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Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.
10/18/2016 • House
Summary
Helping Improve Grants for Higher Education & Repayment of Expensive Debt Act or the HIGHER ED Act
This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to:
- modify the Federal Pell Grant program to increase the maximum award and restore year-round grants,
- make graduate and professional students eligible to receive subsidized Stafford Loans under the Federal Direct Loan program,
- direct the Department of Education to refinance outstanding federal student loans for Direct Loan and Federal Family Education Loan program borrowers,
- include a part-time job as a faculty member within the definition of "public service job" for purposes of the public service loan forgiveness program, and
- establish additional terms and conditions applicable to the income-based and income-contingent repayment plans.
Additionally, the bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to permit a borrower to discharge in bankruptcy a nonprofit, government, or private student loan, or an obligation to repay an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend.
Introduced in House • 9/28/2016
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Bill Journey
Originated in the House
Introduced
September 28, 2016
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
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Enacted into Law