President Signs Two Hurricane-Relief Bills for Students

President Bush has signed into law two bills that offer relief for federal student-aid recipients affected by Hurricane Katrina and other major disasters. The Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act permits the U.S. secretary of education to waive Pell-Grant-repayment requirements for students affected by major federally declared disasters. The Student Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act provides similar waiver authority for student repayment of grant aid received from other Title-IV financial-aid programs including Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, TRIO and GEAR UP.