I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3641 
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 
MAY 28, 2021 
Ms. STEFANIK (for herself, Mr. NORCROSS, Mr. KELLY of Mississippi, Mr. 
MAST, Mr. DESJARLAIS, Ms. HERRELL, Mr. GOHMERT, Ms. NORTON, 
Ms. KAPTUR, Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma, and Mrs. WAGNER) 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. 
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 ‘‘Military Spouse Stu-
dent Loan Deferment Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED 
MILITARY SPOUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 455(f) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(4) DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED MILITARY 
SPOUSES.— 
‘‘(A) DURATION
AND
EFFECT
ON
PRIN-
CIPAL AND INTEREST.—A borrower of a loan 
made, insured, or guaranteed under this part or 
part B who meets the requirements of subpara-
graph (B) shall be eligible for a deferment for 
a period of 90 days, during which periodic in-
stallments of principal need not be paid, and in-
terest shall not accrue. 
‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—A borrower of a loan 
made, insured, or guaranteed under this part or 
part B shall be eligible for a deferment under 
subparagraph (A) if the borrower— 
‘‘(i) is the spouse of a member of the 
Armed Forces serving on active duty; and 
‘‘(ii) has experienced a loss of employ-
ment as a result of relocation to accommo-
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date a permanent change in duty station of 
such member. 
‘‘(C) DOCUMENTATION AND APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A borrower may 
establish eligibility for a deferment under 
subparagraph (A) by providing to the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(I) the documentation described 
in clause (ii); or 
‘‘(II) such other documentation 
as the Secretary determines appro-
priate. 
‘‘(ii) DOCUMENTATION.—The docu-
mentation described in this clause is— 
‘‘(I) evidence that the borrower is 
the spouse of a member of the Armed 
Forces serving on active duty; 
‘‘(II) evidence that a military 
permanent change of station order 
was issued to such member; and 
‘‘(III)(aa) evidence that the bor-
rower is eligible for unemployment 
benefits due to a loss of employment 
resulting from relocation to accommo-
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date such permanent change in duty 
station; or 
‘‘(bb) a written certification, or 
an equivalent as approved by the Sec-
retary, that the borrower is registered 
with a public or private employment 
agency due to a loss of employment 
resulting from relocation to accommo-
date such permanent change in duty 
station.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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