Martinez Pell Grant Repayment Waiver Signed into Law
MARTINEZ PELL GRANT REPAYMENT WAIVER SIGNED INTO LAW
U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) today applauded President Bush's signing of the Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act into law. The law helps college students avoid financial penalties associated with withdrawing from school due to Hurricane Katrina.
Martinez introduced the bill earlier this month in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Ric Keller (R-ORL). The legislation relates only to the semester or semesters affected by the natural disaster.
"Thousands of college students have been displaced by Katrina and are trying to regroup. Now Pell Grant recipients - some of the neediest students in America -- will at least have the peace of mind of knowing they won't be unjustly penalized for withdrawing from school for events like Katrina," said Martinez. "I want to applaud the work of Representative Ric Keller for starting the ball rolling on this critical legislation. This relief could help upwards of 100,000 students."
Until President Bush signed this legislation into law, Pell Grant recipients forced to withdraw from classes due to a natural disaster were required to repay any Pell Grant funds used to pay for school expenses or they would otherwise be barred from enrolling in future classes. This legislation allows the U.S. Secretary of Education to provide a waiver for repaying Pell Grant funds if those students are forced to withdraw due to a natural disaster as declared by the President.
"There are many relief efforts that need to be addressed post-Katrina to help the victims in the Gulf begin to rebuild their lives," said Martinez. "This is another step in that direction."
Earlier this week, President Bush signed into law another hurricane-related bill sponsored by Senator Martinez. The bill amended the National Flood Insurance Program to allow low-income individuals to receive disaster relief payments without the fear of losing other government assistance including certain federal education, nutrition, and healthcare benefits.
http://martinez.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&ContentRecord_id=1853&Region_id=0&Issue_id=0&CFID=7537250&CFTOKEN=38727532