9-11 Education
New York City’s school system was deeply affected by the attacks on the World Trade Center, but federal recovery funds were delayed and restricted because of bureaucratic red tape at FEMA. I led efforts with members of the New York delegation to achieve full disaster recovery assistance for the school system and in October 2002 the Bush Administration announced that it would reimburse the New York Board of Education $80.5 million to make up for lost instructional time resulting from the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. Achieving Aid for NYU and Pace University I was also successful in pressing for $9 million in federal aid for New York University and approximately $1 million for Pace University for costs related to the terrorist attacks. After persistent efforts to convey to FEMA that NYU’s disaster-related losses and Pace University’s disaster-related losses were deserving of federal aid, FEMA reversed an earlier decision, based on a rigid interpretation of guidelines, to deny aid to these schools. Mental Health Needs of New York School Students Funded In March of 2003, FEMA and the State of New York finally approved a long-standing request for $33 million in federal aid to cover costs associated with the mental health needs of New York City students after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Legislation
10/16/02 - H.R.5676, Disaster Relief For Our Schools Act [107th Congress]
12/19/01 - H.RES.325, Recognizing the New York City Public School Community Following 9/11 [107th Congress]
Documents/Reports
03/19/03 - Letter From NYC Dept. of Education Regarding Mental Health Needs For NYC Students
02/06/03 - Letter To FEMA Regarding Assistance To NYC Public Schools Following 9/11
07/22/02 - Letter To FEMA Regarding Unmet Needs of NYC Schools Following 9/11
