from the Department of 
Education and the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] to fully 
recover from this terrible disaster. I have been advised that FEMA, 
under the Robert Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 
has the authority to provide assistance to local governmental agencies 
including school districts and the North Dakota University system, for 
repair of educational facilities.
  FEMA, however, does not have authority under the Stafford Act to 
assist or reimburse a local school district for providing unanticipated 
educational services to displaced students.
  Such emergency educational assistance was available in the past to 
local school districts from the Department of Education under Impact 
Aid, section 7--assistance for current school expenditures in cases of 
certain disasters. This law, unfortunately, was repealed in 1994 during 
consideration of the Improving America's School Act.
  Prior to 1994, for example, school districts affected by natural 
disasters including Hurricane Andrew--1992--in Dade County, FL, and 
communities in 7 states impacted by the Midwest floods--1993--were 
eligible for disaster assistance to meet emergency education operating 
expenses. In North Dakota, more than 30 school districts throughout the 
State are assisting 11,000 displaced students from the Grand Forks 
area. Another 30,000 students in Minnesota are displaced and attending 
classes in school districts across the State. These school districts 
are in urgent need of similar emergency assistance.
  Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to restore the 
authority to provide this emergency education operations assistance for 
elementary and secondary schools. I am very pleased that Senators 
Daschle, Johnson, Dorgan, Wellstone, and Grams are joining me as 
cosponsors of this bill.
  Under this legislation, FEMA would be authorized in section 403--
essential assistance--to provide disaster assistance including 
transportation, emergency food services, and the costs for providing 
educational services to students who formerly attended other schools, 
including private schools, that were damaged or destroyed by disaster. 
This emergency assistance would also be available to schools funded by 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs provided the schools are in the area that 
has been declared a major disaster by the President.
  As FEMA currently has the authority to restore educational 
facilities, I believe the agency is best equipped to respond quickly to 
the emergency operating needs of school districts affected by 
disasters. As I noted earlier, school districts in 7 states affected by 
Midwest floods and Dade County schools impacted by Hurricane Andrew 
benefited from this emergency assistance in 1992-94. There is no 
question that school districts in North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Minnesota urgently need similar assistance. I intend to offer this 
legislation as part of the supplemental disaster assistance measure 
when it reaches the Senate floor. I hope my colleagues will support 
this urgent need.
                                 ______