,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ddig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #be1 #bjai,ms4 ,shalala 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,pressley1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee1 ,ms4 ,moore1 and ,ms4 ,haaland7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to make improvements to the ,federal ,student ,aid ,office1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,protecting ,student ,aid ,act of #bjai or the ,,psa ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,improvements to the ,federal student aid office ,section #ada of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajah7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7i7 as subsection 7k72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7h7 the following3 7i7 ,enforcement unit 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,,psa ,act of #bjai1 the ,secretary shall establish within the ,,pbo an enforcement unit 7referred to in this section as the ,unit7 to review and investigate violations of this ,act and recommend enforcement actions in accordance with paragraph 7#c74 7#b7 ,chief enforcement officer 7,a7 ,appointment ,the ,secretary shall appoint an official to be known as the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer who shall serve as the head of the ,unit4 ,the ,secretary shall appoint an individual to serve as the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer solely on the basis of such individual's integrity and expertise in law and investigations and without regard to such individual's political affiliation4 7,b7 ,authority ,the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer shall report directly to the ,secretary without being required to report through any other official of the ,department of ,education4 7,c7 ,term ,the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer shall be appointed for a term of #f years and may be reappointed for additional terms of #f years at the discretion of the ,secretary4 7,d7 ,removal 7i7 ,in general ,the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer may not be removed during the ,officer's term except for cause4 7ii7 ,notice to congress ,if the ,secretary removes the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer before the expiration of the ,officer's term1 the ,secretary shall submit to the authorizing committees a report that explains the reasons for such removal4 ,the report shall be submitted to the authorizing committees not later than #cj days after the date on which the removal takes effect4 7#c7 ,duties ,the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer shall have the following duties3 7,a7 ,receive1 process1 and analyze allegations that a covered entity has violated ,federal law or has engaged in unfair1 deceptive1 or abusive practices4 7,b7 ,review and investigate such allegations4 7,c7 ,after reviewing and investigating an allegation under subparagraph 7,b71 in consultation with the ,chief ,operating ,officer-- 7i7 if the covered entity subject to such allegation is an entity described in clause 7i7 or 7iii7 of paragraph 7#h77;,a71 make recommendations with respect to such covered entity1 including-- 7,i7 whether such covered entity should be limited1 suspended1 or terminated from participation in one or more programs under title ,,iv2 7,,ii7 whether such covered entity should be subject to an emergency action under section #dhg7;c77#a77;,g72 or 7,,iii7 a combination of any of the actions described in clauses 7,,ii7 and 7,,iii72 7ii7 if the covered entity subject to such allegation is an entity described in clause 7ii7 of paragraph 7#h77;,a71 make recommendations with respect to such covered entity1 including whether such covered entity should be limited1 suspended1 or terminated from administering or providing services with respect to one or more programs under title ,,iv2 and 7iii7 provide the ,secretary with such recommendations4 7#d7 ,secretarial review and action ,after receiving notice of a determination of the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer under paragraph 7#d77;,c71 the ,secretary shall decide whether or not to pursue enforcement action against the entity concerned4 ,in a case in which the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer recommends enforcement action against an entity1 but the ,secretary decides not to pursue such enforcement action1 the ,secretary shall notify the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer1 in writing1 of the rationale for such decision4 7#e7 ,coordination and staffing ,the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer shall-- 7,a7 coordinate with relevant ,federal and ,state agencies and oversight bodies2 and 7,b7 hire staff with the expertise necessary to conduct investigations1 respond to allegations against covered entities1 and enforce compliance with laws governing ,federal student financial assistance programs under title ,,iv4 7#f7 ,information sharing ,the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer shall develop and implement a process for sharing relevant information about allegations against covered entities with-- 7,a7 the ,student ,loan ,ombudsman appointed under subsection 7f72 7,b7 personnel of the ,department responsible for processing borrower defense claims submitted under section #dee7;h72 7,c7 other relevant ,federal agencies2 7,d7 ,states1 including ,state law enforcement and regulatory agencies2 and 7,e7 recognized accrediting agencies or associations4 7#g7 ,report to congress ,on an annual basis1 the ,chief ,enforcement ,officer shall submit to the authorizing committees a report that includes-- 7,a7 the number of allegations about covered entities received by the ,unit in the year covered by the report2 7,b7 the number of such allegations investigated by the ,unit2 7,c7 the number of such allegations that were referred to the ,secretary under paragraph 7#d77;,c7 and a summary of any action taken by the ,secretary with respect to such allegations2 7,d7 the number of such allegations that were referred to other ,federal agencies and the names of the agencies to which the allegations were referred2 and 7,e7 the number of such allegations that remain under review or investigation as of the date of the report4 7#h7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,covered entity defined ,in this subsection1 the term covered entity means-- 7i7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #ajb7 that participates in the ,federal student financial assistance programs authorized under title ,,iv2 7ii7 a contractor that contracts with the ,,pbo to provide services relating to such programs1 or a subcontractor of such contractor2 or 7iii7 a third party servicer4 7,b7 ,third party servicer ,the term third party servicer has the meaning given that term in section #dha7;c74 4 #c4 ,definition of third party servicer ,section #dha7;c7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh7;c77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by striking contract and inserting contract or other agreement1 including a revenue sharing arrangement12 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking 1 through either manual or automated processing1 any aspect of such institution's student assistance programs and inserting services on behalf of the institution receiving student assistance funds4