,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fgbj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #e1 #bjbj,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,ms4 ,omar1 ,mrs4 ,hayes1 ,mr4 ,veasey1 ,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,mr4 ,vargas1 and ,ms4 ,norton7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,labor1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,financial ,services1 and ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide student loan forgiveness to health care workers who are on the front line in response to ,,covid-#ai4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,student ,loan ,forgiveness for ,frontline ,health ,workers ,act4 #b4 ,federal student loan forgiveness for frontline health care workers 7a7 ,forgiveness required ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,secretary of ,education shall carry out a program in accordance with this ,act to forgive the outstanding balance of interest and principal due on the applicable eligible ,federal student loans of borrowers who are frontline health care workers4 7b7 ,method of loan forgiveness ,in carrying out the loan forgiveness program required under subsection 7a71 as soon as practicable after the ,secretary of ,education has confirmed that an applicant is a frontline health care worker who is a borrower of an eligible ,federal student loan1 the ,secretary of ,education shall-- 7#a7 through the holder of a loan1 assume the obligation to repay the outstanding balance of interest and principal due on the applicable eligible ,federal student loans of the borrower made1 insured1 or guaranteed under part ,b of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajga et seq472 and 7#b7 cancel the outstanding balance of interest and principal due on the applicable eligible ,federal student loans of the borrower made under part ,d or part ,e of such title4 7c7 ,repayment refunds prohibited ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any refunding of any eligible ,federal student loan repayment made before the date a borrower's loans are forgiven in accordance with this section4 7d7 ,exclusion from taxable income ,the amount of a borrower's eligible ,federal student loans forgiven under this section shall not be included in the gross income of the borrower for purposes of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7e7 ,notice to borrowers in statements ,with each billing statement sent to a borrower during the two-year period beginning on the #aeth day after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education shall include1 and shall require each holder of eligible ,federal student loans to include1 a notice informing the borrower of the availability of the ,federal student loan forgiveness and private student loan repayment programs for frontline health care workers under this ,act1 including where to find information about how to qualify as a frontline health care worker1 how to apply to such programs1 and the application deadline for such programs4 #c4 ,private student loan repayment for frontline health care workers 7a7 ,repayment required ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall carry out a program in accordance with this ,act under which the ,secretary shall repay in full the outstanding balance of principal and interest due on the applicable eligible private student loans of borrowers who are frontline health care workers4 7b7 ,method of loan repayment ,in carrying out the program required under subsection 7a71 as soon as practicable after the ,secretary of the ,treasury has confirmed that an applicant is a frontline health care worker who is a borrower of an eligible private student loan1 the ,secretary of the ,treasury shall pay to the private educational lender of each of the applicable eligible private student loans of the borrower an amount equal to the sum of the unpaid principal1 accrued unpaid interest1 and late charges of such applicable eligible private student loans1 as calculated on the date of the repayment of such loans by the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 in order to discharge the borrower from any remaining obligation to the private educational lender with respect to such applicable eligible private student loans4 7c7 ,repayment refunds prohibited ,nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any refunding of any repayment of a loan made before the date a borrower's loans are paid by the ,secretary of the ,treasury in accordance with this section4 7d7 ,exclusion from taxable income ,the amount of a borrower's eligible private student loans paid by the ,secretary of the ,treasury under this section shall not be included in the gross income of the borrower for purposes of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf4 7e7 ,notice to borrowers in statements ,section #abh7;e7 of the ,truth in ,lending ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afch7;e77 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#ab7 ,notice required along with billing statements ,with each billing statement sent to the borrower during the two-year period beginning on the #aeth day after the date of enactment of the ,student ,loan ,forgiveness for ,frontline ,health ,workers ,act1 the private educational lender shall include a notice informing the borrower of the availability of the ,federal student loan forgiveness and private student loan repayment programs for frontline health care workers under the ,student ,loan ,forgiveness for ,frontline ,health ,workers ,act1 including where to find information about how to qualify as a frontline health care worker1 how to apply to such programs1 and the application deadline for such programs4 4 #d4 ,coordinated program requirements ,the ,secretaries concerned shall jointly develop the programs required under section #b and section #c of this ,act1 and shall coordinate and consult with one another in carrying out such programs to ensure that-- 7#a7 determinations of eligibility are uniform and consistent across both programs2 7#b7 frontline health care workers who are borrowers of both eligible ,federal student loans and eligible private student loans may apply for both loan forgiveness under section #b and loan repayment under section #c with submission of only one application2 7#c7 borrowers with outstanding eligible ,federal student loans and borrowers with outstanding eligible private student loans are notified of the availability of both programs required under this ,act2 and 7#d7 such programs are made available to frontline health care workers who were borrowers of eligible ,federal student loans1 eligible private student loans1 or both1 and who died as a result of the coronavirus1 to relieve the families and estates of such deceased frontline health care workers of the burden of the student loans of the such workers4 #e4 ,notice to the public ,not later than #ae days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretaries concerned1 in consultation with institutions of higher education and lenders and holders of ,federal student loans and private education loans1 shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that borrowers who have outstanding eligible ,federal student loans1 outstanding eligible private student loans1 or both1 are aware of the loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs authorized by this ,act4 ,such information shall-- 7#a7 be presented in a form that is widely available to the public1 especially to borrowers with eligible ,federal student loans1 eligible private student loans1 or both2 7#b7 be easily understandable2 and 7#c7 clearly notify borrowers that to be considered for loan forgiveness or loan repayment 7or both7 under this ,act1 borrowers must submit an application to the ,secretaries concerned1 and must do so during the application period described in section #f4 #f4 ,application and determination of eligibility 7a7 ,application period ,an individual may apply for loan forgiveness under section #b1 loan repayment under section #c1 or both1 by submitting an application to the ,secretaries concerned during the period that begins on the date that is #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act and that ends on the date that is #b years after the end of the qualifying period4 7b7 ,determination of eligibility 7#a7 ,development of application ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretaries concerned shall jointly1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services and the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group 7in accordance with section #g71 develop one application for borrowers of both eligible ,federal student loans and eligible private student loans to apply for loan forgiveness or loan repayment1 or both1 under this ,act4 7#b7 ,application requirements ,the application required under paragraph 7#a7 may only include such information as is necessary for the ,secretaries concerned to make a determination of whether the applicant-- 7,a7 is a frontline health care worker1 without consideration of the period of time the applicant served as such a worker2 and 7,b7 is a borrower of an applicable eligible ,federal student loan1 an applicable eligible private student loan1 or both4 7#c7 ,determination ,not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,secretaries concerned receive an application from an individual in accordance with this ,act1 the ,secretaries concerned shall-- 7,a7 confirm that such individual is a frontline health care worker who is a borrower of an applicable eligible ,federal student loan1 an applicable eligible private student loan1 or both1 then notify the individual of such confirmation1 and grant the individual loan forgiveness or loan repayment1 or both1 in accordance with sections #b and #c of this ,act2 or 7,b7 determine that such individual is not a frontline health care worker who is a borrower of an applicable eligible ,federal student loan1 an eligible private student loan1 or both1 then deny such application1 and provide a notification to the individual that includes-- 7i7 that the application was denied2 7ii7 the reason for such denial2 and 7iii7 if the application was denied because the ,secretaries concerned determined that the applicant was not a frontline health care worker1 an explanation that the individual may appeal the denial to the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group within #cj days of the date of such denial1 and information on how the applicant may submit such an appeal4 7#d7 ,treatment after successful appeal ,in the case that an individual appeals the denial of an application to the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group in accordance with section #g1 and the individual is determined by the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group to be a frontline health care worker1 the ,secretaries concerned shall grant the individual loan forgiveness or loan repayment1 or both1 in accordance with sections #b and #c of this ,act not later than #cj days after the ,secretaries concerned are notified of the outcome of the appeal by the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group4 #g4 ,intergovernmental ,working ,group 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretaries concerned and the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall jointly establish an ,intergovernmental ,working ,group to assist1 in accordance with this section1 with the administration of the programs required under this ,act4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group shall have #i members1 of whom-- 7#a7 five members shall be selected by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services from employees of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services who are knowledgeable concerning the education1 training1 employment1 and medical practices of health care professionals and the health care workforce2 7#b7 two members shall be selected by the ,secretary of ,education from employees of the ,department of ,education who are knowledgeable concerning eligible ,federal student loans and the administration of such loans2 and 7#c7 two members shall be selected by the ,secretary of the ,treasury from employees of the ,department of the ,treasury who are knowledgeable concerning eligible private student loans1 the administration of such loans1 and private educational lenders4 7c7 ,duties ,the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group established under this section shall-- 7#a7 develop a procedure or list of requirements to determine whether an individual has made significant contributions to the medical response to the qualifying emergency for purposes of determining whether the individual is a frontline health care worker as defined in section #i7a77;,c72 7#b7 determine what information an individual needs to provide for the ,secretaries concerned to determine whether the individual has made significant contributions to the medical response to the qualifying emergency for purposes of determining whether the individual is a frontline health care worker as defined in section #i7a77;,b72 7#c7 not later than #ae days after the date on which the ,council is established1 report the information described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 to the ,secretaries concerned for inclusion in the application developed in accordance with section #f7;b77#a72 7#d7 not later than #fj days after the date on which the ,council is established1 develop a process by which-- 7,a7 an applicant who is denied loan forgiveness or loan repayment 7or both7 under this ,act by the ,secretaries concerned because of a determination that the applicant is not a frontline health care worker may1 within #cj days of the date of such denial1 submit an appeal of such denial to the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group2 and 7,b7 the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group will review the appeal and make a determination with respect to whether the applicant is a frontline health care worker2 and 7#e7 upon the request for an appeal by an applicant described in paragraph 7#d71 using the appeals process developed under such paragraph1 determine within #cj days after submission of the appeal by the applicant1 whether the applicant is a frontline health care worker1 and notify the ,secretaries concerned and the applicant of the outcome of such appeal within #ae days of such determination4 #h4 ,termination of authority ,the authority of the ,secretaries concerned to carry out the loan forgiveness program under section #b and loan repayment program under section #c1 and the authority of the ,intergovernmental ,working ,group to carry out the activities authorized under section #g1 shall cease on the date that is #ahj days after the end date of the application period described in section #f7;a74 #i4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,frontline health care worker ,the term frontline health care worker means an individual who1 in exchange for payment or as a volunteer1 for any period during a qualifying emergency-- 7,a7 is a-- 7i7 doctor1 medical resident1 medical intern1 medical fellow1 nurse1 home health care worker1 mental health professional1 or other health care professional who is licensed1 registered1 or certified under ,federal or ,state law to provide health care services and who provides ,,covid-related health care services2 7ii7 a student enrolled at an institution of higher education in a medical1 nursing1 or other relevant health care program of study who provides ,,covid-related health care services2 7iii7 a laboratory worker who conducts1 evaluates1 or analyzes coronavirus testing2 7iv7 a medical researcher who conducts research related to the prevention1 treatment1 or cure of the coronavirus2 or 7v7 an emergency medical services worker who responds to health emergencies or transports patients to hospitals or other medical facilities2 or 7,b7 does not meet the requirements of any of the clauses under subparagraph 7,a71 but is a health care professional who is licensed1 registered1 or certified under ,federal or ,state law to provide health care and has made significant contributions to the medical response to the qualifying emergency4 7#b7 ,applicable loans ,for the purposes of this ,act1 the term applicable1 when used with respect to an eligible ,federal student loan or an eligible private student loan1 means-- 7,a7 in the case of a frontline health care worker who has obtained a graduate education degree or certificate-- 7i7 any eligible ,federal student loan for the graduate education of such worker 7including a consolidation loan1 to the extent that such consolidation loan was used to repay loans for graduate education72 and 7ii7 any eligible private student loan for the graduate education of such worker2 or 7,b7 in the case of a frontline health care worker who has not obtained a graduate education degree or certificate-- 7i7 any eligible ,federal student loan for the undergraduate education of such worker 7including a consolidation loan1 to the extent that such consolidation loan was used to repay loans for undergraduate education71 provided that such loan was used for undergraduate education in a relevant health care program of study that is necessary for an individual to enter or advance within the specific health care-related occupation of the worker2 and 7ii7 any eligible private student loan for the undergraduate education of such worker1 provided that such loan was used for undergraduate education in a relevant health care program of study that is necessary for an individual to enter or advance within the specific health care-related occupation of the worker4 7#c7 ,coronavirus ,the term coronavirus has the meaning given the term in section #ejf of the ,coronavirus ,preparedness and ,response ,supplemental ,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7,public ,law #aaf-abc74 7#d7 ,,covid-related health care services ,the term ,,covid-related health care services means any health care services that relate to-- 7,a7 the diagnosis1 prevention1 or treatment of the coronavirus1 including through telehealth services2 7,b7 the assessment or care of the health of a human being related to an actual or suspected case of the coronavirus1 including through telehealth services2 or 7,c7 patient care in a setting where there is a reasonable expectation of risk of exposure to the coronavirus4 7#e7 ,eligible ,federal student loan ,the term eligible ,federal student loan means any loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed under part ,b1 part ,d1 or part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife before the date of enactment of this ,act1 including a consolidation loan under such title4 7#f7 ,eligible private student loan ,the term eligible private student 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 was expressly for the cost of attendance 7as defined in section #dgb7 at an institution of higher education participating in a loan program under part ,b1 part ,d1 or part ,e of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq471 as of the date that the loan was disbursed1 and that was made before the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#g7 ,graduate education ,the term graduate education means a postbaccalaureate program of study at an institution of higher education that-- 7,a7 leads to a master's degree2 7,b7 leads to a doctoral degree2 or 7,c7 does not lead to a graduate degree1 but awards or is necessary to obtain a professional certification or licensing credential that is required for employment4 7#h7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 7#i7 ,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#aj7 ,qualifying emergency ,the term qualifying emergency means-- 7,a7 a public health emergency related to the coronavirus declared by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services pursuant to section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d72 7,b7 an event related to the coronavirus for which-- 7i7 the ,president declared a major disaster or an emergency under section #dja or #eja1 respectively1 of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj and #eaia72 or 7ii7 the governor of a ,state or territory of the ,united ,states declared an emergency2 or 7,c7 a national emergency related to the coronavirus declared by the ,president under section #bja of the ,national ,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq474 7#aa7 ,secretaries concerned ,the term ,secretaries concerned means-- 7,a7 the ,secretary of ,education1 with respect to eligible ,federal student loans and borrowers of such loans2 and 7,b7 the ,secretary of the ,treasury1 with respect to eligible private student loans and borrowers of such loans4 7#ab7 ,undergraduate education ,the term undergraduate education means a postsecondary program of study at an institution of higher education that-- 7,a7 leads to an associate's degree2 7,b7 leads to a baccalaureate degree2 or 7,c7 does not lead to an associate's or baccalaureate degree1 but awards or is necessary to obtain a certification or licensing credential that is required for employment4