I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1211 
To prohibit the mass cancellation of student loans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2023 
Mr. DESJARLAIS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prohibit the mass cancellation of student loans. 
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 ‘‘Student Loan Account-
ability Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Statutory authority has not been provided 
to the executive branch of the Federal Government 
to cancel student loans on a mass scale. 
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(2) It is unfair for taxpayers who paid student 
loans or did not attend college to pay for those who 
chose to take student loans. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON MASS CANCELLATION OF STU-
DENT LOANS. 
(a) PROHIBITION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the Secretary of Education, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, or the Attorney General 
shall not take any action to cancel or forgive the 
outstanding balances, or portion of balances, of cov-
ered loans, except as provided in paragraph (2). 
(2) EXEMPTION.—The prohibition described in 
paragraph (1) shall not apply to targeted Federal 
student loan forgiveness, cancellation, or repayment 
programs carried out under the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), under final 
regulations as in effect on March 12, 2020. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered 
loan’’ means— 
(1) a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under 
part B, D, or E of title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.; 1087a et seq.; 
1087aa et seq.) before, on, or after the date of en-
actment of this Act; or 
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(2) a loan under the Health Education Assist-
ance Loan Program under title VII of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 292 et seq.) made be-
fore, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) LIMITATION.—The Secretary of Education, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, or the Attorney General may 
not implement, or publish in any form, any regulation, or 
take any action, that modifies, alters, amends, cancels, 
discharges, forgives, or defers the repayment of any stu-
dent debt not expressly permitted within statute or regula-
tion as in effect on March 12, 2020, regarding covered 
loans, except to the extent that such regulation or action 
reflects the clear and unequivocal intent of Congress in 
legislation. 
Æ 
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