The secretary of education may soon be able to allocate additional federal financial aid to universities and students directly affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday which would allow the secretary to give out funds from pre-existing programs to institutions affected by the disaster.
This bill is one of several pieces of legislation circulating the congressional chambers this week aimed at providing hurricane relief to educational institutions.
The Senate will likely look at a similar bill soon.
Aid from the House bill could total up to $36 million.
Some universities receive an excess of federal financial aid each year and are required to return the money to the Department of Education. The funds for hurricane relief will come from this pool.
Therefore, the amount of aid available for allocation will depend on the amount returned to the department.
Chad Colby, a spokesman for the Department of Education, said the department does not know how it will divide the funds between universities if the bill is signed into law.
The legislation allows the secretary to allot money to both universities in affected areas and universities enrolling affected students, which would include Penn. The University accepted 110 undergraduates from hurricane-stricken schools.
Jeff Dobrozsi, chief of staff for Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.), who sponsored the bill, said the legislation is useful because it "directs the discretions" of the education secretary.
The House passed the bill unanimously, and it has been well-received by education-advocacy groups.
Tony Pals, a spokesman for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said the bill is a move in the right direction.
"It is a small but important first step," he said. "Over the coming months, more will need to be invested."
He added that the NAICU does "not really" have any complaints about the bill, as the association is glad to see progress made.
