(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today applauded the U.S. Senate’s passage of the final conference report of the Higher Education Act, which included the Education Disaster Loan Assistance Program. 

         “Many of our state’s colleges and universities were adversely affected by the storms, and thousands of students were forced to leave Louisiana to attend schools in other states.  As they return to Louisiana, it is important to ensure that our higher learning institutions are adequately equipped and well-prepared to provide their students with all that they need to maximize their education,” said Vitter.

        The Education Disaster Loan Assistance Program was established to provide low-interest, guaranteed loans to institutions of higher education to help them cover losses incurred as a result of a major disaster.

         “I worked with Senator Enzi, ranking member of the education committee, to include this provision in the bill, and I thank him for his efforts on behalf of all Louisiana universities and students returning to the state for their education,” added Vitter.

         The funding needs of these colleges and universities cannot be met through insurance policies or FEMA, and the Stafford Act was not intended to cover disasters on the scale of a Hurricane Katrina.  The low-interest loans provided by the Education Disaster Loan Assistance Program can help provide these schools with exactly what they need to rebuild.

         The conference report passed the House and the Senate yesterday and will now go on to the president for his signature.