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Government RelationsGovernment policies, acts, bills, and laws designed to help institutions and individuals that have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and/or Wilma.
Share and Share Alike (1/31/06)
The Dept. of Education was granted $10 million to allocate to colleges and universities that took in displaced students. 159 institutions applied by for grants to offset their costs, and 99 were deemed eligible. Schools needed to have at least 10 displaced students who had applied for student aid and not yet received it. Institutions were asked how much money would they like, how many students did they take in, and how many of those were eligible for financial aid. Those that requested only modest sums were given just that, while those that aimed high received much more. Some schools did not apply for the available funds or declined to accept any, hoping to help those who needed it most, but in fact the distribution was not based on need at all.
Additional Help for Colleges Affected by Katrina and Rita (1/19/06)
Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education, met with the presidents and student leaders of eight New Orleans colleges and universities. Following that meeting, she announced that an additional $30 million would be given to the affected campuses and the host instituions that took in the displaced students. The federal funds are coming from unspent student aid.
Painful Weekend in Congress (12/19/05)
Congress worked long into the weekend to finish up their session before adjourning for the year. This article summarizes the issues that were agreed upon that affect higher education and the Gulf Coast institutions, including a response to higher education associations' request for Katrina Relief.
Tax Incentives OKd for Katrina-Hit Businesses (12/17/05)
An $8 billion federal package that was aimed at helping businesses recover from Katrina also doubled the education tax credits students and/or their families are eligible to claim on their tax returns.
ACE Speaks Out to Congress for Katrina Relief (12/13/05)
David Ward, the President of the American Council on Education (ACE), with the support of many other higher education associations, requests that Congress takes immediate action to help the Gulf Coast institutions that still remain closed by allocating $500 million to aid in their recovery efforts.
Inside Higher Ed News: Adding Up the Damage (11/14/05)
An article tallying up to damages from Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita incurred by institutions in higher education.
President Bush Requests Rescission and Reallocation Packages (10/28/05)
A summary presented by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) of President Bush's proposal to reallocate already appropriated funds to begin rebuilding the critical infrastructure in the Gulf Region and to continue recovery efforts.
Communications through OMB that led up to President Bush's proposal:
Hurricane Relief Roundup (10/6/05)
Several bills to assist students and others affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have been introduced in Congress and are now in various stages of the legislative process. The Bush administration has also proposed a relief package that includes assistance to institutions that admitted students from hurricane-affected colleges and universities.
House and Senate Finalize Tax Relief Package for Katrina Victims (9/22/05)
The House and Senate recently passed a package of tax breaks worth an estimated $6 billion for individuals and organizations affected by Hurricane Katrina, including several charitable giving incentives in the final version of the bill (HR 3768). |
