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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Service Appre-
ciation Through Loan Forgiveness Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall— 
(1) develop informational materials with respect 
to the eligibility requirements of the public service 
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loan forgiveness program under section 455(m) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1087e(m)); 
(2) make such informational materials available 
on the website of the Department of Education; 
(3) conduct outreach to not-for-profit institu-
tions and government organizations that regularly 
employ individuals eligible for such public service 
loan forgiveness program benefits to inform such in-
stitutions and organization of such informational 
materials; and 
(4) establish an online portal for borrowers to 
submit employment certification forms to certify em-
ployment in a public service job (as defined in such 
section 455(m)(3)). 
SEC. 3. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS REDUCTION 
SCHEDULE. 
Section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1087e(m)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(5) REDUCTION SCHEDULE.— 
‘‘(A) 10 PERCENT
CANCELLATION.—The 
Secretary shall cancel 10 percent of the balance 
of interest and principal due on any eligible 
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Federal Direct Loan not in default for a bor-
rower who— 
‘‘(i) has made 48 monthly payments 
described in paragraph (1)(A); 
‘‘(ii) is employed in a public service 
job at the time of such cancellation; and 
‘‘(iii) has been employed in a public 
service job during the period in which the 
borrower makes each of the 48 payments 
described in clause (i). 
‘‘(B) 20 PERCENT
CANCELLATION.—The 
Secretary shall cancel 20 percent of the balance 
of interest and principal due on any eligible 
Federal Direct Loan not in default for a bor-
rower who— 
‘‘(i) has made 72 monthly payments 
described in paragraph (1)(A); 
‘‘(ii) is employed in a public service 
job at the time of such cancellation; and 
‘‘(iii) has been employed in a public 
service job during the period in which the 
borrower makes each of the 72 payments 
described in clause (i). 
‘‘(C) 50 PERCENT
CANCELLATION.—The 
Secretary shall cancel 50 percent of the balance 
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