House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON , D.C. – Led by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), House Education & Labor Committee members today introduced legislation designed to ensure that U.S. military reservists called to active duty are not forced to make payments on federal student loans while they are defending freedom overseas. The extension of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act (HEROES) would ensure support for military personnel by continuing to allow the U.S. Secretary of Education to provide the appropriate assistance and flexibility to men and women in uniform as they transfer in and out of postsecondary education during a time of war.

“The bipartisan HEROES Act provides assurance to our men and women in uniform that they will not face education-related financial or administrative difficulties while they defend our nation,” Congressman Kline said.  “Permanent reauthorization of this legislation will show Congress’s commitment to our military, our students, and our schools.”

Some of the men and women serving in conflicts overseas are U.S. military reservists who are college and university students, and many of these students participate in federal financial aid programs.  The HEROES legislation offered by Rep. Kline would extend waiver authority that allows the U.S. Secretary of Education to excuse such military personnel from their federal student loan obligations while they are on active duty in the service of their nation.  For example, the families of military reservists who left their jobs when called to active duty could be relieved from making student loan payments during the time of service, and the families of borrowers serving on active duty could be given relief from collection calls from lenders while the conflict is taking place.

“I applaud the leadership of Congressman Kline as we all work to support our troops fighting for us overseas,” said Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), Senior Republican Member of the Education & Labor Committee and an original cosponsor of the legislation.  “As our military reservists are called to serve the nation, it is our duty to provide them with the support and flexibility they need to avoid financial hardship as they defend freedom and protect our security.”

The bill would encourage postsecondary institutions to provide a full refund of tuition and fees to students for the period they were not able to complete because of their service, and encourage institutions to minimize deferral of enrollment or reapplication requirements, making it easier for military personnel to reenter their postsecondary education when they return from active duty.  As with previous legislation championed by Rep. Kline, it would also permit the Secretary to ensure that the men and women of our armed services are afforded all available benefits, deferrals, and flexibility in dealing with their student loans and are not placed in an adverse financial position because of their service.  HEROES also allows the Secretary of Education to quickly react to situations not yet existing in order to provide the flexibility and protections necessary to best assist military personnel with the transition to and from postsecondary education as they work to serve our nation.

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