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WASHINGTON, DC -- Colleges, universities, and their students affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita would get help in rebounding from the storm under a new bill unveiled today by Democratic members of the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers said reopening the impacted schools as quickly as possible is a critical component of the Gulf Coast’s economic revitalization. Their five-year, $4.6 billion plan involving loan forgiveness and new grants has already drawn support from the presidents of several colleges in the Gulf Coast. The hurricanes have adversely affected over 100,000 college students and 30,000 college faculty and staff members, and they have shuttered 30 college campuses.
“Our plan will help students and colleges affected by Katrina and Rita to quickly get back to the business of learning and teaching, and will assist the Gulf Coast’s plan to revitalize its economy and culture,” said Representative George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the education committee.
Miller proposed the plan today along with Representative Dale Kildee (D-MI), the senior Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees higher education issues. “Colleges and universities are a magnet for people and resources and they create good jobs, so helping them will help the Gulf Coast economy,” Kildee said. “Colleges in the area desperately need our help to get back to business, and students need our help to get on with their educations.”
<P>“The devastation in the Gulf Coast is so great that it will be very difficult for many of these campuses to reopen without significant assistance – particularly historically black colleges and universities, many of which have been devastated by the disasters – and we ought to help provide that assistance right away,” said Representative Artur Davis (D-AL), who represents parts of central and west Alabama.
The Miller-Kildee-Davis proposal would attract students, faculty, and staff to the Gulf Coast and keep them there. It has two major components:
- Loan forgiveness for low- and middle-income students. Low- and middle-income students at campuses affected by Katrina and Rita would receive $2,500 in loan forgiveness for each full-time year of study at the school, up to a maximum of $10,000 for students at 4-year colleges and universities and $5,000 for students at community colleges. The plan provides $1.6 billion for loan forgiveness.
- One-time grants for affected colleges for recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff. These grants could be used to provide need-based aid to students, provide room and board to students, develop temporary housing for faculty and staff, continue making payroll for up to one year, and promote the college at job and college fairs. These grants would give flexibility to colleges to meet their unique recruitment and retention needs. The plan provides $3 billion for these grants.
Miller said that the relief package will be particularly crucial for New Orleans’ historically black colleges and universities, which were disproportionately affected by the disaster. Dillard University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Southern University at New Orleans – all historically black colleges and universities – suffered at least $1 billion in flood and fire destruction, the Washington Post reported last week.
Miller pointed out that while Democrats support the initial steps taken by the Bush Administration and Congress to help college students in the wake of Katrina and Rita, neither President Bush nor the Congress have taken any additional steps to ensure that impacted Gulf Coast colleges are able to reopen their doors and begin serving students and their communities again.
The Democratic proposal drew strong support from the presidents of four leading New Orleans colleges: Rev. Anthony De Conciliis, the President of Our Lady of Holy Cross College; Alex Johnson, the Chancellor of Delgado Community College; Dr. Marvalene Hughes, the President of Dillard University; and Dr. Norman C. Francis, the President of Xavier University of Louisiana.
The four college Presidents issued comments in support of the Miller-Kildee-Davis proposal. Those comments are below.
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Comments from New Orleans College Presidents in Support of Democratic Higher Education Relief Plan
“Gulf coast financial educational incentives will allow our college and all others to continue to offer the important educational services, at an affordable tuition, to needy students who live and work in the New Orleans area. As a result of the hurricanes many of these students and their families have lost almost everything. Given that over 95% of our students already depend on some form of financial aid, financial incentives will not only allow them to be educated, but also to continue to contribute to the future economic prosperity of the city and state. With the help of this legislation, we will be back in business in January, which is our goal and the goal of other New Orleans colleges and universities.”
--Rev. Anthony De Conciliis, C.S.C, President, Our Lady of Holy Cross College
“If enacted and funded, the Gulf Coast College Revitalization Act will help our colleges play their integral and essential role in our community's economic and social recovery. We believe that it is imperative that our college receives assistance to recruit and retain students and teachers, and this bill would achieve that end.”
--Mr. Alex Johnson, Chancellor, Delgado Community College
“Providing students and their families economic incentives to enroll in our schools sends just the right signal of hope to New Orleans. Namely, that Americans of all stripes and backgrounds are ready to come to New Orleans to study, grow and enjoy our renewed cultural life. We can and will rebuild.”
--Dr. Marvalene Hughes, President, Dillard University
“This is a tremendous start and a major investment of funds as we start rebuilding. It gives us confidence that we will be able to meet our goal of reopening in January.”
--Dr. Norman C. Francis, President, Xavier University of Louisiana
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