H.R. 137 – Stopping Abusive Student Loan Collection Practices in Bankruptcy Act of 2017

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:07 AM UTC

The Stopping Abusive Student Loan Collection Practices in Bankruptcy Act of 2017 changes bankruptcy law so that a borrower can ask the court to decide whether a student loan can be discharged because it causes undue hardship. By adding this option, the bill seeks to curb aggressive collection of student loans during bankruptcy cases. It applies to anyone filing for bankruptcy who has student loan debt.

Key Provisions

Amends 11 U.S.C. §523(d) by removing the phrase “of this section” and adding language that allows a debtor to request a determination of dischargeability based on undue hardship under subsection (a)(8).
The amendment takes effect on the date the law is enacted, but only for bankruptcy cases filed on or after that date.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Cicilline asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 137, a bill originally introduced by former Representative Conyers, for purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

March 14, 2018 • 3:11 PM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 3, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 3, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law.

Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Subcommittee

January 12, 2017

HouseFloor

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Cicilline asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 137, a bill originally introduced by former Representative Conyers, for purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

March 14, 2018 • 3:11 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 137 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. David N. CicillineD-RI-1 · Mar 14, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 137, a bill originally introduced by Representative Conyers of Michigan, for the purposes of…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 3, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 137

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 3, 2017

Mr. Conyers (for himself, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 11 of the United States Code to stop abusive student loan collection practices in bankruptcy cases.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stopping Abusive Student Loan Collection Practices in Bankruptcy Act of 2017.

2.

Amendment

Section 523(d) of title 11 of the United States Code is amended by striking of this section and inserting or the debtor requests a determination of the dischargeability of a debt based on undue hardship under subsection (a)(8).

3.

Effective date; application of amendment

(a)

Effective date

Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act and the amendment made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b)

Application of amendment

The amendment made by this Act shall apply only with respect to cases commenced under title 11 of the United States Code on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.