,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #cebd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,december #ad1 #bjbc,mr4 ,manchin 7for himself and ,mr4 ,braun7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish an interactive online dashboard to improve public access to information about student loan forgiveness programs1 repayment programs1 and repayment plans4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,streamlining ,more ,accessible1 ,reliable and ,transparent ,educational ,resources for ,debt ,act or the ,,smarter ,debt ,act4 #b4 ,interactive dashboard 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 shall establish and operate an interactive1 internet website-based dashboard 7referred to in this section as the dashboard7 that improves public access to information about student loan forgiveness and cancellation programs1 repayment programs1 and repayment plans1 that are authorized under ,federal law1 including for potential applicants for such programs and plans4 7#b7 ,design ,the dashboard shall be designed in a manner that complies with the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 and section #ejh of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid;d74 7#c7 ,consultation 7,a7 ,in general ,in establishing the dashboard under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary may consult with-- 7i7 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 the ,secretary of ,labor1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,corporation for ,national and ,community ,service1 the ,secretary of each military department1 the ,attorney ,general1 the ,director of the ,office of ,personnel ,management1 the ,capitol ,police ,board1 the ,president pro tempore of the ,senate1 the ,chief ,administrative ,officer of the ,house of ,representatives1 and heads of other relevant agencies1 as the ,secretary determines appropriate2 7ii7 ,indian ,tribes and ,tribal organizations 7as defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd772 and 7iii7 relevant entities who may use the dashboard1 including-- 7,i7 students and prospective students at institutions of higher education2 7,,ii7 institutions of higher education1 including historically ,black colleges and universities 7as defined for purposes of section #cbb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfa71 ,tribal colleges or universities 7as defined in section #caf7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b771 and other minority-serving institutions1 as such institutions are described in section #cga7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfgq772 7,,iii7 local educational agencies and secondary schools 7as such terms are defined in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja772 7,,iv7 ,state educational agencies 7as defined in such section #haja72 7,v7 nonprofit organizations2 and 7,,vi7 any other entities that the ,secretary determines are relevant4 7,b7 ,topics ,the consultation with stakeholders and entities described in subparagraph 7,a77ii7 shall be with respect to elements of the dashboard1 such as search functions1 grant data1 user-friendly design1 and any other elements that the ,secretary determines are appropriate for purposes of this subsection4 7#d7 ,implementation plan ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with representatives of relevant agencies described in paragraph 7#c77;,a71 shall1 not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 publicly issue a plan to launch the dashboard1 including opportunities to improve upon existing publicly accessible websites that may be updated by the ,secretary to meet the requirements under subsection 7c74 7b7 ,updates ,the ,secretary shall continually maintain the dashboard established under subsection 7a7 to keep up-to-date information about all relevant programs posted4 7c7 ,requirements ,the dashboard established under subsection 7a7 shall1 at a minimum1 meet the following requirements3 7#a7 ,provide the following information3 7,a7 ,the name of each program authorized under ,federal law that-- 7i7 provides for the cancellation or forgiveness of all1 or a portion of1 covered student loans for certain eligible individuals2 7ii7 provides that an entity 7such as an employing office7 may agree to repay1 by direct payments on behalf of certain eligible individuals1 some or all of the covered student loan indebtedness of such eligible individuals that is outstanding2 or 7iii7 provides for an income-driven repayment plan that sets monthly student loan payments at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on income and family size4 7,b7 ,an explanation about whether the authorized program is currently operating4 7,c7 ,an explanation of who may be eligible or qualify for that program1 including requirements relating to employment1 loan type1 military service1 or other requirements4 7#b7 ,allow individuals to search the dashboard by key categories for which programs are available1 including by career field1 program of study1 and loan type1 and by location 7if applicable74 7#c7 ,provide1 as appropriate1 access or links to the respective program information pages and online applications4 7d7 ,covered student loan ,in this ,act1 the term covered student loan means-- 7#a7 a loan made1 insured1 or guaranteed under title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj et seq471 including ,federal ,family ,education ,loans under part ,b of such title1 ,federal ,direct ,loans under part ,d of such title1 and ,federal ,perkins ,loans under part ,e of such title2 7#b7 a health education assistance loan made or insured under part ,a of title ,,vii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bib et seq471 or under part ,e of title ,,viii of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #big;a et seq472 or 7#c7 another loan for postsecondary education that is made1 insured1 or guaranteed by the ,federal ,government4