,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #ajih ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ac1 #bjba,mr4 ,warner 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 and ,mr4 ,cornyn7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife to authorize borrowers to separate joint consolidation loans4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,joint ,consolidation ,loan ,separation ,act4 #b4 ,separating joint consolidation loans 7a7 ,in general ,section #dee7;g7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhg;e7g77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,a borrower and inserting the following3 7#a7 ,in general ,a borrower 2 7#b7 in the first sentence1 insert 7other than a ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan separated from a joint consolidation loan under paragraph 7#b7 of this subsection7 after under this part2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,separating joint consolidation loans 7,a7 ,in general ,a married couple1 or #b individuals who were previously a married couple1 and who received a joint consolidation loan as such married couple under subparagraph 7,c7 of section #dbh;,c7a77#c7 7as such subparagraph was in effect on ,june #cj1 #bjjf71 may apply to the ,secretary1 in accordance with subparagraph 7,c7 of this paragraph1 for each individual borrower in the married couple 7or previously married couple7 to receive a separate ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan under this part4 7,b7 ,secretarial requirements ,notwithstanding section #dbh;,c7a77#c77;,a7 or any other provision of law1 for each individual borrower who applies under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7i7 award a separate ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan under this part that-- 7,i7 shall be for an amount equal to the product of-- 7aa7 the unpaid principal and accrued unpaid interest of the joint consolidation loan 7as of the date that is the day before such separate consolidation loan is made72 and 7bb7 the percentage of the joint consolidation loan attributable to the loans of the individual borrower for whom such separate consolidation loan is being made1 as determined on the basis of the loan obligations of such borrower with respect to such joint consolidation loan 7as of the date such joint consolidation loan was made72 and 7,,ii7 has the same rate of interest as the joint consolidation loan 7as of the date that is the day before such separate consolidation loan is made72 and 7ii7 in order to discharge such individual borrower from any remaining obligation with respect to the percentage of the joint consolidation loan described in clause 7i77,i77bb7-- 7,i7 cancel the outstanding balance of interest and principal due on such percentage1 in the case of such a loan held by the ,secretary2 and 7,,ii7 through the holder of the loan1 assume the obligation to repay the outstanding balance of interest and principal due on such percentage1 in the case of such a loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed under part ,b2 7iii7 ensure that such individual borrower shall not be held liable for the repayment of the percentage of the joint consolidation loan that is not described in clause 7i77,i77bb72 7iv7 in a case in which a payment was made under section #dee7m77#a77;,a7 on the joint consolidation loan during a period in which the individual borrower for whom such separate consolidation loan is being made was employed in a public service job described in section #dee7m77#a77;,b71 treat such payment as if such payment were made on the separate consolidation loan2 and 7v7 in a case in which a payment was made under an income contingent repayment plan or an income-based repayment plan described in subparagraph 7,d7 or 7,e7 of section #dee7;d77#a71 respectively1 on the joint consolidation loan1 treat such payment as if such payment were made on such separate consolidation loan4 7,c7 ,application for separate direct consolidation loan 7i7 ,joint application ,except as provided in clause 7ii71 to receive separate consolidation loans under this part1 both individual borrowers in a married couple 7or previously married couple7 shall jointly apply under subparagraph 7,a74 7ii7 ,separate application ,an individual borrower in a married couple 7or previously married couple7 may apply for a separate consolidation loan under subparagraph 7,a7 separately and without regard to whether or when the other individual borrower in the married couple 7or previously married couple7 applies under subparagraph 7,a71 in a case in which-- 7,i7 the individual borrower has experienced from the other individual borrower-- 7aa7 domestic violence 7as defined in section #djjjb7;a7 of the ,violence ,against ,women ,act of #aiid 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acibe 7a7772 or 7bb7 economic abuse 7including behaviors that control such borrower's ability to acquire1 use1 and maintain access to money1 credit1 or the joint financial obligations of both borrowers72 7,,ii7 the individual borrower certifies1 on a form approved by the ,secretary1 that such borrower is unable to reasonably reach or access the loan information of the other individual borrower2 or 7,,iii7 the ,secretary determines that authorizing each individual borrower to apply separately under subparagraph 7,a7 would be in the best fiscal interests of the ,federal ,government4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #dbh;,c7a77#c77;,b77i77,v7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgh-c7c77;,b77i77,v77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking or at the end of item 7bb72 7#b7 by striking the period at the end of item 7cc7 and inserting 2 or2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7dd7 for the purpose of separating a joint consolidation loan into #b separate ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loans under section #dee7;g77#b71 except that such separated ,federal ,direct ,consolidation ,loan may not consolidate such loan with the loans described in section #dbh;,c7a77#d74 4