Bill Sponsor
House Bill 2718
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on May 25, 2017
Overview
Text
Introduced
May 25, 2017
Latest Action
May 25, 2017
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
2718
Congress
115
Policy Area
Education
Education
Primary focus of measure is elementary, secondary, or higher education including special education and matters of academic performance, school administration, teaching, educational costs, and student aid.
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
California
Democrat
New York
Democrat
New York
Democrat
Pennsylvania
Democrat
Washington
Democrat
Wisconsin
Democrat
Wisconsin
House Votes (0)
Senate Votes (0)
No House votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

Federal Student Loan Refinancing Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow borrowers that received loans under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (DL) or Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program on or after July 1, 2006, to consolidate those loans as Federal Direct Consolidation Loans.

It directs the Department of Education (ED) to consolidate DLs, and send a completed loan consolidation application to FFEL borrowers, within 90 days of this bill's enactment. It gives FFEL borrowers six months after their receipt of such application to endorse it and submit it to ED if they wish to consolidate their loans.

The bill sets the interest rate on Federal Direct Consolidation Loans at 4% or, if the weighted average of the interest rates of the loans being consolidated is less than 4%, the lesser of: (1) that weighted average, or (2) an interest rate equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation.

It adds an origination fee equal to 0.4% of the principal balance of the consolidation loan at the time of consolidation if an FFEL is being consolidated.

It reduces the interest rate on a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan by 0.25% if one or more of the loans being consolidated is an FFEL held by an eligible lender.

The bill prohibits any benefit a borrower is receiving or earning when issued a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan from being affected by the consolidation.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
05/25/2017
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
05/25/2017
Introduced in House
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:36:36 PM