Student loan deferment for victims of terrorist attacks

(a)

Terms of federally insured student loans

Section 427(a)(2)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1077(a)(2)(C)) is amended— (1)in clause (ii), by striking or after the semicolon; (2)in clause (iii), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (3)by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

(iv)not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack;

(b)

FFEL program

Section 428(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078(b)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1)(M)— (A)in clause (iii), by striking or (II); or and inserting or (II);; (B)in clause (iv), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (C)by adding at the end the following:

(v)not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack as described in paragraph (10);

; and

(2)by adding at the end the following:

(10)

Deferment for victims of terrorist attacks

For purposes of deferment under paragraph (1)(M)(v), a victim of a terrorist attack is an individual who is designated as a victim of a terrorist attack by the head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of the attack.

(c)

Direct loans

Section 455 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e) is amended— (1)in subsection (e)(7)(B)(i), by inserting or due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack after section 435(o); and (2)in subsection (f)— (A)in paragraph (2)— (i)in subparagraph (C), by striking clause (i) or (ii); or and inserting clause (i) or (ii);; (ii)in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and (iii)by adding at the end the following:

(E)not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack as described in paragraph (5).

; and

(B)by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Deferment for victims of terrorist attacks

For purposes of deferment under paragraph (2)(E), a victim of a terrorist attack is an individual who is designated as a victim of a terrorist attack by the head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of the attack.

(d)

Federal Perkins loans

Section 464(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087dd(c)(2)) is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A)— (A)in clause (iv), by striking or after the semicolon; (B)in clause (v), by inserting or after the semicolon; and (C)by inserting after clause (v) the following:

(vi)not in excess of 1 year due to the borrower being a victim of a terrorist attack as described in subparagraph (D);

; and

(2)by adding at the end the following:

(D)For purposes of deferment under subparagraph (A)(vi), a victim of a terrorist attack is an individual who is designated as a victim of a terrorist attack by the head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of the attack.

(e)

Designating victims of terrorist attacks

The head of the Federal agency that is handling the investigation of a terrorist attack, or has handled the investigation of a terrorist attack, shall designate the individuals who are victims of such terrorist attack. (f)

Anti-Fraud protections

The Secretary of Education shall establish anti-fraud protections in carrying out the amendments made by this Act.