HIGHER ED Act 2016-09-28 Introduced in House Helping Improve Grants for Higher Education & Repayment of Expensive Debt Act or the HIGHER ED Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to:

  • modify the Federal Pell Grant program to increase the maximum award and restore year-round grants,
  • make graduate and professional students eligible to receive subsidized Stafford Loans under the Federal Direct Loan program,
  • direct the Department of Education to refinance outstanding federal student loans for Direct Loan and Federal Family Education Loan program borrowers,
  • include a part-time job as a faculty member within the definition of "public service job" for purposes of the public service loan forgiveness program, and
  • establish additional terms and conditions applicable to the income-based and income-contingent repayment plans.

Additionally, the bill amends the federal bankruptcy code to permit a borrower to discharge in bankruptcy a nonprofit, government, or private student loan, or an obligation to repay an educational benefit, scholarship, or stipend.

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