Public Service Appreciation Through Loan Forgiveness Act
Bill: H.R.251 | Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja (D-IL)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Public Service Appreciation Through Loan Forgiveness Act
This bill requires the Department of Education (ED) to implement a partial student loan forgiveness reduction schedule and conduct awareness activities relating to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Specifically, ED must

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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Public Service Appreciation Through 
Loan Forgiveness Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Education shall--
            (1) develop informational materials with respect to the 
        eligibility requirements of the public service 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 institutions and 
        government organizations that regularly employ individuals 
        eligible for such public service loan forgiveness program 
        benefits to inform such institutions and organization of such 
        informational materials; and
            (4) establish an online portal for borrowers to submit 
        employment certification forms to certify employment 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 Federal Direct Loan not 
                in default for a borrower 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 borrower 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 of interest and 
                principal due on any eligible Federal Direct Loan not 
                in default for a borrower who--
                            ``(i) has made 96 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 96 payments 
                        described in clause (i).
                    ``(D) Eligibility for further reductions allowed.--
                A borrower may, for the same service, receive a 
                reduction of loan obligations--
                            ``(i) under each of subparagraphs (A), (B), 
                        and (C) of this paragraph; and
                            ``(ii) under paragraph (1).''.
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