I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7433 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide student loan 

deferment for dislocated military spouses, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 30, 2020 

Ms. STEFANIK (for herself and Mr. NORCROSS) 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 provide 

student loan deferment for dislocated military spouses, 

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 ‘‘Military Spouse Stu5 dent Loan Deferment Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED 

7 MILITARY SPOUSES. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 455(f) of the Higher Edu9 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended— 


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1 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 

2 paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and 

3 (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol4 lowing: 

5 ‘‘(4) DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED MILITARY

6 SPOUSES.— 

7 ‘‘(A) DURATION AND EFFECT ON PRIN8 CIPAL AND INTEREST.—A borrower of a loan 

9 made, insured, or guaranteed under this part or 

10 part B who meets the requirements of subpara11 graph (B) shall be eligible for a deferment for 

12 a period of 90 days, during which periodic in13 stallments of principal need not be paid, and in14 terest shall not accrue. 

15 ‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—A borrower of a loan 

16 made, insured, or guaranteed under this part or 

17 part B shall be eligible for a deferment under 

18 subparagraph (A) if the borrower— 

19 ‘‘(i) is the spouse of a member of the 

20 Armed Forces serving on active duty; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) has experienced a loss of employ22 ment as a result of relocation to accommo23 date a permanent change in duty station of 

24 such member. 

25 ‘‘(C) DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVAL.— 


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1 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A borrower may 

2 establish eligibility for a deferment under 

3 subparagraph (A) by providing to the Sec4 retary— 

5 ‘‘(I) the documentation described 

6 in clause (ii); or 

7 ‘‘(II) such other documentation 

8 as the Secretary determines appro9 priate. 

10 ‘‘(ii) DOCUMENTATION.—The docu11 mentation described in this clause is— 

12 ‘‘(I) evidence that the borrower is 

13 the spouse of a member of the Armed 

14 Forces serving on active duty; 

15 ‘‘(II) evidence that a military 

16 permanent change of station order 

17 was issued to such member; and 

18 ‘‘(III)(aa) evidence that the bor19 rower is eligible for unemployment 

20 benefits due to a loss of employment 

21 resulting from relocation to accommo22 date such permanent change in duty 

23 station; or 

24 ‘‘(bb) a written certification, or 

25 an equivalent as approved by the SecVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:37 Jul 23, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7433.IH H7433

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1 retary, that the borrower is registered 

2 with a public or private employment 

3 agency due to a loss of employment 

4 resulting from relocation to accommo5 date such permanent change in duty 

6 station.’’. 

7 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

8 subsection (a) shall take effect 90 days after the date of 

9 the enactment of this Act. 

Æ 


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