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S 359 110th Congress Senate

Student Debt Relief Act of 2007

Official title: A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide additional support to students.

Introduced: January 22, 2007 See on congress.gov
Education Administrative feesAppropriationsAuthorizationCollection of accounts
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College costsCollegesCost effectivenessCost of living adjustmentsDebtor and creditorDepartment of EducationEconomics and Public FinanceEducation of the disadvantagedFederal aid to educationFederally-guaranteed loansFinance and Financial SectorGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment lendingGraduate educationHigher education
This bill died when the 110th Congress ended
It never became law before the 110th Congress (2007–2008) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 22, 2007
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S848-851)
Jan 22, 2007
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S847-848)
Jan 22, 2007
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action January 22, 2007

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S848-851)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Student Debt Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend the Pell Grant program through FY2012 and increase yearly maximum Pell grant amounts. Authorizes and appropriates specified additional annual funding for such grants.

Requires the Secretary of Education to provide institutions of higher education Student Aid Reward Payments for participating in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) or Direct Loan (DL) program most cost-effective for taxpayers.

Phases-in cuts to the interest rates charged undergraduate student borrowers under the FFEL and DL programs, thereby reducing such rate from 6.8% in July 2006 to 3.4% in July 2011.

Directs the Secretary to forgive the balance due on DLs and direct consolidation loans by individuals who have been public sector employees for 10 years and have made 120 income contingent payments on such loans.

Caps FFEL and DL repayments by student borrowers at no more than 15% of the amount a borrower's adjusted gross income exceeds 150% of the poverty line. Requires the Secretary to cancel or repay such loans after 25 years.

Eliminates the three-year limit on the deferral of FFELs, DLs, and Perkins loans when borrowers are suffering economic hardship, redefined to include borrowers whose full-time earnings do not exceed 150% of the poverty line. Includes such deferral periods, as well as the months a borrower's FFEL or DL payments are capped, in calculating the maximum period an income contingent repayment plan may be in effect for a non-defaulting borrower.

Allows students to consolidate loans under the FFEL program while still in school. Reduces DL origination fees. Sets limits on funds available for administrative expenses under the FFEL and DL programs for FY2007-FY2012.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to increase the deduction for higher education expenses and make it permanent. Establishes a tax credit for student loan interest payments.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 359: Student Debt Relief Act of 2007. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-359/
MLA
"S. 359: Student Debt Relief Act of 2007." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-359/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 359, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-359/.
Markdown link
[S. 359: Student Debt Relief Act of 2007](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-359/)
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