Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Mar 29, 2012 Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

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  I know the most recent action for this bill is as follows: "Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training." on Mar 29, 2012
• Committee Assignment: House Education and the Workforce

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Education and the Workforce committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Foreign Affairs

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Foreign Affairs committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Armed Services

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Armed Services committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Armed Services - Military Personnel

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Armed Services - Military Personnel committee.
• Committee Assignment: House Education and the Workforce - Higher Education and Workforce Training

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  This bill has been assigned to the House Education and the Workforce - Higher Education and Workforce Training committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

Most-commented sections of the bill text

• Mr. CLARKE of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned (3 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "Mr. CLARKE of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned",
• ‘(B) AUTO-DEBIT REQUIREMENT- To be eligible to participate in the 10/10 Loan Repayment Plan under this subsection, a borrower shall agree to have all eligible loan payments that are made on or after the date that the borrower elects to participate in such repayment plan automatically electronically debited from a bank account. (2 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(B) AUTO-DEBIT REQUIREMENT- To be eligible to participate in the 10/10 Loan Repayment Plan under this subsection, a borrower shall agree to have all eligible loan payments that are made on or after the date that the borrower elects to participate in such repayment plan automatically electronically debited from a bank account.",
• (3) Higher education should be viewed as a public good benefitting our country rather than as a commodity solely benefitting individual students. (2 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "(3) Higher education should be viewed as a public good benefitting our country rather than as a commodity solely benefitting individual students.",
• ‘(C) For any month after such date during which the borrower is in deferment due to an economic hardship described in section 435(o), monthly payment of $0. (2 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(C) For any month after such date during which the borrower is in deferment due to an economic hardship described in section 435(o), monthly payment of $0.",
• Funds appropriated or otherwise made available for a fiscal year to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall be made available from the funds available for Overseas Contingency Operations. (2 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "Funds appropriated or otherwise made available for a fiscal year to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall be made available from the funds available for Overseas Contingency Operations.",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On March 13, 2012, by AndyFiorello - As a student who currently has about $80,000 in private student loan debt with an interest rate rivaling most credit cards, I fully support this bill. I could not get into my chosen career field when I graduated in 2009 and I was told I was overqualified to do menial work by managers at countless fast food and retail chains, because of my Bachelors Degree, so my debt doubled with forbearances and lack of payment. I now work part time in a job with a schedule that constantly changes, leaving me without the ability to get a second job. I live at home with an income that I wouldn't be able to support myself with even if I didn't have this mountain of debt. I was duped, like millions of other students, into believing that college would pave the way to a better future. All I got was a mound of debt I can't get rid of, and piece of nice parchment paper that represents 4 wasted years of my life. So I support this bill, and the chance I might finally be able to get my future back.

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  As noted by AndyFiorello, a user on OpenCongress.org, on March 13, 2012, "As a student who currently has about $80,000 in private student loan debt with an interest rate rivaling most credit cards, I fully support this bill. I could not get into my chosen career field when I graduated in 2009 and I was told I was overqualified to do menial work by managers at countless fast food and retail chains, because of my Bachelors Degree, so my debt doubled with forbearances and lack of payment. I now work part time in a job with a schedule that constantly changes, leaving me without the ability to get a second job. I live at home with an income that I wouldn't be able to support myself with even if I didn't have this mountain of debt. I was duped, like millions of other students, into believing that college would pave the way to a better future. All I got was a mound of debt I can't get rid of, and piece of nice parchment paper that represents 4 wasted years of my life. So I support this bill, and the chance I might finally be able to get my future back."
• On March 17, 2012, by AndyFiorello - This is no different than someone getting their loans forgiven under the Income Based Repayment plan, they are just shortening it from 25 years to 10. As well, federal loans are one thing, but many students don't qualify for those loans at those low interest rates, I know I didn't. The majority of my debt is private, I did not ask the government for money to go to school, I went to Sallie Mae, a publicly traded corporation. However because of the changes to bankruptcy law in 2005, my private student loans can't be forgiven under Chapter 11, but because they aren't issued by the government, Sallie Mae doesn't have to cut me any breaks like income based repayment or forgiveness. This bill is currently my only hope to get out of this debt.

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  As noted by AndyFiorello, a user on OpenCongress.org, on March 17, 2012, "This is no different than someone getting their loans forgiven under the Income Based Repayment plan, they are just shortening it from 25 years to 10. As well, federal loans are one thing, but many students don't qualify for those loans at those low interest rates, I know I didn't. The majority of my debt is private, I did not ask the government for money to go to school, I went to Sallie Mae, a publicly traded corporation. However because of the changes to bankruptcy law in 2005, my private student loans can't be forgiven under Chapter 11, but because they aren't issued by the government, Sallie Mae doesn't have to cut me any breaks like income based repayment or forgiveness. This bill is currently my only hope to get out of this debt."
• On March 11, 2012, by libbypw - What a load of socialist dreck and legal double talk intended to obfuscate readers. Why in the world would the Overseas Contingency Operations be responsible for students loans? Restore fairness? WTH? What fairness is he refering to? The socialist notion that the government 'owes' higher education to the masses? "Higher education should be viewed as a public good benefitting our country rather than as a commodity solely benefitting individual students." This premise is socialistic and unamerican. If the unions and socialists weren't involved, then a person wouldn't need a master to teach a kindergartener and the expenses would have spiraled across the board. All that and the bimbo with a masters that my son had in second grade did not smarts to understand how to figure out the perimeter of a square nor the sense to see she was wrong when it was gently pointed out to her.

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  As noted by libbypw, a user on OpenCongress.org, on March 11, 2012, "What a load of socialist dreck and legal double talk intended to obfuscate readers. Why in the world would the Overseas Contingency Operations be responsible for students loans? Restore fairness? WTH? What fairness is he refering to? The socialist notion that the government 'owes' higher education to the masses? "Higher education should be viewed as a public good benefitting our country rather than as a commodity solely benefitting individual students." This premise is socialistic and unamerican. If the unions and socialists weren't involved, then a person wouldn't need a master to teach a kindergartener and the expenses would have spiraled across the board. All that and the bimbo with a masters that my son had in second grade did not smarts to understand how to figure out the perimeter of a square nor the sense to see she was wrong when it was gently pointed out to her."

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Challenge Congress to Pass a Student Debt Jubilee, HR 4170 - July 26, 2012 by BillMoyer - Backbone Campaign is partnering with RootsAction for an online effort to get the word out for a Student Debt Jubilee and free higher education. Today's action alert featuring our imagery and the policy direction of Backbone ...

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  As noted by BillMoyer on July 26, 2012, "Backbone Campaign is partnering with RootsAction for an online effort to get the word out for a Student Debt Jubilee and free higher education. Today's action alert featuring our imagery and the policy direction of Backbone ..." (/url?q=http://waliberals.org/challenge-congress-to-pass-a-student-debt-jubilee-h-r-4170/2012/07/25/&sa=U&ei=NcgUUL_bMIrM9QS69YGQBw&ved=0CCoQmAEwAw&usg=AFQjCNE-AgGNp2FBs4PAcWJCHxljuCNdVA)
• Challenge Congress to Pass a Student Debt Jubilee, HR 4170 - July 26, 2012 by BillMoyer - Backbone Campaign is partnering with RootsAction for an online effort to get the word out for a Student Debt Jubilee and free higher education. Today's action alert featuring our imagery and the policy direction of Backbone ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by BillMoyer on July 26, 2012, "Backbone Campaign is partnering with RootsAction for an online effort to get the word out for a Student Debt Jubilee and free higher education. Today's action alert featuring our imagery and the policy direction of Backbone ..." (/url?q=http://waliberals.org/challenge-congress-to-pass-a-student-debt-jubilee-h-r-4170/2012/07/25/&sa=U&ei=wxwUUNTEJoPA8ASKioHQCA&ved=0CCIQmAEwAQ&usg=AFQjCNG1-5pWE11H19srWg1_wl1tHsfhWw)
• Challenge Congress to Pass a Student Debt Jubilee, HR 4170 - July 26, 2012 by BillMoyer - Backbone Campaign is partnering with RootsAction for an online effort to get the word out for a Student Debt Jubilee and free higher education. Today's action alert featuring our imagery and the policy direction of Backbone ...

  Clicking this will add the following text:

  As noted by BillMoyer on July 26, 2012, "Backbone Campaign is partnering with RootsAction for an online effort to get the word out for a Student Debt Jubilee and free higher education. Today's action alert featuring our imagery and the policy direction of Backbone ..." (/url?q=http://waliberals.org/challenge-congress-to-pass-a-student-debt-jubilee-h-r-4170/2012/07/25/&sa=U&ei=I8gTUL6xK8HYqgGY04GgDw&ved=0CCIQmAEwAQ&usg=AFQjCNF7pnLuRU67-tuGdVjdU8BRoexOrQ)

Highly Rated News Articles

• Video Contest Details Student Debt Experiences - September 20, 2012 by The Nation - ...the million plus supporters who have signed the petition in favor of H.R.4170: The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012. HR 4170 was introduced by Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-MI) and would offer fairer repayment options for struggling borrowers, requiring pay

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  As noted by The Nation on September 20, 2012, "...the million plus supporters who have signed the petition in favor of H.R.4170: The Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012. HR 4170 was introduced by Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-MI) and would offer fairer repayment options for struggling borrowers, requiring pay" (http://www.thenation.com/blog/170065/video-contest-details-student-debt-experiences)
• Occupy Colleges and Occupy Student Debt Join Forces | The Nation - July 09, 2012 by Nation - Anyone interested in reading more about HR 4170 or to find out which members of Congress are co-sponsors, are encouraged to visit HR4170.com. Some have questioned the probability of HR 4170 passing - that completely misses the point. Whether or not HR 4170

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  As noted by Nation on July 09, 2012, "Anyone interested in reading more about HR 4170 or to find out which members of Congress are co-sponsors, are encouraged to visit HR4170.com. Some have questioned the probability of HR 4170 passing - that completely misses the point. Whether or not HR 4170" (http://www.thenation.com/blog/168795/occupy-colleges-and-occupy-student-debt-join-forces)
• Mariela Dabbah: Why Aren't Students Rallying for College Loan Forgiveness Plans? - July 09, 2012 by FOX News - My question is, why aren’t Hispanic students, organizations and leaders rallying for a college loan forgiveness plan – whether it is the H.R.4170 or another bill? Why aren’t students who have trouble finding a job in this economy and who ...

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  As noted by FOX News on July 09, 2012, "My question is, why aren’t Hispanic students, organizations and leaders rallying for a college loan forgiveness plan – whether it is the H.R.4170 or another bill? Why aren’t students who have trouble finding a job in this economy and who ..." (http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/07/09/mariela-dabbah-why-arent-hispanic-students-screaming-foul/)