,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fcig ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bf1 #bjbj,mr4 ,courtney 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,mr4 ,brown of ,maryland1 ,mr4 ,crdenas1 ,mr4 ,cicilline1 ,mr4 ,cisneros1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,ms4 ,de,lauro1 ,ms4 ,del,bene1 ,mrs4 ,dingell1 ,mr4 ,michael ,f4 ,doyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,escobar1 ,mr4 ,foster1 ,mrs4 ,hayes1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,mr4 ,larson of ,connecticut1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,california1 ,mr4 ,lynch1 ,mr4 ,mc,nerney1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,mr4 ,peterson1 ,mr4 ,phillips1 ,mr4 ,rush1 ,mr4 ,ryan1 ,ms4 ,snchez1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,david ,scott of ,georgia1 ,ms4 ,sewell of ,alabama1 ,ms4 ,slotkin1 ,mr4 ,soto1 ,mr4 ,stanton1 ,mr4 ,swalwell of ,california1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,mr4 ,yarmuth1 ,ms4 ,bass1 and ,mr4 ,crow7 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 provide for the refinancing of certain ,federal student loans1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,coronavirus ,emergency ,student ,loan ,refinancing ,act4 ,i ,refinancing ,programs #aja4 ,refinancing programs 7a7 ,program authority ,section #dea7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;a7a77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and 7#b7 and inserting 7#b72 and 7#b7 by inserting 2 and 7#c7 to make loans under section #dfj;,a and section #dfj;,b after section #dei;,a4 7b7 ,refinancing ,program ,part ,d of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;a et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #dfj;,a4 ,refinancing ,,ffel and ,federal ,direct ,loans 7a7 ,in general ,beginning not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of the ,coronavirus ,emergency ,student ,loan ,refinancing ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a program under which the ,secretary1 upon the receipt of an application from a qualified borrower1 makes a loan under this part1 in accordance with the provisions of this section1 in order to permit the borrower to obtain the interest rate provided under subsection 7c74 7b7 ,refinancing ,direct ,loans 7#a7 ,federal ,direct ,loans ,upon application of a qualified borrower1 the ,secretary shall repay a ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan1 a ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan1 a ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loan1 or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan of the qualified borrower1 for which the first disbursement was made1 or the application for the consolidation loan was received1 before ,july #a1 #bjbj1 with the proceeds of a refinanced ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan1 a ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan1 a ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loan1 or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan1 respectively1 issued to the borrower in an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal1 accrued unpaid interest1 and late charges of the original loan4 7#b7 ,refinancing ,,ffel program loans as refinanced ,federal ,direct ,loans ,upon application of a qualified borrower for any loan that was made1 insured1 or guaranteed under part ,b and for which the first disbursement was made1 or the application for the consolidation loan was received1 before ,july #a1 #bjaj1 the ,secretary shall make a loan under this part1 in an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal1 accrued unpaid interest1 and late charges of the original loan to the borrower in accordance with the following3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary shall pay the proceeds of such loan to the eligible lender of the loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed under part ,b1 in order to discharge the borrower from any remaining obligation to the lender with respect to the original loan4 7,b7 ,a loan made under this section that was originally a loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed-- 7i7 under section #dbh shall be a ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan2 7ii7 under section #dbh;,b shall be a ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loan2 7iii7 under section #dbh;,h shall be a ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan2 and 7iv7 under section #dbh;,c shall be a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan4 7,c7 ,the interest rate for each loan made by the ,secretary under this paragraph shall be the rate provided under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,interest rates 7#a7 ,in general ,the interest rate for the refinanced ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loans1 ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loans1 ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loans1 and ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loans1 shall be a rate equal to-- 7,a7 in any case where the original loan was a loan under section #dbh or #dbh;,h1 a ,federal ,direct ,stafford loan1 or a ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan1 that was issued to an undergraduate student1 a rate equal to the lowest yield on the #aj-year ,treasury note in the preceding #f months plus #b4je percent2 7,b7 in any case where the original loan was a loan under section #dbh or #dbh;,h1 a ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan1 or a ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan1 that was issued to a graduate or professional student1 a rate equal to the lowest yield on the #aj-year ,treasury note in the preceding #f months plus #c4f percent2 7,c7 in any case where the original loan was a loan under section #dbh;,b or a ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loan1 a rate equal to the lowest yield on the #aj-year ,treasury note in the preceding #f months plus #d4f percent2 and 7,d7 in any case where the original loan was a loan under section #dbh;,c or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan1 a rate calculated in accordance with paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,interest ,rates for ,consolidation ,loans 7,a7 ,method of calculation ,in order to determine the interest rate for any refinanced ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan under paragraph 7#a77;,d71 the ,secretary shall-- 7i7 determine each of the component loans that were originally consolidated in the loan under section #dbh;,c or the ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan1 and calculate the proportion of the unpaid principal balance of the loan under section #dbh;,c or the ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan that each component loan represents2 7ii7 use the proportions determined in accordance with clause 7i7 and the interest rate applicable for each component loan1 as determined under subparagraph 7,b71 to calculate the weighted average of the interest rates on the loans consolidated into the loan under section #dbh;,c or the ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan2 and 7iii7 apply the weighted average calculated under clause 7ii7 as the interest rate for the refinanced ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan4 7,b7 ,interest rates for component loans ,the interest rates for the component loans of a loan made under section #dbh;,c or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan shall be the following3 7i7 ,the interest rate for any loan under section #dbh or #dbh;,h1 ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan1 or ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan issued to an undergraduate student shall be a rate equal to the lesser of-- 7,i7 the rate for ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loans and ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loans issued to undergraduate students for the #ab-month period beginning on ,july #a1 #bjbj1 and ending on ,june #cj1 #bjba2 or 7,,ii7 the original interest rate of the component loan4 7ii7 ,the interest rate for any loan under section #dbh or #dbh;,h1 ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan1 or ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan issued to a graduate or professional student shall be a rate equal to the lesser of-- 7,i7 the rate for ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loans issued to graduate or professional students for the #ab-month period beginning on ,july #a1 #bjbj1 and ending on ,june #cj1 #bjba2 or 7,,ii7 the original interest rate of the component loan4 7iii7 ,the interest rate for any loan under section #dbh;,b or ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loan shall be a rate equal to the lesser of-- 7,i7 the rate for ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loans for the #ab-month period beginning on ,july #a1 #bjbj1 and ending on ,june #cj1 #bjba2 or 7,,ii7 the original interest rate of the component loan4 7iv7 ,the interest rate for any component loan that is a loan under section #dbh;,c or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan shall be the weighted average of the interest rates that would apply under this subparagraph for each loan comprising the component consolidation loan4 7v7 ,the interest rate for any eligible loan that is a component of a loan made under section #dbh;,c or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan and is not described in clauses 7i7 through 7iv7 shall be the interest rate on the original component loan4 7#c7 ,fixed ,rate ,the applicable rate of interest determined under paragraph 7#a7 for a refinanced loan under this section shall be fixed for the period of the loan4 7d7 ,terms and conditions of loans 7#a7 ,in general ,a loan that is refinanced under this section shall have the same terms and conditions as the original loan1 except as otherwise provided in this section4 7#b7 ,no automatic extension of repayment period ,refinancing a loan under this section shall not result in the extension of the duration of the repayment period of the loan1 and the borrower shall retain the same repayment term that was in effect on the original loan4 ,nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent a borrower from electing a different repayment plan at any time in accordance with section #dee7;d77#c74 7e7 ,definition of qualified borrower 7#a7 ,in ,general ,for purposes of this section1 the term qualified borrower means a borrower-- 7,a7 of a loan under this part or part ,b for which the first disbursement was made1 or the application for a consolidation loan was received1 before ,july #a1 #bjbj2 and 7,b7 who meets the eligibility requirements based on income or debt-to-income ratio established by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,income requirements ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of the ,coronavirus ,emergency ,student ,loan ,refinancing ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish eligibility requirements based on income or debt-to-income ratio that take into consideration providing access to refinancing under this section for borrowers with the greatest financial need4 7f7 ,notification to borrowers ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,director of the ,bureau of ,consumer ,financial ,protection1 shall undertake a campaign to alert borrowers of loans that are eligible for refinancing under this section that the borrowers are eligible to apply for such refinancing4 ,the campaign shall include the following activities3 7#a7 ,developing consumer information materials about the availability of ,federal student loan refinancing4 7#b7 ,requiring servicers of loans under this part or part ,b to provide such consumer information to borrowers in a manner determined appropriate by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,bureau of ,consumer ,financial ,protection4 #dfj;,b4 ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible private education loan ,the term eligible private education loan means a private education loan1 as defined in section #adj7;a7 of the ,truth in ,lending ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afej7;a771 that-- 7,a7 was disbursed to the borrower before ,july #a1 #bjbj2 and 7,b7 was for the borrower's own postsecondary educational expenses for an eligible program at an institution of higher education participating in the loan program under this part1 as of the date that the loan was disbursed4 7#b7 ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan ,the term ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan means a loan issued under subsection 7b77#a74 7#c7 ,private educational lender ,the term private educational lender has the meaning given the term in section #adj7;a7 of the ,truth in ,lending ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afej7;a774 7#d7 ,qualified borrower ,the term qualified borrower means an individual who-- 7,a7 has an eligible private education loan2 7,b7 has been current on payments on the eligible private education loan for the #f months prior to the date of the qualified borrower's application for refinancing under this section1 and is in good standing on the loan at the time of such application2 7,c7 is not in default on the eligible private education loan or on any loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed under this part or part ,b or ,e2 and 7,d7 meets the eligibility requirements described in subsection 7b77#b74 7b7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 shall carry out a program under which the ,secretary1 upon application by a qualified borrower who has an eligible private education loan1 shall issue such borrower a loan under this part in accordance with the following3 7,a7 ,the loan issued under this program shall be in an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal1 accrued unpaid interest1 and late charges of the private education loan4 7,b7 ,the ,secretary shall pay the proceeds of the loan issued under this program to the private educational lender of the private education loan1 in order to discharge the qualified borrower from any remaining obligation to the lender with respect to the original loan4 7,c7 ,the ,secretary shall require that the qualified borrower undergo loan counseling that provides all of the information and counseling required under clauses 7i7 through 7viii7 of section #dhe7;b77#a77;,a7 before the loan is refinanced in accordance with this section1 and before the proceeds of such loan are paid to the private educational lender4 7,d7 ,the ,secretary shall issue the loan as a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan1 which shall have the same terms1 conditions1 and benefits as a ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan1 except as otherwise provided in this section4 7#b7 ,borrower eligibility ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of the ,coronavirus ,emergency ,student ,loan ,refinancing ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of the ,treasury and the ,director of the ,bureau of ,consumer ,financial ,protection1 shall establish eligibility requirements-- 7,a7 based on income or debt-to-income ratio that take into consideration providing access to refinancing under this section for borrowers with the greatest financial need2 7,b7 to ensure eligibility only for borrowers in good standing2 7,c7 to minimize inequities between ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loans and other ,federal student loans2 7,d7 to preclude windfall profits for private educational lenders2 and 7,e7 to ensure full access to the program authorized in this subsection for borrowers with private loans who otherwise meet the criteria established in accordance with subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b74 7c7 ,interest rate 7#a7 ,in general ,the interest rate for a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan is-- 7,a7 in the case of a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan for a private education loan originally issued for undergraduate postsecondary educational expenses1 a rate equal to the lowest yield on the #aj-year ,treasury note in the preceding #f months plus #b4je percent2 and 7,b7 in the case of a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan for a private education loan originally issued for graduate or professional degree postsecondary educational expenses1 a rate equal to the lowest yield on the #aj-year ,treasury note in the preceding #f months plus #c4f percent4 7#b7 ,combined undergraduate and graduate study loans ,if a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan is for a private education loan originally issued for both undergraduate and graduate or professional postsecondary educational expenses1 the interest rate shall be a lowest yield on the #aj-year ,treasury note in the preceding #f months plus #d4f percent4 7#c7 ,fixed ,rate ,the applicable rate of interest determined under this subsection for a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan shall be fixed for the period of the loan4 7d7 ,no inclusion in aggregate limits ,the amount of a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan1 or a ,federal ,direct ,consolidated ,loan to the extent such loan was used to repay a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan1 shall not be included in calculating a borrower's annual or aggregate loan limits under section #dbh or #dbh;,h4 7e7 ,no eligibility for service-,related repayment ,notwithstanding sections #dbh,k7a77#b77;,a71 #dbh,l7b77#b71 #dee7m77#c77;,a71 and #dfj7;b71 a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan1 or any ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan to the extent such loan was used to repay a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan1 shall not be eligible for any loan repayment or loan forgiveness program under section #dbh,k1 #dbh,l1 or #dfj or for the repayment plan for public service employees under section #dee7m74 7f7 ,notification to borrowers ,the ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,secretary of the ,treasury and the ,director of the ,bureau of ,consumer ,financial ,protection1 shall undertake a campaign to alert borrowers about the availability of private student loan refinancing under this section4 4 7c7 ,amendments to public service repayment plan provisions ,section #dee7m7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;e7m77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#c7 and 7#d7 as paragraphs 7#d7 and 7#e71 respectively2 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following3 7#c7 ,special rules for section #dfj;,a loans 7,a7 ,refinanced ,federal ,direct loans ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#a71 in determining the number of monthly payments that meet the requirements of such paragraph for an eligible ,federal ,direct ,loan refinanced under section #dfj;,a that was originally a loan under this part1 the ,secretary shall include all monthly payments made on the original loan that meet the requirements of such paragraph4 7,b7 ,refinanced ,,ffel loans ,in the case of an eligible ,federal ,direct ,loan refinanced under section #dfj;,a that was originally a loan under part ,b1 only monthly payments made after the date on which the loan was refinanced may be included for purposes of paragraph 7#a74 2 and 7#c7 in paragraph 7#d77;,a7 7as redesignated by paragraph 7#a771 by inserting 7including any ,federal ,direct ,stafford ,loan1 ,federal ,direct ,,plus ,loan1 ,federal ,direct ,unsubsidized ,stafford ,loan1 or ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan refinanced under section #dfj;,a7 before the period at the end4 7d7 ,income-,based repayment ,section #dic;,c of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajih;e7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7f7 ,special rule for refinanced loans 7#a7 ,refinanced ,federal ,direct and ,,ffel loans ,in calculating the period of time during which a borrower of a loan that is refinanced under section #dfj;,a has made monthly payments for purposes of subsection 7b77#g71 the ,secretary shall deem the period to include all monthly payments made for the original loan1 and all monthly payments made for the refinanced loan1 that otherwise meet the requirements of this section4 7#b7 ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loans ,in calculating the period of time during which a borrower of a ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan under section #dfj;,b has made monthly payments for purposes of subsection 7b77#g71 the ,secretary shall include only payments-- 7,a7 that are made after the date of the issuance of the ,federal ,direct ,refinanced ,private ,loan2 and 7,b7 that otherwise meet the requirements of this section4 4