Loeffler Seeks Answers for Georgia Colleges, Universities

Urges Education Secretary to Quickly Release Aid for Georgia Institutions

ATLANTA, GA – U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) today spoke with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to discuss releasing higher education funds and guidance authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Loeffler commended DeVos for releasing financial aid provided for students and urged her to quickly release similar aid for colleges and universities.
 
The CARES Act included $14 billion, half for institutions of higher education and half students. Georgia schools are set to receive $406 million, with half going to students.
 
“Georgia’s colleges, universities, and students are leading the way in expanding testing, designing innovative personal protective equipment, and researching cures and vaccines for the coronavirus,” said Loeffler, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “As I speak to students and colleges across the state, they continue to emphasize the immediate need for this critical funding to ease their uncertainty and allow them to continue fighting this pandemic. I commend Secretary DeVos for taking swift action to first release that aid to students and urge her to now do the same for colleges and universities.”
 
Loeffler also told DeVos there is significant research and innovation related to the pandemic taking place on many Georgia campuses. Several Georgia schools have made news for their coronavirus work, including Emory University for beginning clinical trials for an antiviral treatment, Augusta University Health for expanding coronavirus testing and the University of Georgia for producing face shields for medical personnel who are treating coronavirus patients.