[StBernard] Melancon Introduces Two Bills to Help Education System Recover from Katrina and Rita

[Westley Annis]

	WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon introduced two bills
today to help south Louisiana's education system recover from Hurricanes
Rita and Katrina.  The Revitalizing New Orleans by Attracting America's
Leaders (RENEWAAL) Act of 2007 was introduced by Rep. Melancon, Rep. George
Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep.
William Jefferson (D-LA).  The RENEWALL Act addresses the severe teacher
shortage in schools in south Louisiana and other hurricane-affected
communities and will help them pay off debt and meet other challenges
they've faced in the year and a half since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
devastated the Gulf Coast.  
	"Teachers and administrators across the Gulf Coast have performed
heroically in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Rep.
Melancon.  "So many have worked tirelessly, under extremely difficult
conditions, to get their schools up and running so families can return home
and begin rebuilding their lives.  Good schools are part of the bedrock of
our communities and the RENEWAAL Act will give these dedicated educators a
helping hand in recruiting and retaining top quality teachers and
principals.  I am proud to join Chairman Miller and Rep. Jefferson in
introducing this important legislation that will help our entire education
system recover from the hurricanes and return to some degree of normalcy."
	Chairman Miller added, "For a year and a half, schools in New
Orleans and its surrounding parishes have waited in vain for much of the
help they need to get back to the business of educating the thousands of
students returning to the area with their families.  We should not only get
schools these resources, but also help them to become models for other
schools around the country."
	The RENEWAAL Act provides incentives to qualified educators and
principals that stay in or return to hurricane-impacted public schools and
commit to work there for at least three years.  Highly qualified teachers
could receive an annual bonus of up to $10,000, while principals who have a
demonstrated track record of success with improving urban schools could
qualify for a bonus of up to $16,500 a year.  The bill would also assist
these educators with a relocation bonus ($2,500), housing grants ($500 a
month) and student loan forgiveness (up to $7,000 a year).  
	In addition, higher education institutions that are still struggling
with the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina would receive help in
recruiting and retaining faculty and students.  Universities that were
closed for 30 days or more and continue to sustain lost revenue and
enrollment would receive payments to help with faculty salaries and
incentives for retaining faculty.  Also, students that choose to attend
these institutions may be eligible for grants.
	Rep. Melancon also introduced legislation (H.R. 1262) to extend a
federal waiver that gives school districts impacted by Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita more flexibility in drawing down and utilizing federal money for
recovery efforts.  Last fall, Rep. Melancon was an original co-sponsor of
successful legislation that extended the waiver until September 30th, 2007.
Today's bill will extend the waiver for one more year, until September 30th,
2008.  
	"Extending this waiver will give schools the flexibility they need
to make the most of their rebuilding funding," said Rep. Melancon.  "Schools
across the Gulf Coast are struggling every day to recover, and they don't
need bureaucratic hurdles slowing them down.  This waiver cuts the red tape
so schools in communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita can
continue their efforts to rebuild and help students and teachers return to
the classroom."       
	The legislation will allow schools to continue to use state money
for the 10% local match required by FEMA in order for them to be eligible
for the 90% federal reimbursement for recovery projects.  The bill will also
allow school districts to use federal funds appropriated by Congress in the
Defense/Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill (H.R. 2863) to pay for
expenses state money would normally be used for, such as teachers' salaries
and school operational needs.
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