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HR 2535 105th Congress House

Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997

Official title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow the consolidation of student loans under the Federal Family Loan Program and the Direct Loan Program.

Introduced: September 29, 1997 See on congress.gov
Education Collection of accountsEconomics and Public FinanceFederal aid to higher educationFederally-guaranteed loans
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Finance and Financial SectorGovernment lendingGovernment spending reductionsHigher educationIncome taxInterestInterest ratesPersonal income taxStudent aidStudent loan fundsTaxationTuition tax credits
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 15 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 13, 1997
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
Oct 22, 1997
Received in the Senate.
Oct 21, 1997
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 21, 1997
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Oct 21, 1997
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Oct 21, 1997
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Oct 21, 1997
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8845-8850)
Oct 21, 1997
Mr. McKeon moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Oct 21, 1997
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 186.
Oct 21, 1997
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 105-322.
Oct 1, 1997
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 43 - 0.
Oct 1, 1997
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 24, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Sep 24, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1836-1837)
Sep 24, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 13, 1997

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to allow until October 1, 1998, the consolidation, under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), of all of a student's loans under both the FFELP and the Direct Loan Program. Requires an application for such a consolidation loan to be received by an eligible lender between the date of enactment of this Act and October 1, 1998. (Authorizes such consolidation of loans under both programs into single FFELP consolidation loans, which may be administered by entities other than the Department of Education, for an emergency period until October 1, 1998, to provide time to reduce a backlog in processing consolidation of both types of loans into Direct Lending Consolidation loans administered by the Department of Education.)

Prohibits an eligible lender from discriminating against any borrower seeking such a consolidation loan: (1) based on the number or type of eligible student loans the borrower seeks to consolidate; (2) based on the type or category of institution of higher education that the borrower attended; (3) based on the interest rate authorized to be collected with respect to the consolidation loan; or (4) with respect to the types of repayment schedules offered to such borrower.

Sets forth required interest rates for such consolidation loans.

Makes such consolidation loans available notwithstanding any pending application by a student for a direct consolidation loan, upon the student's withdrawal of such application.

Reduces the amount of certain funds available for administrative expenses under HEA student assistance provisions.

Revises HEA need analysis requirements to exclude from the calculation of available family income, and so reduce the family contribution for dependent or independent students by, the amount of the Hope Tax Credit taken by the student, the student's parents, or the student's spouse (thus providing that students will not receive reduced financial aid as a result of qualifying for and receiving the new Hope Tax Credits under the Internal Revenue Code).

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1294 Related bill Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 2
R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Oct 6, 1997
BALLENGER, CASS
· Sep 29, 1997
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Sep 24, 1997
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Sep 24, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2535: Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2535/
MLA
"H.R. 2535: Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2535/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2535, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2535/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2535: Emergency Student Loan Consolidation Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2535/)
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