Van Orden Introduces the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Don Davis (NC-01), Scott Peters (CA-50), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) introduced the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2024. This bill will streamline the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program application process and make it easier for current and former military servicemembers to have their direct loans forgiven.
“Those who answered the call to serve have made great sacrifices for our nation,” said Congressman Van Orden. “Of the many challenges servicemembers and veterans face, worrying about how they will pay off their student loans should not be one of them. The Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act does right by our servicemen and servicewomen by removing the red tape to obtaining PSLF credit, ensuring they will not be riddled with student debt during and after their time of service.”
“Servicemembers should not have to struggle with student debt after dedicating themselves to serving our country,” said Congressman Don Davis. “We must keep the American dream within reach for our veterans who put their lives on the line and keep us safe. Forgiving student loans is the least we can do for them.”
“Military members have earned these benefits through blood, sweat, and service for their country, but far too many never receive the student loan forgiveness owed to them because of bureaucratic hurdles,” said Rep. Peters. “The federal government knows exactly who these benefits apply to — it just needs to share that data across agencies. Our bill will ensure servicemembers receive their benefits without any delay or burdensome paperwork.”
“I am proud to introduce this legislation with Representative Van Orden to ensure America’s service members can use their military service to easily qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Streamlining the process for our brave service members who selflessly serve our nation to receive the benefits they have earned is one of the many ways we can show our appreciation to them. It is incredibly important that we honor the extraordinary commitment our service members have made to our country as well as incentivize recruitment of future troops.”
"Honoring military service for Public Service Loan Forgiveness can pose unexpected challenges for service members and veterans. Despite the Department of Education's (ED) intention to collaborate with the Department of Defense (DOD) to grant borrowers automatic credit for PSLF based on their military service, those efforts have stalled," said Tammy Barlet, Vice President of Government Affairs, with Student Veterans of America (SVA). "The bipartisan Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2023 aims to reignite this effort by requiring DOD and ED to share pertinent data, thus automatically enabling borrowers to receive PSLF credit for their qualifying military service. SVA commends Representatives Van Orden, Davis, Peters, and Stefanik for their leadership on this commonsense legislation, which ensures that military borrowers rightfully receive the PSLF credit they earned."
Click here to read the full bill text.
The Senate companion bill is led by Senators Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Moran (R-KS).