Senate Votes to Restore Protections for Students, Overturn Borrower Defense Rule

Today, the Senate voted 53-42 to pass H.J. Res. 76, restoring stronger borrower defense protections. The borrower defense to repayment rule allows students to discharge student loans tied to fraud and other illegal conduct by their colleges. In September, the Trump Administration rewrote the rule, and it will require 97 percent of students cheated by their colleges to  repay their student loan debt. Meanwhile, nearly 220,000 students are still waiting for the Department of Education to act on their claims. Earlier today, the Senate voted on a resolution to restore the stronger 2016 rule.

“Today, a bipartisan majority of senators passed a resolution to reject the watered-down borrower defense rule and restore strong protections for cheated students,” said TICAS president James Kvaal. “Students should not be stuck with huge debts due to illegal misconduct by their colleges. Now President Trump has an opportunity to reconsider the manifestly unfair rules written by the Department of Education.”

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The Institute for College Access & Success is a trusted source of research, design, and advocacy for student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education. For more information see www.ticas.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.