LOAN Act (H.R. 4862)

Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now Act or the LOAN Act

This bill revises federal student aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. It also repeals the education provisions that were enacted under P.L. 119-21 (commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act).

Among other provisions, the bill revises the Federal Pell Grant program by (1) providing funding to increase the maximum award for each eligible student, and (2) allowing income-eligible graduate students to utilize their remaining Pell Grant eligibility toward their first graduate degree.

Changes to the PSLF program include (1) reducing the number of monthly loan payments required for loan forgiveness, and (2) removing the requirement that a borrower must be employed in a public service job at the time of forgiveness.

The bill makes Dreamer students (i.e., students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status and who entered the United States before the age of 18) who meet certain educational criteria eligible for federal financial aid.

The bill also (1) establishes refinancing programs for federal and private student loans; (2) creates a new income-driven repayment plan; and (3) repeals origination fees for Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and Direct PLUS Loans.

The bill repeals the education provisions that were enacted under P.L. 119-21. For example, the act addressed the amount of federal financial aid available to students by changing the mix and availability of student loans. (For more information, see CRS Report R48727.)