H.R. 1979 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1979 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 14, 2013 Mr. Tierney (for himself, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Holt, and Ms. Lee of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce A BILL To prevent the doubling of the interest rate for Federal subsidized student loans for the 2013–2014 academic year by providing funds for such loans through the Federal Reserve System, to ensure that such loans are available at interest rates that are equivalent to the interest rates at which the Federal Government provides loans to banks through the discount window operated by the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act. 2. Provision of funds for 2013–2014 Federal Direct Stafford Loans Section 451 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087a) is amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Provision of funds for 2013–2014 Federal Direct Stafford Loans (1) In general The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System shall make available to the Secretary, from the combined earnings of the Federal Reserve System, the amount determined by the Secretary to be reasonably necessary to award Federal Direct Stafford Loans during the award year beginning July 1, 2013, to all eligible students in attendance at participating institutions of higher education selected by the Secretary to enable such students to pursue their courses of study at such institutions. (2) Administration by Secretary and similar terms The Federal Direct Stafford Loans funded under this subsection for the award year beginning July 1, 2013, shall be administered by the Secretary and shall be made in accordance with the requirements, and be subject to all terms and conditions, of this part, except that appropriations provided under the first sentence of subsection (a) shall not be used for any Federal Direct Stafford Loans made during such period. . 3. Adjustment of Federal Direct Stafford Loan interest rates (a) In general Section 455(b)(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(b)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the following: (E) Reduced rates for fdsl loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this subsection and subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, for Federal Direct Stafford Loans made to undergraduate students for which the first disbursement is made on or after July 1, 2013, and before July 1, 2014, the applicable rate of interest shall be the primary credit rate charged by the Federal Reserve banks on July 1, 2013, for purposes of sections 13 and 13A of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 342 et seq.). . (b) Conforming amendments Section 455(b)(7)(D) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(b)(7)(D)) is amended in the subparagraph heading by striking fdsl and inserting fdsl issued on or after July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2013.