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Extending Secretary Of Education Waiver Authority

Date: Sept. 27, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Education


EXTENDING SECRETARY OF EDUCATION WAIVER AUTHORITY -- (House of Representatives - September 27, 2006)

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6106.

As the gentleman from Louisiana just mentioned, over a year ago our Nation experienced one of the worst natural disasters in our history when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated southeast Louisiana and parts of Mississippi. He mentioned that public and private schools were forced to close, and over 150,000 students were displaced as a direct result of those hurricanes.

Last year, the Hurricane Education Recovery Act was enacted. It authorized the U.S. Secretary of Education to waive selected portions of general education law having to do with State or school district use of Federal funds.

Unfortunately, the waiver is set to expire on September 30, even though the families continue to return to the area and their schools are in need of rebuilding. The waiver is critical because it allows school systems the flexibility to use available Federal funds for the most critical needs. Without the waiver, they would have funding for just about everything they need except those critical immediate needs required to reopen the schools. Without the waiver, they won't be able to spend the money for those critical needs. This waiver has worked well and just needs to be extended.

On September 19, just a few days ago, H.R. 6106 to extend the waiver authority for the Secretary of Education was introduced by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal). This legislation is a straightforward extension of the Secretary of Education's waiver authority for an additional fiscal year through 2007.

This bill would not have been possible without the hard work of not only the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) but his Louisiana colleagues, Mr. Melancon and Mr. Jefferson on this side, and I am sure there are others he might want to mention.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to help Louisiana continue their recovery effort by supporting the passage of H.R. 6106.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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