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H.R. 2976House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Deferment for Active Cancer Treatment Act of 2017

Sponsored by Ileana Ros-LehtinenRep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Introduced June 21, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 4:27 PM UTC

The Deferment for Active Cancer Treatment Act of 2017 would change the Higher Education Act so that borrowers who are undergoing cancer treatment can temporarily pause their federal student loans. While in deferment, they would not have to make principal payments and no interest would accrue. The relief would cover the time they are receiving treatment and an additional six months afterward, and it applies to loans that are already being repaid or that are made after the law takes effect.

Key Provisions

  • Creates a new deferment category for borrowers receiving cancer treatment, allowing them to stop paying principal and stop interest from accruing.
  • Eligibility is limited to the period of active cancer treatment plus six months after treatment ends.
  • Applies to Direct Loans, FFEL Program loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and other federally insured student loans.
  • Amends multiple sections of the Higher Education Act to insert the new deferment option and to specify that interest does not accrue during this deferment.
  • The changes apply to loans made on or after the law’s enactment or to loans already in repayment at that time.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 21, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 21, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 21, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 21, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2976

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 21, 2017

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Perlmutter, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Diaz-Balart, and Mr. Duncan of Tennessee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow for the deferment of certain student loans during a period in which a borrower is receiving treatment for cancer.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Deferment for Active Cancer Treatment Act of 2017.

2.

Student loan deferment for borrowers receiving cancer treatment

(a)

Direct Loans

Section 455(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

Deferment for borrowers receiving cancer treatment

(A)

Effect on principal and interest

A borrower of a loan made under this part who meets the requirements of subparagraph (B) shall be eligible for a deferment, during which periodic installments of principal need not be paid, and interest shall not accrue.

(B)

Eligibility

A borrower of a loan made under this part shall be eligible for a deferment during—

(i)

any period in which such borrower is receiving treatment for cancer; and

(ii)

the 6 months after such period.

(C)

Applicability

This paragraph shall apply with respect to loans—

(i)

made on or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph; or

(ii)

in repayment on the date of the enactment of this paragraph.

.

(b)

Terms of Federally Insured Student Loans

Section 427(a)(2)(C) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1077(a)(2)(C)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (ii), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

in clause (iii), by inserting or after the semicolon; and

(3)

by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

(iv)

in which the borrower is receiving treatment for cancer and the 6 months after such period.

.

(c)

FFEL program

Section 428(b)(1)(M) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078(b)(1)(M)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (iii), by striking or (II); or and inserting a or (II);;

(2)

in clause (iv), by inserting or after the semicolon; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(v)

during which the borrower is receiving treatment for cancer and the 6 months after such period;

.

(d)

Federal Perkins loans

Section 464(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087dd(c)(2)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

in clause (iv), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon;

(B)

in clause (v), by inserting or after the semicolon; and

(C)

by inserting after clause (v) the following:

(vi)

during which the borrower is receiving treatment for cancer and the 6 months after such period;

.

(e)

Interest on unsubsubsidized Stafford Loans

Section 428H(e)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078–8(e)(2)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking Interest and inserting, Except as provided in subparagraph (C), interest; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(C)

Interest shall not accrue on a loan deferred under section 428(b)(1)(M)(v) or 427(a)(2)(C)(iv).

.

(f)

Applicability

The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to loans—

(1)

made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act; or

(2)

in repayment on the date of the enactment of this Act.