House Increases Aid Opportunities for Students Displaced by Hurricanes
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28-Students and colleges affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may be receiving a $36 million influx of federal financial aid as a result of a bill the House passed on Tuesday.
“I support this commonsense step that will provide immediate relief,” said Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.), speaking on the House floor Tuesday.
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has enrolled two students who were displaced by Katrina. The pair, brothers from the University of New Orleans, arrived on campus on Sept. 12 and started classes the same day.
“Their experience since they got to UMass Dartmouth has been super,” said Steve Briggs, director of undergraduate admissions. “I think they feel really comfortable.”
More than 100,000 students from dozens of colleges and universities have been affected by the recent hurricanes, according to estimates from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Hundreds of institutions of higher learning around the country are providing assistance to displaced students.
The Natural Disaster Student Aid Fairness Act has two main components: it would provide aid directly to affected students, and it would allow colleges and universities to receive additional funds without having to match the federal contribution.
Schools accepting displaced students would have to apply for the waiver of the matching obligation, though the requirements to qualify are not expected to be too stringent.
“It’s not going to be overly proscriptive, because the goal is to be able to meet the needs of the schools that are enrolling these students,” said committee spokeswoman Alexa Marrero.
Money for the initiative would come from unclaimed student aid that, under current law, is returned to the Treasury at the end of the year. The bill would require these funds to be distributed instead to students and institutions affected by the hurricane. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
