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H.R. 6502 116th Congress House

COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Official title: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for deferral of loan repayment for graduates during the period of the coronavirus.

Introduced: April 14, 2020 Introduced by: Josh Harder Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Education Cardiovascular and respiratory healthEconomic performance and conditionsEmergency medical services and trauma careGovernment lending and loan guarantees
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Health promotion and preventive careHigher educationInfectious and parasitic diseasesStudent aid and college costsUnemployment
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 14, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Apr 14, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 14, 2020

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

This bill allows students who graduate from institutions of higher education in 2020 to defer payments on their federal student loans for up to three years.

The Department of Education (ED) may extend deferment eligibility to students who graduate in 2021 and 2022, if ED determines that the anticipated economic impact of the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19 or another coronavirus with pandemic potential) on these graduates necessitates an extension. ED must consider certain factors, such as recent unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when determining whether to extend deferment eligibility to these graduates.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 3556 Identical bill COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 6 Republican 2
Kilmer, Derek
· May 8, 2020
Cox, TJ
· Apr 14, 2020
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Apr 14, 2020
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Apr 14, 2020
JOHNSON, EDDIE
· Apr 14, 2020
 D
Levin, Mike
California · Apr 14, 2020
 D
Panetta, Jimmy
California · Apr 14, 2020
Porter, Katie
· Apr 14, 2020
Rouda, Harley
· Apr 14, 2020
 D
Slotkin, Elissa
Michigan · Apr 14, 2020
 R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Apr 14, 2020
 D
Suozzi, Thomas R.
New York · Apr 14, 2020
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Apr 14, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 6502: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6502/
MLA
"H.R. 6502: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6502/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 6502, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6502/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 6502: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-6502/)
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