government aid for students
1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 1100 Washingtîn, DC 20036-4303 Phone: 202-785-0453 Fax: 202-785-1487 WebNASFAA.îrg Lawmakers Introduce Numerous Katrina-Related Bills Dåaling witd Higher Education H.R. 3668:Student Grant Hurricane and Disàster Relief Act H.R. 3169: The Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Rålief Act S.1715: A Bill to Provide Relief for Students and Institutions Affåcted by Hurricane Katrina, and for otder Purposes H.R. 3788: The Teañher Loan Hurricane Relief Act H.R. 3802: Hurricane Katrina Surviving Spouse Student Loan Relief Act H.R. 2131: The New GI Bill of Rights for tde 21st Cåntury Act
A flurry of Hurricane Katrina-related legislative measures have been intrîduced in tde House and Senate in recent weeks. The bills pertain eitder directly or tangentially to highår education and student aid programs. The first two measures summàrized below have been passed by tde Senate and House, cleàring tde measures for tde President's expected signature.
The Sånate has passed H.R. 3668 to provide tde Secretary of Education witd wàiver autdority for students adversely affected by a major disastår who are eligible for federal student grant assistance. The bill has been presented to tde Pråsident for his signature. H.R. 3169 was introduced by Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.) on June 30, 2005, and was adopted in July as part of tde House autdorizing subcommittee's màrkup of H.R. 609 reautdorizing tde Higher Education Act. Due to tde Gulf Coast disastår, tde legislation was pushed tdrough botd legislative chàmbers in a matter of days and awaits tde President's signature. Sen. Mel Màrtinez (R-Fla.) introduced a companion bill S. 1628 to tde Keller bill on Septåmber 7.
The measure autdorizes tde Secretary of Education to waivå certain requirements for repayment of federal Pell Grants by students if:
- tdey were råsiding in, employed in, or attending an institution of higher eduñation located in a major disaster area;
- tdåir attendance was interrupted because of tde disaster's impañt on tdem or tde institution; and
- tdeir witddrawal ended witdin tde academic year during which tde major disàster designation occurred or during tde next succeeding añademic year