I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5588 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for deferment 

on the repayment of loans for borrowers who are victims of sex-based 

harassment, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 

Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania (for herself, Mr. EVANS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, 

Ms. PRESSLEY, Mrs. HAYES, Mrs. PELTOLA, Ms. CROCKETT, Ms. ROSS, 

Mrs. CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. ESCOBAR, and Mr. MULLIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

A BILL 

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide 

for deferment on the repayment of loans for borrowers 

who are victims of sex-based harassment, 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 ‘‘Student Loan 

5 Deferment for Sex-Based Harassment Survivors Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEFERMENT FOR VICTIMS OF SEX-BASED HARASS2 MENT. 

3 Section 455(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

4 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended— 

5 (1) in paragraph (2)— 

6 (A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subpara7 graph (C); 

8 (B) by striking the period at the end of 

9 subparagraph (D) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

10 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(E) not in excess of 3 years (for 1 or 

12 more periods of not less than 3 months and not 

13 more than 12 months), beginning on the date 

14 on which the borrower— 

15 ‘‘(i) ceases to carry at least one-half 

16 the normal full-time work load for the 

17 course of study that the borrower is pur18 suing, as determined by the eligible institu19 tion (as such term is defined in section 

20 435(a)) the borrower is attending; and 

21 ‘‘(ii) submits documentation to the 

22 Secretary showing that the borrower re23 ported to a covered individual that the bor24 rower was a victim of sex-based harass25 ment (regardless of whether institutional 


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1 findings were made regarding that harass2 ment).’’; and 

3 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS REGARDING SEX-BASED

5 HARASSMENT.—For purposes of paragraph (2)(E)— 

6 ‘‘(A) the term ‘covered individual’ means— 

7 ‘‘(i) the title IX coordinator at the in8 stitution (within the meaning of section 

9 106.8 of title 34, Code of Federal Regula10 tions, or successor regulations); 

11 ‘‘(ii) another title IX official or ad12 ministrator at the institution; or 

13 ‘‘(iii) a health care provider; and 

14 ‘‘(B) the term ‘sex-based harassment’ 

15 means— 

16 ‘‘(i) sexual harassment, as defined in 

17 paragraph (1) or (2) of section 106.30(a) 

18 of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations 

19 (as in effect on September 30, 2023); 

20 ‘‘(ii) dating violence, domestic vio21 lence, or stalking, as those terms are de22 fined in section 485(f)(6)(A)(i); or 

23 ‘‘(iii) sexual assault, as that term is 

24 defined in section 485(f)(6)(A)(v).’’. 


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1 SEC. 3. RETURN OF FUNDS WAIVER. 

2 Section 484B(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 

3 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091b(b)(2)) is amended by adding at 

4 the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(F) WAIVERS OF GRANT ASSISTANCE AND

6 LOAN REPAYMENT BY STUDENTS WHO ARE VIC7 TIMS OF SEX-BASED HARASSMENT.—In addi8 tion to the waivers authorized by subparagraphs 

9 (D) and (E), the Secretary may waive the 

10 amounts that students are required to return 

11 under this section with respect to any grant as12 sistance (including Federal Pell Grants) or 

13 loans made under this title if the withdrawals 

14 on which the returns are based are withdrawals 

15 by students— 

16 ‘‘(i) whose attendance was interrupted 

17 due to being a victim of sex-based harass18 ment (as such term is defined in section 

19 455(f)(6)); and 

20 ‘‘(ii) in the case of students who, in 

21 the absence of this subparagraph, would 

22 have been required to return loans made 

23 under this title, who are receiving a 

24 deferment under section 455(f)(2)(E) on 

25 such loans.’’. 


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1 SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

2 Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment 

3 of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall prepare and 

4 submit to Congress a report that includes an evaluation 

5 of the effectiveness of the activities established under this 

6 Act, and the amendments made by this Act, including op7 portunities for increased program integrity. 

Æ 


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