|
CORNYN: President’s Speech
Commitment to funding state reimbursement is encouraging
September 16, 2005 - “A number of states have taken in evacuees and shown them great compassion – admitting children to school, and providing health care. So I will work with Congress to ensure that states are reimbursed for these extra expenses.” –President Bush, September 15, 2005
WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn made the following statement Thursday regarding the President’s address to the nation:
“It’s encouraging to hear the President’s plan to reimburse communities that have opened their homes and schools to our neighbors, particularly in the area of education. My conversations with Secretary Spellings have been reassuring, and I know that she is working hard to compensate Texas schools for their efforts to educate children displaced by Katrina. I understand this is just a start to the solution and I will continue to push for full reimbursement for education and other expenses incurred by Texas.”
Earlier in the day, Cornyn announced Senate passage of $400 million in grants for small businesses effected by the hurricane. He also received assurances on Wednesday from the head of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mark McClellan, that Texas will not be responsible for Medicaid costs incurred by Hurricane Katrina victims who are temporarily in the state.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee filed legislation late Thursday to address the immediate needs of school children. This legislation will provide reimbursements to states based on a per-pupil average. It will also allow funds already designated to affected states such as Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to remain in that state to help restore their education system.
In addition, the Senate passed the following legislation Thursday night:
H.R. 3169– Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to waive certain requirements for repayment of federal Pell Grants by students if: (1) they were residing in, employed in, or attending an institution of higher education located in a major disaster area; (2) their attendance was interrupted because of the disaster's impact on them or the institution; and (3) their withdrawal ended within the academic year during which the major disaster designation occurred or during the next succeeding academic year.
HR 3668 – Student Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to waive certain requirements for repayment of federal student grant assistance by students if: (1) they were residing in, employed in, or attending an institution of higher education located in a major disaster area; (2) their attendance was interrupted because of the disaster's impact on them or the institution; and (3) their withdrawal ended within the academic year during which the major disaster designation occurred or during the next succeeding academic year.
Reimbursement funding is a top priority for Sen. Cornyn, who traveled to Houston and the Dallas on Friday to assess the needs of local communities. He will also visit Austin this Saturday to further address the needs and concerns of the leaders there working on Katrina relief efforts.
Sen. Cornyn serves on the Joint Economic Committee, a Senate-House panel established as a counterpart to the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, and on the President’s Export Council. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.
-30-
|
|
