,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ebji ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #g1 #bjbb,mrs4 ,gillibrand 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 and ,mr4 ,padilla7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish a grant program for ,states to fund community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,student ,loan ,literacy ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,student loan consumer information 7a7 ,in general ,from amounts made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary of ,education shall award grants to ,states to enable such ,states to establish1 expand1 or provide support for community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs4 7b7 ,application ,each ,state desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary of ,education an application at such time and in such manner as the ,secretary may require4 ,such application shall identify the community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance organization or organizations that will participate in the program funded under this section1 and shall include a description of the program activities the ,state and such organization or organizations will carry out4 7c7 ,use of funds ,with funds provided by a ,state under this section1 a community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance program-- 7#a7 shall provide assistance to borrowers of ,federal student loans1 including-- 7,a7 receiving and responding to borrower inquiries and complaints concerning ,federal student loans2 7,b7 assisting borrowers with the filing of complaints and appeals with relevant ,federal and ,state entities and ,federal student loan lenders1 holders1 servicers1 and collectors1 as appropriate2 7,c7 collecting1 tracking1 and quantifying problems and inquiries encountered by borrowers of ,federal student loans2 7,d7 educating borrowers about their rights and responsibilities with respect to ,federal student loans2 and 7,e7 assisting borrowers with ,federal student loan needs by providing information1 referral1 and assistance1 including assistance resolving problems regarding ,federal student loans2 7#b7 shall consult with relevant ,federal and ,state entities to assist borrowers with reporting1 processing1 and resolving issues and complaints related to ,federal student loans2 7#c7 shall collect data required to comply with the reporting requirements under subsection 7d72 and 7#d7 may file complaints and appeals on behalf of borrowers of ,federal student loans in accordance with any regulations established by the ,secretary of ,education with respect to this paragraph4 7d7 ,data collection and reporting 7#a7 ,annual report to ,states ,each community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance program receiving funds under this section shall provide to the ,state providing such funds an annual report on the activities carried out by such program1 which shall include-- 7,a7 the number of borrowers served by the program2 7,b7 demographic data on the borrowers served by the program1 including age1 race1 ethnicity1 gender1 and student or employment status1 and if available1 the income of such borrowers2 7,c7 a list and description of the types of issues and complaints presented by borrowers served by the program1 including identification of the most common problems encountered by such borrowers with respect to ,federal student loans2 7,d7 a description of the types of services provided to borrowers by the program2 and 7,e7 data related to the issues and complaints presented by borrowers served by the program1 including-- 7i7 the number of borrower issues or complaints the program referred to1 or facilitated borrower contact with1 a ,federal or ,state entity or ,federal student loan lender1 holder1 servicer1 or collector2 7ii7 the number of such issues or complaints the program filed1 on behalf of a borrower1 with a ,federal or ,state entity or ,federal student loan lender1 holder1 servicer1 or collector2 and 7iii7 data on the outcomes of such issues and complaints1 including the number of such issues or complaints that have been resolved1 and whether a borrower considers an issue or complaint to be resolved satisfactorily4 7#b7 ,state reports ,not later than #cj days after receipt of an annual report described in paragraph 7#a71 a ,state receiving funds under this section for one or more community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs shall provide to the ,secretary of ,education a summary of the annual reports received from all such programs4 7#c7 ,report by the ,secretary ,beginning #ah months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary of ,education shall provide an annual report on the grant program carried out under this section to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,education and ,labor of the ,house of ,representatives1 the entity in each ,state that is responsible for regulation of student loans1 and any other ,federal entity with responsibilities related to ,federal student loans4 ,such report shall include areas of ,federal student loan law1 regulation1 and administration that require increased enforcement or oversight1 as identified by the ,secretary using data reported by ,states in accordance with paragraph 7#b74 7e7 ,outreach 7#a7 ,national website ,not later than #bd months after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary of ,education shall establish1 maintain1 and make readily available to the public through the ,department of ,education's website a list of the community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs receiving funds under this section to assist borrowers with locating and contacting such a program in their community4 7#b7 ,federal student loan liaisons ,the ,secretary of ,education shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that each holder1 servicer1 and collector of ,federal student loans provides at least one individual representative of the holder1 servicer1 or collector1 referred to in this paragraph as a ,federal student loan liaison1 who will-- 7,a7 coordinate with community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs receiving funds under this section with respect to inquiries1 issues1 and complaints from borrowers1 including the resolution of such inquiries1 issues1 and complaints2 and 7,b7 provide community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs receiving funds under this section with a direct method of communication to the individual or department of the holder1 servicer1 or collector who is responsible for handling escalated issues or complaints4 7f7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,borrower ,the term borrower means a borrower or potential borrower of a ,federal student loan1 including a parent who is a borrower of a loan made on behalf of a dependent student4 7#b7 ,federal student loan ,the term ,federal student loan means any ,federal student loan made under title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq47 or any other ,federal law to cover the cost of attendance of a student at an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #ajb of such ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb774 7g7 ,funding 7#a7 ,initial funding ,there is hereby appropriated to the ,secretary of ,education1 out of any funds in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 #hj1jjj1jjj for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this section1 to remain available until expended4 7#b7 ,authorization for subsequent years ,in addition to amounts appropriated under paragraph 7#a71 there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,education1 for each fiscal year following the fiscal year described in paragraph 7#a71 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section4