[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1793-E1794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PELL GRANT HURRICANE AND DISASTER RELIEF ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2005

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to 
assist college students who have been victimized by widespread 
devastation visited on the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina last week. 
We, in North Carolina, know well the destruction hurricanes can cause 
as our State has been hit by at least five major hurricanes over the 
past decade. The Federal Government has a solemn responsibility to help 
those in need, and H.R. 3169 is one very small step in that effort.
  Specifically, H.R. 3169 will relieve some burden for displaced 
college students who otherwise would be required to pay back their Pell 
grants. This bill would allow the U.S. Education Department to waive 
the repayment requirement for Pell grant recipients whose school 
attendance is interrupted because of the impact of a disaster, provided 
that the students were living, working or attending school in an area 
designated by the President to warrant major disaster assistance.
  Congress must also pass legislation introduced by Congressman George 
Miller and Congressman Dale Kildee to provide more comprehensive relief 
for student victims of the storm. Nearly 100,000 college students have 
been displaced, while some 30 colleges in the Gulf Coast region have 
been severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Many students and families 
no longer have the necessary resources to pay for college--even after 
their current Federal student aid is taken into account. We need to 
ensure that we help all college students and student borrowers who have 
been adversely impacted by this disaster.
  Congress has much, much more work to do to assist in the relief, 
recovery and reconstruction in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 3129 
is a minimal early step in that effort, and I urge its adoption.

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