I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 251 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create a reduction schedule 

for public service loan forgiveness, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 11, 2021 

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and Labor 

A BILL 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create 

a reduction schedule for public service loan forgiveness, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Service Appre5 ciation Through Loan Forgiveness Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES. 

7 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact8 ment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall— 

9 (1) develop informational materials with respect 

10 to the eligibility requirements of the public service 


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1 loan forgiveness program under section 455(m) of 

2 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 

3 1087e(m)); 

4 (2) make such informational materials available 

5 on the website of the Department of Education; 

6 (3) conduct outreach to not-for-profit institu7 tions and government organizations that regularly 

8 employ individuals eligible for such public service 

9 loan forgiveness program benefits to inform such in10 stitutions and organization of such informational 

11 materials; and 

12 (4) establish an online portal for borrowers to 

13 submit employment certification forms to certify em14 ployment in a public service job (as defined in such 

15 section 455(m)(3)). 

16 SEC. 3. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS REDUCTION 

17 SCHEDULE. 

18 Section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

19 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)) is amended by adding at the end 

20 the following: 

21 ‘‘(5) REDUCTION SCHEDULE.— 

22 ‘‘(A) 10 PERCENT CANCELLATION.—The 

23 Secretary shall cancel 10 percent of the balance 

24 of interest and principal due on any eligible 


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1 Federal Direct Loan not in default for a bor2 rower who— 

3 ‘‘(i) has made 48 monthly payments 

4 described in paragraph (1)(A); 

5 ‘‘(ii) is employed in a public service 

6 job at the time of such cancellation; and 

7 ‘‘(iii) has been employed in a public 

8 service job during the period in which the 

9 borrower makes each of the 48 payments 

10 described in clause (i). 

11 ‘‘(B) 20 PERCENT CANCELLATION.—The 

12 Secretary shall cancel 20 percent of the balance 

13 of interest and principal due on any eligible 

14 Federal Direct Loan not in default for a bor15 rower who— 

16 ‘‘(i) has made 72 monthly payments 

17 described in paragraph (1)(A); 

18 ‘‘(ii) is employed in a public service 

19 job at the time of such cancellation; and 

20 ‘‘(iii) has been employed in a public 

21 service job during the period in which the 

22 borrower makes each of the 72 payments 

23 described in clause (i). 

24 ‘‘(C) 50 PERCENT CANCELLATION.—The 

25 Secretary shall cancel 50 percent of the balance 


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1 of interest and principal due on any eligible 

2 Federal Direct Loan not in default for a bor3 rower who— 

4 ‘‘(i) has made 96 monthly payments 

5 described in paragraph (1)(A); 

6 ‘‘(ii) is employed in a public service 

7 job at the time of such cancellation; and 

8 ‘‘(iii) has been employed in a public 

9 service job during the period in which the 

10 borrower makes each of the 96 payments 

11 described in clause (i). 

12 ‘‘(D) ELIGIBILITY FOR FURTHER REDUC13 TIONS ALLOWED.—A borrower may, for the 

14 same service, receive a reduction of loan obliga15 tions— 

16 ‘‘(i) under each of subparagraphs (A), 

17 (B), and (C) of this paragraph; and 

18 ‘‘(ii) under paragraph (1).’’. 

Æ 


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