109th Congress
2nd Session
S. 1683
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 11, 2005
Introduced by Ms. Watts
A BILL
To provide relief for students affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Be it enacted by the Senate of the United States of America in the Congressional
Simulation assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Students of Hurricane Katrina Relief Act of 2005’.
SECTION 2. DEFINITION OF STUDENT AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.
In this Act, the term ‘student affected by Hurricane Katrina’ refers to a student who
resides or resided on August 22, 2005, in an area, or is enrolled or was enrolled on
August 22, 2005, in a school located in an area, for which a major disaster has been
declared in accordance with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
SECTION 3. EDUCATION EXPENSES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds made available to the Federal
Emergency Management Agency for purposes of Hurricane Katrina relief may be used to
pay any education expense—
(1) related to a student affected by Hurricane Katrina; and
(2) that the Secretary of Education determines appropriate.
SECTION 4. WAIVER OF EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Education may waive any
requirement of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for a State, local
educational agency, school, teacher, or student that or who is affected by an influx of a
student affected by Hurricane Katrina.
SECTION 5. HOMELESS STUDENTS.
(a) School Placement –
(1) IN GENERAL – The school placement provisions shall not apply to students
affected by Hurricane Katrina.
(2) SCHOOL PLACEMENT PROVISIONS – In this subsection, the term ‘school
placement provisions’ refers to subsections of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act and any other provision of such Act that relates to the placement,
or a change in placement, of homeless children and youths in school.
(b) Student Identification – A local educational agency, elementary school, or secondary
school may issue and require the use of identification cards or other identifying
insignia for students affected by Hurricane Katrina.
(c) Definitions – In this subsection:
(1) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY SCHOOL – The terms
‘elementary school’ and ‘secondary school’ are defined by the given terms in
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
(2) HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS – The term ‘homeless children and
youths’ is defined by the given term in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall be effective for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act
and ending on June 30, 2006.
Press Release
Senator Lezley Watts – Texas
Senator Watts Introduces Hurricane Katrina Education Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Washington D.C. – Senator Lezley Watts (R-TX) will introduce legislation today that
would provide relief for students affected by Hurricane Katrina. The bill focuses on providing
emergency relief funding for costs associated with providing student-evacuees with primary and
secondary education.
“The states that have opened their doors and their hearts to the victims of Hurricane
Katrina are deeply in need of relief. These states have graciously accepted thousands of studentevacuees into their schools,” Senator Watts said. “Yet, the school districts’ budgets were already
stretched thin. To best educate new students without disrupting the education of current
students, these schools need help putting teachers in place and purchasing textbooks.”
This legislation would allow FEMA to transfer emergency relief funds from its “Disaster
Relief Fund” to the Secretary of Education. The funds would then be utilized to cover education
expenses for schools. The bill would grant these schools with an ability to purchase needed
textbooks and materials, while also allowing for an increase in teacher employment.
US SENATOR LEZLEY A WATTS - TEXA S
February 12, 2016
Fellow Colleagues:
We are all aware of the physical and emotional devastation occurring in the Southern region of our
nation as a result of Hurricane Katrina. As relief efforts continue, twenty-eight states have opened their
doors and their hearts to student-evacuees. To better help these students we must help the school districts
that have so graciously taken them in.
There are now has more than 45,000 student-evacuees in our Texas public schools. This kind of influx
proves challenging to any school district. It becomes impossible to maintain the curriculum and level of
education that was ongoing prior to Hurricane Katrina when a district experiences a drastic increase in such a
short time frame. No school district is able to take in and educate that number of students without help.
Texas schools were already on a stretched budget and now must hire extra teachers, supply school materials,
and purchase textbooks.
I am introducing legislation that will provide relief to student-evacuees and those schools who have
chosen to step-in and provide them with a strong education. Students in great numbers going into public
schools as a result of having to evacuate from an emergency disaster is not an issue covered by the law. At
this time, there is no money within FEMA directed towards education expenses. The legislation that I am
introducing will allow FEMA to transfer relief funds to the Department of Education for purposes of
reimbursing schools for the educational expenses brought forth by this disaster. This will allow these districts
to provide the quality of education all our children deserve.
The funds have already been appropriated and, once transferred to the Department of Education, will be
under the authority of the Secretary of Education. The legislation is limited to students who are victims of
Hurricane Katrina and will sunset at the end of this school year. Since the legislation will not be permanent,
there is no reason to fear that it will put the Federal Government into public education throughout the
country. Therefore, I ask that Congress act quickly in passing this legislation so we can alleviate the strain
these schools are feeling and get the funding where it needs to be.
Many states have been so generous in offering whatever resources they have available to studentevacuees. However, we need to help these communities so they can continue to provide for the victims of
Hurricane Katrina. In regards to future emergencies, we want to demonstrate to the nation that any state
willing to provide for emergency victims will not be overwhelmed by expenses. It is my hope that Congress
act soon on this legislation and we can move forward in helping those affected.
Thank you,
Senator Lezley A Watts
284 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BLDG • WASHINGTON, DC • 20510-4304
Lezley Watts
POL407 – (R-TX)
October 11, 2005
Sources
Bill Proposal:
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey. “A bill to provide for students affected by Hurricane Katrina.”
S. 1683. Introduced 12 Sept 2005. <http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:S.168
3:> 8 Oct 2005.
Press Release/Colleague Letter/Student Explanation:
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey. “Senator Hutchison Delivers Floor Statement On Hurricane Katrina
Education Funding.” Press Release. 14 Sept 2005. <http://hutchison.senate.gov/
prl732.htm> 8 Oct 2005.
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey. “Providing For Continued Education Of Students Affected By
Hurricane Katrina.” Press Release. 22 Sept 2005. <http://hutchison.senate.gov/
speec462.htm> 8 Oct 2005.