Advocacy Alert: USDE Releases First Set of Draft Rules for Debt Relief

The United States Department of Education (USDE) recently released proposed regulations regarding student debt relief. The draft rules follow the convening of the Student Loan Debt Relief negotiated rulemaking committee earlier this year. 

As part of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s (MSCHE) strategic priority to promote advocacy initiatives for its members and others, we encourage our members to offer public comments by USDE’s deadline of May 17, 2024. The Federal Register includes instructions on how to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. 

According to USDE’s statement, 

The draft includes nine rules that permit separate and distinct types of waivers using the Secretary of Education’s longstanding authority under the Higher Education Act. Eight of these are applicable to loans held by the Department, while a ninth addresses commercially held loans in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program. 

Read the full statement. 

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