Mitch Landrieu: “first of all, all three of these amendments are small in number but important in scope. Each seeks to take money that is…”

“first of all, all three of these amendments are small in number but important in scope. Each seeks to take money that is already appropriated in the underlying bill and direct and target it, if you will, to the gulf coast area for some extraordinary needs. We have been struggling to find a way to provide for the unprecedented natural disaster that has occurred in the Rita- Katrina areas of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. There are many important programs in this bill that seek to send important aid around the Nation. There are three programs I have chosen to bring to the attention of the Senate tonight in very small amounts that could provide great help to the people of our region. One is the TRIO Program, which has been extremely successful in helping first-generation college students to pursue a degree. Of course, we know 80 percent of all jobs in the future will require some college. This TRIO Program is federally funded but locally led and has been extremely effective, with great support from Republicans and Democrats, the House and the Senate. The purpose of my amendment is to target $5 million of the money in here toward Katrina-related areas--Katrina-Rita--to make sure our universities and the thousands of students who have been displaced can have a little extra funding to help them at this time.…”