Statement from the House Education & the Workforce Committee

Bipartisan Bill Introduced in House to Waive Student Loan Obligations for U.S. Troops (H.R. 1412)

[The following statement was distributed by the House Education & the Workforce Committee. NASFAA endorsed H.R. 1412 in a letter sent to the Committee on March 26.]

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Led by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), House Education & the Workforce Committee members today introduced bipartisan legislation designed to ensure that U.S. military reservists called to active duty are not forced to make payments on federal student loans while they are defending freedom overseas. H.R. 1412, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES), would ensure support for military personnel by allowing the U.S. Secretary of Education to provide the appropriate assistance and flexibility to our men and women in uniform as they transfer in and out of postsecondary education during a time of war.

"I am pleased to address two issues close to my heart, education and the well-being of those in our armed forces, with one legislative effort," said Kline. "It is imperative we show our appreciation for the men and women called to service and make sure they are not penalized."

Some of the men and women serving in the Persian Gulf conflict are U.S. military reservists who are college and university students, and many of these students participate in federal financial aid programs. The HEROES legislation offered by Rep. Kline would extend waiver authority that allows the U.S. Secretary of Education to excuse such military personnel from their federal student loan obligations while they are on active duty in the service of their nation. For example, the families of military reservists who left their jobs when called to active duty could be relieved from making student loan payments during the time of service, and the families of borrowers serving on active duty could be given relief from collection calls from lenders while the conflict is taking place.

"I applaud the leadership of Congressman Kline as we all work to support our troops fighting for us overseas," said John Boehner (R-OH), chairman of the Education & the Workforce Committee. "As our military reservists are called to serve the nation, it is our duty to provide them with the support and flexibility they need to avoid financial hardship as they defend freedom and protect our security."

The HEROES legislation was introduced today with significant bipartisan support. Among the co-sponsors of the HEROES legislation are Boehner; Rep. George Miller (D-CA), senior Democrat member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee; Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX), senior Democrat member of the House Rules Committee; Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), chairman of the 21st Century Competitiveness Subcommittee, and many others.

The bill would ask postsecondary institutions to provide a full refund of tuition and fees to students for the period they were not able to complete because of their service, and would minimize deferral of enrollment or reapplication requirements, making it easier for military personnel to reenter their postsecondary education when they return from active duty. It would also ask lending institutions holding or servicing federal student loans to provide all available benefits, deferrals, and flexibility to ensure the men and women of our armed services are not placed in an adverse financial position because of their service. HEROES also allows the Secretary of Education to quickly react to situations not yet existing in order to provide the flexibility and protections necessary to best assist military personnel with the transition to and from postsecondary education as they work to serve our nation.

Posted March 26, 2003 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Please submit Web Site questions or comments to web@nasfaa.org