Military Spouse Student Loan Deferment Act
Bill: H.R.3641 | Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. (R-NY)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Military Spouse Student Loan Deferment Act
This bill allows certain military spouses to defer payment on their federal student loans for 90 days. Specifically, borrowers are eligible to receive this deferment if (1) their spouse is an active duty service member of the Armed Forces, (2) they have lost their employment due to a permanent change in duty station of their spouse, and (3) they provide certain documentation to the Department of Education. Loan interest shall not accrue during the deferment period.


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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Military Spouse Student Loan 
Deferment Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN DEFERMENT FOR DISLOCATED MILITARY SPOUSES.

    (a) In General.--Section 455(f) of the Higher Education 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 following:
            ``(4) Deferment for dislocated military spouses.--
                    ``(A) Duration and effect on principal and 
                interest.--A borrower of a loan made, insured, or 
                guaranteed under this part or part B who meets the 
                requirements of subparagraph (B) shall be eligible for 
                a deferment for a period of 90 days, during which 
                periodic installments of principal need not be paid, 
                and interest 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 employment 
                        as a result of relocation to accommodate 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 Secretary--
                                    ``(I) the documentation described 
                                in clause (ii); or
                                    ``(II) such other documentation as 
                                the Secretary determines appropriate.
                            ``(ii) Documentation.--The documentation 
                        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 
                                borrower is eligible for unemployment 
                                benefits due to a loss of employment 
                                resulting from relocation to 
                                accommodate such permanent change in 
                                duty station; or
                                    ``(bb) a written certification, or 
                                an equivalent as approved by the 
                                Secretary, that the borrower is 
                                registered with a public or private 
                                employment agency due to a loss of 
                                employment resulting from relocation to 
                                accommodate 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.
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