I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2976 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 21, 2017 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Perlmutter , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Mr. Peterson , Mr. Diaz-Balart , and Mr. Duncan of Tennessee ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow for the deferment of certain student loans during a period in which a borrower is receiving treatment for cancer.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Deferment for Active Cancer Treatment Act of 2017 . 2. Student loan deferment for borrowers receiving cancer treatment (a) Direct Loans Section 455(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(f) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Deferment for borrowers receiving cancer treatment (A) Effect on principal and interest A borrower of a loan made under this part who meets the requirements of subparagraph (B) shall be eligible for a deferment, during which periodic installments of principal need not be paid, and interest shall not accrue. (B) Eligibility A borrower of a loan made under this part shall be eligible for a deferment during— (i) any period in which such borrower is receiving treatment for cancer; and (ii) the 6 months after such period. (C) Applicability This paragraph shall apply with respect to loans— (i) made on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph; or (ii) in repayment on the date of the enactment of this paragraph. . (b) Terms of Federally Insured Student Loans Section 427(a)(2)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1077(a)(2)(C) ) is amended— (1) in clause (ii), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (2) in clause (iii), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (3) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: (iv) in which the borrower is receiving treatment for cancer and the 6 months after such period. . (c) FFEL program Section 428(b)(1)(M) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1078(b)(1)(M) ) is amended— (1) in clause (iii), by striking or (II); or and inserting a or (II); ; (2) in clause (iv), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (v) during which the borrower is receiving treatment for cancer and the 6 months after such period; . (d) Federal Perkins loans Section 464(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087dd(c)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) in clause (iv), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (B) in clause (v), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (C) by inserting after clause (v) the following: (vi) during which the borrower is receiving treatment for cancer and the 6 months after such period; . (e) Interest on unsubsubsidized Stafford Loans Section 428H(e)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1078–8(e)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking Interest and inserting, Except as provided in subparagraph (C), interest ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (C) Interest shall not accrue on a loan deferred under section 428(b)(1)(M)(v) or 427(a)(2)(C)(iv). . (f) Applicability The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to loans— (1) made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; or (2) in repayment on the date of the enactment of this Act.