Haitian Educational Empowerment Act of 2017

To establish a scholarship program in the Department of State for Haitian students whose studies were interrupted as a result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake, or the October 2016 hurricane, Hurricane Matthew. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Haitian Educational Empowerment Act of 2017 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) On October 4, 2016, Hurricane Matthew devastated Haiti, killing over 1,000 people, and directly affected 2.1 million people, including the internal displacement of 175,000 and 1.4 million people in need of urgent humanitarian aid. (2) The storm damage has been estimated to be $1,000,000,000, or about 11.4 percent of the gross domestic product of Haiti. (3) Hurricane Matthew was the worst hurricane to hit Haiti in over 50 years. (4) Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. (5) Eighty percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and approximately 45 percent of the population is illiterate. (6) On January 12, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the country of Haiti. (7) The earthquake caused massive devastation across Haiti, destroying government buildings, hospitals, schools, and vital aid offices, including the headquarters of the United Nations mission to Haiti. (8) An estimated three million people were directly affected by the earthquake in Haiti, nearly one-third of the country’s population. (9) Many universities suffered significant structural damage, including the State University of Haiti, the country’s main public university, which had 80 percent of its buildings destroyed. (10) The earthquake claimed the lives of many students and several prominent academics. (11) Before the earthquake, at least 85 percent of Haitians with a university degree left the island. (12) A more highly educated population is vital to Haiti’s long-term development. 3. Establishment of scholarship program for certain Haitian students (a) In general The Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, shall establish a scholarship program for Haitian students whose studies were interrupted as a result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake or the October 4, 2016, hurricane, Hurricane Matthew. (b) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a scholarship under this section, a Haitian undergraduate or graduate student shall— (1) have been enrolled as a full-time student in a Haitian university or institution of higher education in the United States at the time of the January 12, 2010, earthquake or when Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti on October 4, 2016; and (2) submit to the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Assistant Secretary may require. (c) Duration A scholarship under this section shall be awarded to a Haitian student for one academic year and may be renewed in accordance with subsection (d). (d) Renewal (1) In general A scholarship awarded under this section may be renewed for an additional academic year upon demonstration to the Secretary of State of satisfactory academic achievement in the prior academic year. (2) Maximum renewals A scholarship awarded under this section may not be renewed for more than six academic years. (e) Preference Preference in the awarding of scholarships shall be given to the following categories of Haitian students: (1) Haitian students who are studying subjects of importance to Haiti’s long-term social, economic, or political development. (2) Haitian students who were enrolled in programs that were forced to cease operations as a result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake or the October 4, 2016, hurricane, Hurricane Matthew. (f) Return Upon completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree at an institution of higher education, a Haitian student who has received a scholarship under this section shall return to Haiti. (g) Scholarship amount A scholarship awarded to a Haitian student under this section may not exceed an amount equal to the total costs related to the tuition and fees for one academic year at an institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled as a full-time student. 4. Grants to United States colleges and universities The Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, may make grants to institutions of higher education that have enrolled a significant number of Haitian students who have been enrolled as full-time students in a Haitian university at the time of the January 12, 2010, earthquake or the October 4, 2016, hurricane, Hurricane Matthew. Such grants shall be used to provide social and educational support services to such students. 5. Definitions For purposes of this Act: (1) Fees The term fees (A) fees normally assessed a full-time student, as determined by an institution of higher education, including— (i) costs for the rental or purchase of any equipment, materials, or supplies required of all students in the same course of study; and (ii) an allowance for room and board at such institution; and (B) travel expenses to such institution from Haiti and, upon the completion of a degree at such institution, from such institution to Haiti. (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (3) Scholarship The term scholarship

Summary: Haitian Educational Empowerment Act of 2017 This bill directs the Department of State to establish a scholarship program for eligible Haitian students who were enrolled as full-time students in a Haitian or U.S. university or institution of higher education and whose studies were interrupted as a result of the January 12, 2010, earthquake or the October 4, 2016, Hurricane Matthew. A Haitian student who receives such a scholarship shall return to Haiti upon completion of an undergraduate or graduate degree. The State Department may make grants to institutions of higher education that have enrolled a significant number of Haitian students who were enrolled as full-time students in a Haitian university at the time of such earthquake or hurricane. Such grants shall be used to provide social and educational support services.