House & Senate Federal Student Loan Program

HEA Reauthorization Proposals

 

House Bills Introduced

 

H.R. 4119 –

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Interest Rates

Introduced by Representative Al Lawson (D-FL)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the interest-free grace period certain loans.

 

H.R. 4113 –

Topic:  Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a percentage of student loan forgiveness for public service employment.

 

H.R. 4079 –

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Program Reforms

Introduced by Representative Lee Zeldin (R-NY)

A bill to simplify and improve the Federal student loan program through income-contingent repayment to provide stronger protections for borrowers, encourage responsible borrowing, and save money for taxpayers.

 

H.R. 3887 – Student Loan Debt Relief Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Discharge for All Students

Introduced by Representative James Clyburn (D-SC)

A bill to discharge the qualified loan amounts of each individual (with limitations), enable reduction in student loan interest rates for both federal and private loans, and provide for discharge of student loans under declarations of bankruptcy.

 

H.R. 3833 – Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Income-based Repayment Income Recertification

Introduced by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the automatic recertification of income for income-driven repayment plans.

 

H.R. 3793 – Student Loan Accrual Support and Help Act (SLASH Act)

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Interest Rates

Introduced by Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include interest rate provisions for Federal loans made on or after July 1, 2020.

 

H.R. 3792 – Guaranteeing Respite After College Ends Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Deferment

Introduced by Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for deferment for Federal loans prior to the beginning of the repayment period.

 

H.R. 3786 – Student Loan Reform Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student/Institutional Risk-sharing

Introduced by Representative Scott Perry (R-PA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a program under which an institution of higher education may elect to cosign Federal student loans made to students attending the institution.

 

H.R. 3751 – No Student Loan Interest Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Interest Rates

Introduced by Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the relief of interest on certain Federal student loans.

 

H.R. 3674 – Eliminating the Hidden Student Loan Tax Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Origination Fees

Introduced by Representative Susan Davis (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate origination fees for Federal Direct Loans.

 

H.R. 3662 – Relief for Defrauded Students Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Borrower Defense to Repayment

Introduced by Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure that student borrowers are provided relief from their student loans in the instance of substantial misrepresentation or omission by an institution of higher education.

 

H.R. 3598 — Federally Requiring Earned Education-debt Discharges for Vets Act (FREED Vets Act)

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Disabled Veterans Student Loan Discharge

Introduced by Representative Conor Lamb (D-PA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to automatically discharge the loans of certain veteran borrowers with disabilities.

 

H.R. 3547 – Students and Young Consumers Empowerment Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – CFPB Student Advocate

Introduced by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

A bill to amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to establish the position of the Assistant Director and Student Loan Borrower Advocate of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, to establish the Office for Students and Young Consumers of the Bureau.

 

H.R. 3519 – Better Service to Borrowers Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Servicing Reform

Introduced by Representative Schrier (D-WA)

A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to develop a common manual for loan servicers to ensure quality of practice and increase borrower satisfaction.

 

H.R. 3418 – Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates that Add to Debt Act (POST GRAD Act)

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Graduate & Professional Student Eligibility

Introduced by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reinstate the authority of the Secretary of Education to make Federal Direct Stafford Loans to graduate and professional students.

 

H.R. 3353 – Parent PLUS Loan Improvement Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – PLUS Loan Repayment Plans

Introduced by Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH)

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include Parent PLUS loans in income-contingent and income-based repayment plans.

 

H.R. 3257 – Student Loan Fairness Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Multiple Loan Program Reforms

Introduced by Representative Karen Bass (D-CA)

A bill to increase purchasing power, strengthen economic recovery, and restore fairness in financing higher education in the United States through student loan forgiveness, caps on interest rates on Federal student loans, and refinancing opportunities for private borrowers.

 

H.R. 3232 – Young Farmer Success Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain individuals who work on farms or ranches as individuals who are employed in public service jobs for purposes of eligibility for loan forgiveness under the Federal Direct Loan program.

 

H.R. 3219 – United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Loan Administration

Introduced by Representative David McKinley (R-WV)

A bill to require the Secretary of Labor to maintain a publicly available list of all employers that relocate a call center or contract call center work overseas, to make such companies ineligible for Federal grants or guaranteed loans, and to require disclosure of the physical location of business agents engaging in customer service communications.

 

H.R. 3150 – Rural and Underserved Residencies to Attract Long-term Physicians Act (RURAL Physicians Act)

Topic Federal Student Loan Programs – Allied Health Occupation Deferments

Introduced by Representative Steve Watkins (R-KS)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in certain medical or dental internships or residency programs.

 

H.R. 3139 – Supporting the Teaching profession through Revitalizing Investments in Valuable Educators Act (STRIVE Act)

Topic: Federal Student Loan Program – Teacher Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Donald Norcross (D-NJ)

A bill to better support our early childhood educators and elementary school and secondary school teachers

 

H.R. 3102 – Helping Individuals Get a Higher Education while Reducing Education Debt Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Multiple Loan Program Reforms

Introduced by Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve loans.

 

H.R. 3099 – STEM K to Career Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

A bill to provide for loan forgiveness for STEM teachers and other accommodations for STEM participants.

 

HR 3098 – Student Loan Interest Deduction Act of 2019

Topic:  Federal Student Loan Programs – Tax Deductions for Student Loan Interest Rates

Introduced by Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction allowed for student loan interest.

 

H.R. 3097 – Fairness in Forgiveness Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand eligibility for public service student loan forgiveness to certain contractor employees of national laboratories.

 

H.R. 3096 – Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a percentage of student loan forgiveness for public service employment.

 

H.R. 3095 – Know Your Repayment Options Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Representative Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to provide each borrower with an individualized repayment guide.

 

H.R. 3027 – Student Loan Borrowers’ Bill of Rights Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Borrower Benefits Reform

Introduced by Representative Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

A bill to establish student loan borrowers’ rights to basic consumer protections, reasonable and flexible repayment options, access to earned credentials, and effective loan cancellation in exchange for public service.

 

H.R. 2974 – Youth Financial Learning Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

A bill to improve the financial literacy of secondary school students.

 

H.R. 2833 – CFPB Student Loan Integrity and Transparency Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Data Sharing

Introduced by Representative Katie Porter (D-CA)

A bill to require the student loan ombudsman of the Department of Education to provide student loan data to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

 

H.R. 2728 – Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Loan Consolidation

Introduced by Representative David Price (D-NC)

A bill to allow two borrowers, who had previously received a joint consolidation loan for their student debt under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, to submit a joint application to sever their consolidated loan. One borrower may submit a separate application in the event that the individual is experiencing domestic or economic abuse from the other individual borrower, or is unable to reasonably reach or access the loan information of the other borrower.

 

H.R. 2441 – What You Can Do For Your Country Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Joh Sarbanes, (D-MD)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve the public service loan forgiveness program.

 

H.R. 2186 – Student Loan Refinancing Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Interest Rates

Introduced by Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI)

A bill to authorize borrowers of loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program to modify the interest rate of such loans to be equal to the interest rate for such loans at the time of modification.

 

H.R. 2129 – Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Program – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY)

A bill to amend the loan counseling requirements under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

 

H.R. 2065 – Affordable Loans for Any Student Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – IBR Program Repayment Revisions

Introduced by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase usage of the Federal student loan income-based repayment plan and improve repayment options for borrowers.

 

H.R. 2026 – Safe Equitable Campus Resources and Education Act of 2019

Topic: Individual & Campus Crime and Safety Issues

Introduced by Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI)

A bill to address the needs of individuals with disabilities within the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

 

H.R. 1930 – States’ Education Reclamation Act of 2019

Topic: Department of Education Administration Reform

Introduced by Representative David Rouzer (R-NC)

A bill to provide for the elimination of the Department of Education.

 

H.R. 1899 – Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculation Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Refinancing

Introduced by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA)

A bill to provide for the refinancing and recalculation of certain Federal student loans.

 

H.R. 1798 – Students and Families Empowerment Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – IBR Repayment Revisions

Introduced by Representative Kathleen Rice (D-NY)

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the deduction allowed for student loan interest and to exclude from gross income discharges of income contingent or income-based student loan indebtedness.

 

H.R. 1707 – Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Refinancing

Introduced by Joe Courtney (D-CT)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the refinancing of certain Federal student loans.

 

H.R. 1678 – Protect Our Universities Act of 2019

Topic: Department of Education Administration Reform

Introduced by Representative Jim Banks (R-IN)

A bill to create a task force within the Department of Education to address the threat of foreign government influence and threats to academic research integrity on college campuses.

 

H.R. 1554 – REDI Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Allied Health Deferments

Introduced by Representative Brian Babin (R-TX)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for interest-free deferment on student loans for borrowers serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.

 

H.R. 1229 – Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide that an individual may remain eligible to participate in the teacher loan forgiveness program under title IV of such Act if the individual’s period of consecutive years of employment as a full-time teacher is interrupted because the individual is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who is relocated during the school year pursuant to military orders for a permanent change of duty station, or the individual works in a school of the defense dependents’ education system under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978 due to such a relocation.

 

H.R. 1161 – Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to develop a plain language disclosure form for borrowers of Federal student loans.

 

H.R. 899 – No Title

Topic: Department of Education Administration Reform

Introduced by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY)

To terminate the Department of Education.

 

H.R. 811 – Transparency in Student Lending Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Annual Percentage Rates

Introduced by Representative John Curtin (R-UT)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the disclosure of the annual percentage rates applicable to Federal student loans.

 

H.R. 781 – Student Loan Relief for Feds Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Federal Employee Loan Deferment

Introduced by Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-CO)

A bill to require the Secretary of Education to provide a deferment for certain student loans of Federal employees subject to a lapse in discretionary appropriations.

 

H.R. 63 – Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Representative Jim Banks (R-IN)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to develop a plain language disclosure form for borrowers of Federal student loans.

 

Senate Bills Introduced

 

S. 2406 – Rural America Health Corps Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Repayment

Introduced by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Health Service Corps Rural Provider Loan Repayment Program.

 

S. 2168 – Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Senator Christopher Murphy (D-CT)

A bill to establish a student loan forgiveness plan for certain borrowers who are employed at a qualified farm or ranch.

 

S. 2049 – Federally Requiring Earned Education-debt Discharges for Vets Act (FREED Vets Act)

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Discharge for Veterans

Introduced by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to automatically discharge the loans of certain veteran borrowers with disabilities.

 

S. 2015 – Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Disclosures

Introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to develop a plain language disclosure form for borrowers of Federal student loans.

 

S. 1845 – If It’s Good Enough For the Banks, It’s Good Enough For Students Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Interest Rates

Introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

A bill to enable borrowers of Federal student loans to refinance those loans at interest rates that are equivalent to the interest rates at which the Federal Government provides loans to banks through the discount window operated by the Federal Reserve System.

 

S. 1796 – Terrorism Survivors Student Loan Deferment Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide student loan deferment for victims of terrorist attacks.

 

S. 1701 – Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act of 2019

Topic: Department of Education Administration Reform

Introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)

A bill to address foreign threats to higher education in the United States.

 

S. 1696 – Student Loan Tax Elimination Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Origination Fees

Introduced by Mike Braun (R-IN)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate origination fees on Federal Direct loans.

 

S. 1496 – Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Program – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

A bill to amend the loan counseling requirements under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

 

S. 1489 – Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Loan Consolidation

Introduced by Senator Mark Warned (D-VA)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize borrowers to separate joint consolidation loans.

 

S. 1354 – Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Loan Program Reforms

Introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)

A bill to require certain protections for student loan borrowers.

 

S. 1292 – Leveraging Opportunities for Americans Now Act of 2019 (LOAN Act of 2019)

Topic: Federal Student Loan Program – Student Loan Interest Rates/Finance Fees

Introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (D-FL)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for Federal student loan reform.

 

S. 1203 – What You Can Do For Your Country Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve the public service loan forgiveness program.

 

S. 1175 – PSLF Technical Corrections Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

A bill to improve the public service loan forgiveness program.

 

S. 1157 – Rural Educator Support and Training Act

Topics: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a scholarship program for educators of rural students and provide for loan forgiveness for rural educators, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide professional development grants for rural elementary schools and secondary schools.

 

S. 1153 – Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019

Topic: Department of Education Administrative Reform

Introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WA)

A bill to explicitly make unauthorized access to Department of Education information technology systems and the misuse of identification devices issued by the Department of Education a criminal act.

 

S. 1002 – Affordable Loans for Any Student Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – IBR Repayment Revisions

Introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase usage of the Federal student loan income-based repayment plan and improve repayment options for borrowers.

 

S. 887 – Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Financial Literacy

Introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

To revise counseling requirements for certain borrowers of student loans.

 

S. 609 – Protecting JOBs Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Borrower Default

Introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

A bill to prohibit States from suspending, revoking, or denying State-issued professional licenses or issuing penalties due to student default.

 

S. 532 – Preserving Teacher Loan Forgiveness for Military Spouses Act of 2019

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Introduced by Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide that an individual may remain eligible to participate in the teacher loan forgiveness program under title IV of such Act if the individual’s period of consecutive years of employment as a full-time teacher is interrupted because the individual is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who is relocated during the school year pursuant to military orders for a permanent change of duty station, or the individual works in a school of the defense dependents’ education system under the Defense Dependents’ Education Act of 1978 due to such a relocation.

 

S. 234 – Transparency in Student Lending Act

Topic: Federal Student Loan Programs – Student Loan Interest Rate Disclosure

Introduced by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY)

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the disclosure of the annual percentage rates applicable to Federal student loans.