Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/923

 117 STAT. 904

PUBLIC LAW 108–76—AUG. 18, 2003

Public Law 108–76 108th Congress An Act Aug. 18, 2003 [H.R. 1412] Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003. 20 USC 1070 note.

20 USC 1070 note.

To provide the Secretary of Education with specific waiver authority to respond to a war or other military operation or national emergency.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS; REFERENCE.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003’’. (b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: (1) There is no more important cause than that of our nation’s defense. (2) The United States will protect the freedom and secure the safety of its citizens. (3) The United States military is the finest in the world and its personnel are determined to lead the world in pursuit of peace. (4) Hundreds of thousands of Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard reservists and members of the National Guard have been called to active duty or active service. (5) The men and women of the United States military put their lives on hold, leave their families, jobs, and postsecondary education in order to serve their country and do so with distinction. (6) There is no more important cause for this Congress than to support the members of the United States military and provide assistance with their transition into and out of active duty and active service. (c) REFERENCE.—References in this Act to ‘‘the Act’’ are references to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). SEC. 2. WAIVER AUTHORITY FOR RESPONSE TO MILITARY CONTINGENCIES AND NATIONAL EMERGENCIES.

(a) WAIVERS AND MODIFICATIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless enacted with specific reference to this section, the Secretary of Education (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision applicable to the student financial assistance programs under title IV of the Act as the Secretary deems necessary in connection with a war or other military operation or national emergency to provide the waivers or modifications authorized by paragraph (2).

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