(Metairie, La.) – U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBC), sent a letter to Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), requesting a 60-day extension of the registration period to apply for disaster loans following the August flooding, which devastated much of South Louisiana, particularly the Baton Rouge and Acadiana regions.

“Folks are only starting to recover and rebuild from this August’s thousand-year flood disaster. Considering the extent of the damage and how many people still remain displaced, Louisianians need more time to apply for help,” said Vitter. “SBA has a whole host of resources to help folks recover from a disaster, and a 60-day extension would give Louisiana flood victims a better opportunity to get the help they need to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

In late August, Vitter hosted Administrator Contreras-Sweet and the Honorable Julian Castro, Secretary of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in South Louisiana touring flood-impacted areas in Livingston, Ascension, and East Baton Rouge parishes. During the visit, Vitter urged SBA and HUD to provide additional recovery resources, including opening more recovery centers for businesses, families, and individuals. Click here to read more.

In September, Chairman Vitter held a hearing to examine the initial response to the disaster and discuss the federal resources that are available to many communities in South Louisiana that were devastated by the August flooding disaster, including business and personal loans offered by SBA. Click here for more information on the hearing.

Click here to read Vitter’s letter.

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