II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 409 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 14, 2023 Mr. Rubio introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide student loan deferment for victims of terrorist attacks.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Terrorism Survivors Student Loan Deferment Act of 2023 . 2. Student loan deferment for victims of terrorist attacks (a) 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 (iii), by striking or after the semicolon; (2) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (v) not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack; . (b) FFEL program Section 428(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1078(b) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(M)— (A) in clause (iv), by striking or after the semicolon; (B) in clause (v), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (vi) not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack as described in paragraph (10); ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (10) Deferment for victims of terrorist attacks For purposes of deferment under paragraph (1)(M)(vi), a victim of a terrorist attack is an individual who is designated as a victim of a terrorist attack by the head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of the attack. . (c) Direct loans Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e ) is amended— (1) in subsection (e)(7)(B)(i), by inserting or due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack after section 435(o) ; and (2) in subsection (f)— (A) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking clause (i) or (ii); or and inserting clause (i) or (ii); ; (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (E) not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack as described in paragraph (6). ; and (B) by adding at the end the following: (6) Deferment for victims of terrorist attacks For purposes of deferment under paragraph (2)(E), a victim of a terrorist attack is an individual who is designated as a victim of a terrorist attack by the head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of the attack. . (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 (v), by striking or after the semicolon; (B) in clause (vi), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (C) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: (vii) not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack as described in subparagraph (D); ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (D) For purposes of deferment under subparagraph (A)(vii), a victim of a terrorist attack is an individual who is designated as a victim of a terrorist attack by the head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of the attack. . (e) Designating victims of terrorist attacks The head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of a terrorist attack, or has handled the investigation of a terrorist attack, shall designate the individuals who are victims of such terrorist attack. (f) Anti-Fraud protections The Secretary of Education shall establish anti-fraud protections in carrying out the amendments made by this Act.