I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4016 
To provide assistance to revitalize institutions of higher education affected 
by the Gulf hurricane disasters. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 7, 2005 
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California (for himself, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. KILDEE, 
Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. OWENS, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, 
Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. HOLT, Ms. MCCOL-
LUM of Minnesota, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. VAN 
HOLLEN, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Ms. LEE, Ms. WASSERMAN 
SCHULTZ, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. 
STARK, 
Ms. 
WATSON, 
Mr. 
JEFFERSON, 
Mr. 
CUMMINGS, 
Mrs. 
NAPOLITANO, and Ms. BORDALLO) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in 
addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide assistance to revitalize institutions of higher 
education affected by the Gulf hurricane disasters. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gulf Coast College Re-
vitalization Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Approximately 30 institutions of higher edu-
cation in the Gulf Coast region, serving approxi-
mately 100,000 students, directly sustained damage 
from Hurricane Katrina. 
(2) The approximately 30 institutions of higher 
education in the Gulf Coast region impacted by Hur-
ricane Katrina employed approximately 30,000 fac-
ulty, administrators, and staff. 
(3) Revitalizing institutions of higher education 
in the Gulf Coast region will be a vital element in 
attracting middle and upper income families back to 
the Gulf Coast region, and in ensuring sustained 
economic recovery to the region’s lower income fami-
lies. 
(4) Revitalizing the Gulf Coast economy will de-
pend on providing a highly skilled workforce. 
(5) The return of qualified academic profes-
sionals and administrators is a vital element in the 
revitalization of affected institutions of higher edu-
cation in the Gulf Coast region. 
(6) Students from throughout the Nation who 
attend institutions of higher education in the Gulf 
Coast region, and their families, contribute signifi-
cantly to the local economy.
(7) Many of the scientific, health, technology, 
and cultural industries of the Gulf Coast region are 
dependant on local institutions of higher education. 
(8) Hundreds of other institutions of higher 
education throughout America and their students 
are accommodating victims of the Gulf hurricane 
disasters. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the assistance provided under this Act to revi-
talize affected institutions of higher education in the Gulf 
Coast region is a first step toward revitalizing and restor-
ing the economic, social, and cultural prosperity of the en-
tire Gulf Coast region. 
SEC. 3. INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS FOR RECRUITMENT AND 
RETENTION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to sup-
port affected institutions of higher education in their ef-
forts to revitalize their communities following the Gulf 
hurricane disasters. 
(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary shall award 
grants to institutions of higher education adversely 
affected by a Gulf hurricane disaster to assist the 
affected institutions in recruiting and retaining stu-
dents and retaining faculty. The Secretary shall
award grants under this Act as soon as possible, but 
no later than 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(2) 
DURATION; 
LIMITATION.—Each 
grant 
awarded to an affected institution under this section 
shall be awarded for a period of 5 years, and may 
not be renewed. An affected institution may not re-
ceive more than one grant under this section. 
(3) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) AID TO STUDENTS.—Not less than 50 
percent of the funds made available by a grant 
under this section shall be used by an affected 
institution to provide need-based aid to students 
attending the affected institution for academic 
year 2005–2006, and each of the 4 succeeding 
academic years, for purposes of attracting new 
and returning students to enroll in such af-
fected institution. Such need-based aid may in-
clude— 
(i) assisting enrolled students with 
tuition, fees, and textbook expenses; 
(ii) employing enrolled students to as-
sist in rebuilding facilities of the affected 
institution;
(iii) providing room and board assist-
ance for enrolled students living on cam-
pus; 
(iv) attracting and retaining first-gen-
eration students, minority students, and 
other at-risk or underserved populations; 
(v) creating innovative work and study 
incentives for enrolled students; and 
(vi) any other aid deemed necessary 
by the institution and approved by the Sec-
retary. 
(B) 
INCENTIVES
FOR
FACULTY.—Not 
more than 50 percent of the funds made avail-
able by a grant under this section shall be used 
by an affected institution to provide incentives 
for faculty employed by an affected institution 
to remain in the Gulf Coast region at such af-
fected institution or, if such affected institution 
is unable to continue to employ such faculty, at 
another affected institution. Such incentives 
may include— 
(i) employing returning faculty to as-
sist in rebuilding facilities of the affected 
institution;
(ii) developing and providing tem-
porary housing for returning faculty and 
their dependents who have been displaced 
from their homes; 
(iii) continuing salaries and health 
benefits for returning faculty for up to one 
year; 
(iv) providing tuition assistance for 
returning faculty and their dependents; 
(v) creating innovative work and re-
search incentives for returning faculty; and 
(vi) any other incentives deemed nec-
essary by the institution and approved by 
the Secretary. 
(C) 
INSTITUTIONAL
PROMOTION.—Not 
more than 5 percent of the funds made avail-
able by a grant under this section shall be used 
by an affected institution to promote the insti-
tution at job and college fairs, and through the 
media. 
(4) PREVAILING WAGES.—Wages paid, for pur-
poses of rebuilding an affected institution’s facilities 
under paragraph (3)(A)(ii) or paragraph (3)(B)(i), 
to students or faculty in whole or in part with grant 
funds received under this section for employment as
laborers, mechanics, or service employees shall be 
paid at rates not less than those prevailing in the lo-
cality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in ac-
cordance with sections 3141, 3142, and 3145 of title 
40, United States Code or section 351 of title 41, 
United States Code, as the case may be. Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the require-
ments of this paragraph shall not be waived or sus-
pended. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—An institution of higher edu-
cation desiring a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary within 90 days of the date 
of enactment of this Act, in such manner, and accom-
panied by such information as the Secretary may require. 
Each application shall— 
(1) demonstrate that the institution is an af-
fected institution as defined in section 6; 
(2) specify the amount of grant funds re-
quested; 
(3) demonstrate the need of the institution for 
such grant by including in the application— 
(A) evidence that, as a result of a Gulf 
hurricane disaster, the institution suffered a di-
rect and significant economic impact and a de-
cline in student enrollment, hindering the insti-
tution’s ability to continue full operation; 
(B) evidence that, as a result of a Gulf 
hurricane disaster, the institution lost resources 
necessary to retain faculty, hindering the insti-
tution’s ability to continue full operation; 
(C) an assessment of damage to the infra-
structure of the institution as a result of a Gulf 
hurricane disaster; 
(D) information regarding additional needs 
created by a Gulf hurricane disaster; and 
(E) other relevant data; and 
(4) contain a description of the institution’s 
plan to carry out the purposes of this section. 
(d) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority in 
awarding grants under this section to affected institutions 
most in need, as determined by the Secretary. 
(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; REVIEWS.— 
(1) REPORTS.—Each affected institution receiv-
ing a grant under this section shall report to the 
Secretary no later than September 30 of each year 
of the 5-year period for which the grant is awarded. 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report shall include— 
(A) data on the populations served under 
this section;
(B) a description of the use of the grant 
funds received under this section, including a 
description of programs developed with such 
funds; 
(C) a financial statement accounting for 
the use of the grant funds; and 
(D) data on the impact of the grant on en-
rollment and retention at the institution, includ-
ing data on the numbers and percentages of 
new and returning students, and the number 
and percentage of faculty that have been re-
tained. 
(3) REVIEWS.—The Secretary shall conduct 
periodic reviews to ensure that grant funds are being 
properly managed, and that the programs using 
such funds are achieving their intended outcomes. 
(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—There shall be avail-
able to the Secretary to carry out this section, from funds 
not otherwise appropriated, $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006, which shall remain available through fiscal year 
2010. 
SEC. 4. LOAN FORGIVENESS. 
(a) STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.—The purpose of this 
section is to encourage students to continue attending, and
to earn degrees from, affected institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary shall 
carry out a program, through the holder of the loan, of 
assuming the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount 
for a loan made under part B of title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1040), and of canceling 
the obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a loan 
made under part D or E of such title IV, in accordance 
with subsection (c), for any borrower, who— 
(1) returns to or enrolls in an affected institu-
tion of higher education in academic year 2005– 
2006, 2006–2007, or 2007–2008; 
(2) obtains an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s 
degree from such institution; and 
(3) is not in default on a loan for which the 
borrower seeks forgiveness. 
(c) QUALIFIED LOAN AMOUNT.— 
(1) ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE.—Upon completion of 
an associate’s degree from an affected institution, 
the Secretary shall repay— 
(A) in the case of a full-time student, 
$2,500 for each academic year of enrollment at 
such affected institution; or
(B) in the case of a student enrolled less 
than full-time, $2,500 for the equivalent of one 
academic year of enrollment as a full-time stu-
dent at such affected institution, as determined 
by the Secretary; 
not to exceed $5,000. 
(2) BACHELOR’S DEGREE.—Upon completion of 
a bachelor’s degree from an affected institution, the 
Secretary shall repay— 
(A) in the case of a full-time student, 
$2,500 for each academic year of enrollment at 
such affected institution; or 
(B) in the case of a student enrolled less 
than full-time, $2,500 for the equivalent of one 
academic year of enrollment as a full-time stu-
dent at such affected institution, as determined 
by the Secretary; 
not to exceed $10,000. 
(3) LIMITATION.—The Secretary shall repay 
not more than the total outstanding federal loan ob-
ligation of the student, or $10,000, whichever is less. 
(4) PREVENTION OF ABUSE.—The Secretary is 
authorized to issue such regulations as may be nec-
essary to prevent borrowers from receiving repay-
ment under this section for an excessive period of
enrollment in comparison to the enrollment period 
which the Secretary determines is appropriate to ob-
tain an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. 
(5) ACADEMIC
YEAR
OF
ENROLLMENT.—For 
the purpose of calculating loan repayment under this 
section, the term ‘‘academic year of enrollment’’ 
means the academic year in which an affected insti-
tution reopens, or any subsequent academic year. 
(d) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall give priority in 
awarding grants under this section to students most in 
need, as determined by the Secretary. 
(e) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to authorize any refunding of any repayment 
of a loan. 
(f) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—There shall be avail-
able to the Secretary to carry out this section, from funds 
not otherwise appropriated, $1,600,000,000 for fiscal year 
2006, which shall remain available through fiscal year 
2013. 
SEC. 5. REGULATIONS. 
The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations 
as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
Act.
SEC. 6. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS. 
Sections 3 and 4 of this Act are designated as emer-
gency requirements pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. 
Res. 95 (109th Congress). 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) AFFECTED
INSTITUTION.—The term ‘‘af-
fected institution’’ means an institution of higher 
education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002))— 
(A) located in an area affected by a Gulf 
hurricane disaster; and 
(B) that was forced to close, relocate, or 
significantly curtail its activities as a result of 
damage directly sustained by a Gulf hurricane 
disaster. 
(2) FACULTY.—The term ‘‘faculty’’ means aca-
demic professionals, administrators, and staff em-
ployed by an affected institution— 
(A) in the case of an institution located in 
an area affected by Hurricane Katrina, as of 
August 29, 2005; or 
(B) in the case of an institution located in 
an area affected by Hurricane Rita, as of Sep-
tember 24, 2005.
(3) GULF
HURRICANE
DISASTER.—The term 
‘‘Gulf hurricane disaster’’ means a major disaster 
that the President declared to exist, in accordance 
with section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170), and that was caused by Hurricane Katrina or 
Hurricane Rita. 
(4) AREA AFFECTED BY A GULF HURRICANE 
DISASTER.—The term ‘‘area affected by a Gulf hur-
ricane disaster’’ means a county or parish, in an af-
fected State, that has been designated by the Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency for disaster as-
sistance for individuals and households as a result of 
Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita. 
(5) AFFECTED
STATE.—The term ‘‘affected 
State’’ means the State of Alabama, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, or Texas. 
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