"A bill that would expand federal oversight of private student loans is making its way through Congress," The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. "The measure, a central plank of the White House's plan to overhaul the financial regulatory system, would create a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency to replace the current patchwork of federal regulators. Consumer advocates hope that the new agency would place restrictions on the marketing of private student loans and make private loans dischargeable in cases of death, disability, or college closure. The U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee took up the bill last week, and will continue debating the measure on Tuesday."