Servicemember Higher Education Protection Act

Bill: 114-hr-4260
Sponsor: Rep. Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ-9]
Introduced: 2015-12-15 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Department of Education
Disability and paralysis
Disability assistance
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Higher education
Interest, dividends, interest rates
Medical education
Military personnel and dependents
Student aid and college costs
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: 

Servicemember Higher Education Protection Act

 
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify provisions related to student loans for members of the military and their spouses.
 
The Department of Education (ED) shall make available a simplified disclosure and enrollment form for student loan borrowers who are performing eligible military service.
 
The bill establishes, within the office of the Student Loan Ombudsman, a military and veteran point of contact.
 
The bill modifies processes for determining disability with respect to discharging a borrower's student loans. A borrower whose loan is discharged under these processes shall not be subject to certain reinstatement provisions.
 
Under current law, borrowers serving on active duty are eligible for certain student loan interest subsidies and deferment. The bill extends such eligibility to borrowers performing other specified military service and their spouses. 
 
The bill specifies how lump sum payments made through eligible repayment programs shall be treated for purposes of determining a borrower's eligibility for public service loan forgiveness.
 
Without requiring a request from the borrower, ED must ensure that certain student loan interest does not accrue for an eligible military borrower serving in an area of hostilities. 
 
With respect to the National Student Loan Data System, ED must: (1) integrate certain data related to the military and veteran status of borrowers, and (2) include information regarding Public Health Service loans.
 
ED shall use specified information to ensure that an active duty borrower is not charged interest in excess of a maximum rate on certain student loans.
 
The bill limits the allowable interest rate on certain student loan debt incurred during military service for the purpose of consolidating or refinancing student loans incurred before service.
 
The bill establishes a working group to improve resources available from the Department of Defense's tuition assistance programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-03-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
action_date: 2016-01-28
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2015-12-16
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-12-15
text: Introduced in House