[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8643 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8643
To establish a grant program for States to fund community-based
nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 2, 2022
Mr. Jeffries (for himself and Mrs. Hayes) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a grant program for States to fund community-based
nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Student Loan Literacy Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. STUDENT LOAN CONSUMER INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--From amounts made available to carry out this
section, the Secretary of Education shall award grants to States to
enable such States to establish, expand, or provide support for
community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs.
(b) 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 require. Such
application shall identify the community-based nonprofit student loan
consumer assistance organization or organizations that will participate
in the program funded under this section, and shall include a
description of the program activities the State and such organization
or organizations will carry out.
(c) Use of Funds.--With funds provided by a State under this
section, a community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance
program--
(1) shall provide assistance to borrowers of Federal
student loans, including--
(A) receiving and responding to borrower inquiries
and complaints concerning Federal student loans;
(B) assisting borrowers with the filing of
complaints and appeals with relevant Federal and State
entities and Federal student loan lenders, holders,
servicers, and collectors, as appropriate;
(C) collecting, tracking, and quantifying problems
and inquiries encountered by borrowers of Federal
student loans;
(D) educating borrowers about their rights and
responsibilities with respect to Federal student loans;
and
(E) assisting borrowers with Federal student loan
needs by providing information, referral, and
assistance, including assistance resolving problems
regarding Federal student loans;
(2) shall consult with relevant Federal and State entities
to facilitate borrowers with reporting, processing, and
resolving issues and complaints related to Federal student
loans;
(3) shall collect data required to comply with the
reporting requirements under subsection (d); and
(4) may file complaints and appeals on behalf of borrowers
of Federal student loans in accordance with any regulations
established by the Secretary with respect to this paragraph.
(d) Data Collection and Reporting.--
(1) 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 program, which shall include--
(A) the number of borrowers served by the program;
(B) demographic data on the borrowers served by the
program, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, and
student or employment status, and if available, the
income of such borrowers;
(C) a list and description of the types of issues
and complaints presented by borrowers served by the
program, including identification of the most common
problems encountered by such borrowers with respect to
Federal student loans;
(D) a description of the types of services provided
to borrowers by the program; and
(E) data related to the issues and complaints
presented by borrowers served by the program,
including--
(i) the number of borrower issues or
complaints the program referred to, or
facilitated borrower contact with, a Federal or
State entity or Federal student loan lender,
holder, servicer, or collector;
(ii) the number of such issues or
complaints the program filed, on behalf of a
borrower, with a Federal or State entity or
Federal student loan lender, holder, servicer,
or collector; and
(iii) data on the outcomes of such issues
and complaints, including the number of such
issues or complaints that have been resolved,
and whether a borrower considers an issue or
complaint to be resolved satisfactorily.
(2) State reports.--Not later than 30 days after receipt of
an annual report described in paragraph (1), 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 programs.
(3) Report by the secretary.--Beginning 18 months after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Education
shall provide an annual report on the grant program carried out
under this section to the House Committee on Education and
Labor and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions, the entity in each State that is responsible for
regulation of student loans, and any other Federal entity with
responsibilities related to Federal student loans. Such report
shall include areas of Federal student loan law, regulation,
and administration that require increased enforcement or
oversight, as identified by the Secretary using data reported
by States in accordance with paragraph (2).
(e) Outreach.--
(1) National website.--Not later than 24 months after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Education
shall establish, maintain, 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 community.
(2) Federal student loan liaisons.--The Secretary of
Education shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure
that each holder, servicer, and collector of Federal student
loans provides at least one individual representative of the
holder, servicer, or collector, referred to in this paragraph
as a ``Federal student loan liaison'', who will--
(A) coordinate with community-based nonprofit
student loan consumer assistance programs receiving
funds under this section with respect to inquiries,
issues, and complaints from borrowers, including the
resolution of such inquiries, issues, and complaints;
and
(B) 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 holder, servicer, or
collector who is responsible for handling escalated
issues or complaints.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Borrower.--The term ``borrower'' means a borrower or
potential borrower of a Federal student loan, including a
parent who is a borrower of a loan made on behalf of a
dependent student.
(2) Federal student loan.--The term ``Federal student
loan'' means any Federal student loan made under title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) or
any other Federal law to cover the cost of attendance of a
student at an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 102 of such Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)).
(g) Funding.--
(1) Initial funding.--There is hereby appropriated to the
Secretary of Education, out of any funds in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, $80,000,000 for the first fiscal year
beginning after the date of enactment of this section, to
remain available until expended.
(2) Authorization for subsequent years.--In addition to
amounts appropriated under paragraph (1), there are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education, for each
fiscal year following the fiscal year described in paragraph
(1), such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
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