[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17192-17193]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW ORLEANS AFTER KATRINA

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak 
out of order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentlewoman from 
California is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, a year ago last week, Americans 
saw one of the most devastating natural disasters in our country's 
recent history. Hurricane Katrina ravaged the gulf coast and 
overwhelmed the levees of New Orleans, resulting in near total 
submersion of that city. A year later, the flood waters have receded, 
yet the devastation sadly remains.
  One area where this devastation is most readily apparent is in the 
city's

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public schools, many of which were destroyed beyond repair in the 
storms. However, the system which has arisen in the wake of Katrina is 
fragmented and poorly organized. More than half of New Orleans' schools 
remain closed a year after the storm. Of those that are open, some are 
run by the city, others are run by the State, and others are run by 
private companies. As a result, area schools may have different 
application procedures, admission rules, and starting dates. That is no 
way to educate children.

                              {time}  2000

  Further complicating this problem is the fact that more students are 
returning than were ever previously expected, putting an additional 
strain on a system already stretched to the breaking point. Parents 
have expressed frustration at the difficulty of navigating this system, 
and many have been unable to enroll their children in school, despite 
their best efforts.
  These barriers to education are intolerable, Mr. Speaker, anywhere in 
America. However, it is particularly egregious that we have allowed 
such barriers to exist for a population that is already so challenged. 
We must do better, especially for an area with a high minority 
population, high poverty levels and historically poor academic 
outcomes.
  The consequences of the failure to improve the education system in 
New Orleans are all too real. Without drastic improvement, we will 
surely see higher dropout rates and substandard education for those who 
manage to remain in school.
  Furthermore, the effects of this neglect will not rest solely with 
the young and vulnerable. A poorly educated population promises a bleak 
future for the entire City of New Orleans and for this country, one 
characterized by poverty, crime and broken families.
  We cannot leave the victims of Hurricane Katrina to fend for 
themselves twice. President Bush has promised to stand with the victims 
of Hurricane Katrina until the job is done, yet the persistent problems 
with New Orleans schools are a disheartening sign that the job is far 
from done.
  In Congress, we have approved four emergency spending bills that 
together provide more than $110 billion in Federal aid for rebuilding 
these areas. However, less than half of this money has actually been 
spent by Federal agencies, with hardly any accountability. Much needs 
to be done to help New Orleans recover from the disastrous effects of 
Hurricane Katrina. However, we must prioritize children in our efforts 
to rebuild this city, making them first priority.
  Therefore, I call on the Bush administration, as well as relevant 
State and local agencies, to promise the children of New Orleans that 
they will have access to safe, high quality schools this year. As part 
of this, the administration must exercise the oversight and follow-
through necessary to ensure that Federal funds are appropriately spent 
and schools are built.
  Our children can wait no longer. While Hurricane Katrina resulted in 
much destruction along the Gulf Coast, it has also given us an 
unprecedented opportunity to completely remake underperforming schools. 
We must do that for the children of America. We must do that for New 
Orleans children. I demand that this administration and other relevant 
persons not let this opportunity slip through their fingers.

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