Ramirez, Levin, Bonamicci & Senator Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Expand Student Loan Refinancing For Service Members

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member, joined by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), reintroduced the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act. The bicameral legislation would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to allow service members to consolidate or refinance student loan debt they had when they entered the military and continue to benefit from the six percent interest rate cap to which they are entitled through the SCRA.

A provision in the SCRA protects service members from high student loan interest rates by capping interest rates at 6% on loans they took out before entering active-duty military service.  However, if a service member consolidates or refinances their student loans, which is required for Federal Family Education Loans or Perkins student loan borrowers to benefit from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, that new loan is no longer eligible for this interest rate protection.

“Our veterans deserve every benefit our nation has promised, including a quality education that helps them transition back into their civilian life.  But, like so many students in our nation, student veterans endure predatory student loan interest rates that leave them in debt and struggling to make ends meet. Our bill protects our servicemembers from high interest rates when they are consolidating or refinancing their loans,” said Rep. Ramirez. “As we support our veterans, I will continue to advocate for the cancellation of all student loans and free, quality education for all those who wish to pursue it.”

“When someone volunteers to serve in our military, they shouldn’t be met with bureaucratic roadblocks that make it harder for them to pay back their student loans,” Durbin said.  “The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act would make a commonsense fix to the SCRA to ensure that service members are not penalized for participating in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.”

“As higher education slips further out of reach for so many Americans, we should be doing everything we can to make it more affordable—especially for those who choose to serve in the military,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to continue working with Senator Durbin on this commonsense legislation that would protect our Servicemembers from high interest rates when they consolidate or refinance their student loans.”

Joining Ramirez in introducing the legislation in the House are U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Mike Levin (CA-49). Joining Durbin and Duckworth in introducing the legislation in the Senate is U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). 

“I’m pleased to lead this commonsense legislation with Congresswoman Delia Ramirez,” said Rep. Bonamici. “Servicemembers are currently at risk of losing the 6 percent cap on interest rates when they consolidate or refinance their loans. The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act retains that cap, helping servicemembers get the education they deserve without accruing unmanageable student loan debt. It is my priority as a senior member on the Education Committee to make college more accessible and affordable for all students."

“Our service members should not have to worry about overly high interest rates on their student loans while they are protecting the United States of America,” said Rep. Levin. “Our bill would help service members tackle student loan debt by extending interest rate limitations and ensuring they have the financial stability they deserve. When men and women in uniform answer the call to serve, the least we can do is ease the burdens they face at home.”

The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act is endorsed by the Institute for College Access and Success, the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, Military Officers Association of America, Wounded Warrior Project, National Guard Association of the U.S, and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

For the full text of the legislation, CLICK HERE.

BACKGROUND

According to a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, as of 2020, nearly 200,000 active-duty service members held federal student loan debt, and nearly half of those active-duty service members had balances of more than $13,000.  

With an outstanding balance of more than $1.6 trillion, student loan debt has surpassed credit cards as the largest cumulative consumer debt in America, second only to mortgages.  Student loan debt falls particularly hard on service members, who too often find it difficult to work with student loan servicers and receive the benefits to which they are entitled.  The Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act would ensure federal law does not interfere with service members obtaining the benefits they have earned by serving our country.