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H.R. 7100House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

They Had Our Back We Have Theirs Act of 2022

Sponsored by Yvette HerrellRep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM)
Introduced March 16, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 10:05 AM UTC

The bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to give educational financial help to the families of public safety officers. It provides a $25,000 payment to dependents of officers who die in the line of duty and creates a federal student‑loan forgiveness program that can cancel up to $25,000 of loans for the children or spouses of eligible officers. The changes affect dependents of eligible officers, the Department of Education, and loan lenders.

Key Provisions

  • Provides a minimum $25,000 cash assistance to any dependent of a public safety officer who dies in the line of duty, payable within 180 days and excluded from other benefit calculations.
  • Establishes a federal student loan forgiveness program that cancels up to $25,000 of principal and interest for children or spouses of eligible public safety officers.
  • Requires the Secretary of Education to implement the forgiveness program, assuming or canceling loan balances with the loan holder.
  • Treats forgiven loan amounts as non‑taxable income and prohibits any refund of repayments made before forgiveness.
  • Defines “eligible public safety officer” as one who dies or is permanently disabled due to line‑of‑duty injury, and defines eligible federal student loans.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

November 1, 2022

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 16, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Judiciary Committee

March 16, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee

November 1, 2022

Floor Debate

24 members

What members said about H.R. 7100 on the floor

14 Republicans10 Democrats
Cori Bush
Rep. Cori BushD-MO-1 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, first of all, we shouldn't be talking about good police and bad police. There should just be police who are doing their job to serve and protect the people. So let's make that clear.…

Record
Sheila Jackson Lee
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, the tragic death of George Floyd has awakened the Nation, the world. Last summer, in response to a call for action from righteous protestors across the Nation, we had to stand up. And we…

Record
Nancy Pelosi
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-12 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York, the distinguished chair of the Judiciary Committee, for yielding and for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I…

Record
Jerrold Nadler
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-10 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 179, I call up the bill (H.R. 1280) to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform…

Record
Steny H. Hoyer
Rep. Steny H. HoyerD-MD-5 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, it would be an irresponsible policy to defund the police. We are not for that. Hear me. You can say it over and over and over again. It will be a lie. No matter how well it serves your…

Record
Show 8 more
Jim Jordan
Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), a retired police officer. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from Minnesota. Mr.…

Record
Karen Bass
Rep. Karen BassD-CA-37 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago today, Rodney King was viciously beaten by police officers in Los Angeles. It would be the first time the world would witness what African Americans had been organizing,…

Record
Pete Stauber
Rep. Pete StauberR-MN-8 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. With something as important as police reform, it is important to garner many perspectives. The JUSTICE…

Record
Nicole Malliotakis
Rep. Nicole MalliotakisR-NY-11 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, as a representative of more than a quarter of NYPD's 36,000 active officers, and thousands more retirees and first responders, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1280 and every piece…

Record
Kat Cammack
Rep. Kat CammackR-FL-3 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong opposition to the efforts by you and your colleagues to defund our police. This week we will be voting on H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing…

Record
Gerald E. Connolly
Rep. Gerald E. ConnollyD-VA-11 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, this bill isn't about what we just heard. This bill is a moment of potential redemption for a country riven by racial division, riven by a history of racism going back to slavery, the…

Record
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Rep. Eddie Bernice JohnsonD-TX-30 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today to affirm my support as an original cosponsor for H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. This is not a new issue. But one that we continue to revisit…

Record
W. Gregory Steube
Rep. W. Gregory SteubeR-FL-17 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our Nation's law enforcement. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Mr. Speaker, since last summer, members of law enforcement…

Record
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Andy Biggs
Rep. Andy BiggsR-AZ-5 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Budget Office confirmed earlier this week that the Justice in Policing Act contains an unfunded mandate by requiring…

Record
David N. Cicilline
Rep. David N. CicillineD-RI-1 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, George Floyd died under the knee of a police officer 302 days ago. In the time since then, 797 people--more than 2\1/2\ every day--have died during encounters with law enforcement. Black…

Record
Carlos A. Gimenez
Rep. Carlos A. GimenezR-FL-26 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this egregious, so-called police reform bill. The process used to craft this bill is nonsense. In a normal functioning Congress, the Speaker would bring…

Record
Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" CarterR-GA-1 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this bill, and that is a shame, because this is an area that is ripe for bipartisan compromise. But the House continues to spend its time forcing through…

Record
Scott Fitzgerald
Rep. Scott FitzgeraldR-WI-5 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1280 and defunding the police. When vandalism and violence plagued cities across the country last summer, our law enforcement officers were the thin…

Record
Burgess Owens
Rep. Burgess OwensR-UT-4 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1280. I spent the last week talking to law enforcement officers in Utah. These men and women are heroes. They are good, honest officers who risk their lives…

Record
Ben Cline
Rep. Ben ClineR-VA-6 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, the death of George Floyd last year led to communities across the Nation to come together to speak out against injustices, call for additional accountability and transparency in…

Record
Anna G. Eshoo
Rep. Anna G. EshooD-CA-18 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a comprehensive bill to address systemic racism in law enforcement. Today's legislation is named for George Floyd,…

Record
Thomas P. Tiffany
Rep. Thomas P. TiffanyR-WI-7 · Mar 3, 2021

Mr. Speaker, this bill ignores the harm that anti-law enforcement rhetoric and unchecked violence have inflicted on our communities and our police. Since last year, we have seen businesses and…

Record
Warren Davidson
Rep. Warren DavidsonR-OH-8 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, the Justice in Policing Act was crafted in response to George Floyd's murder. Almost no one believes that that was justifiable.…

Record
John H. Rutherford
Rep. John H. RutherfordR-FL-4 · Mar 3, 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this bill. This bill should be a balefire, a warning to America that there are those across the aisle who wish to attempt to federalize State and local…

Record

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 16, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7100

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 16, 2022

Ms. Herrell (for herself, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. McKinley, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Garbarino, Ms. Mace, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, and Mr. Owens) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide for certain minimal levels of educational assistance to the dependents of public safety officers, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the They Had Our Back We Have Theirs Act of 2022.

2.

In general

Subpart 2 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10302(a)) is amended—

(1)

in section 1212(a)—

(A)

in paragraph (2), by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: and paragraph (4); and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(4)

In the case of any dependent of an eligible public safety officer who is deceased, the financial assistance provided under this subpart shall include an amount of not less than $25,000 which shall be made available under section 1219 not later than 180 days after that officer’s death. Such amount shall not be included for purposes of any computation referred to in paragraph (2).

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

1219.

Federal student loan forgiveness for children and spouses of eligible public safety officers

(a)

Forgiveness required

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in addition to any other benefit available under this part, the Secretary of Education shall carry out a program in accordance with this Act to forgive up to a total of $25,000 of the outstanding balance of interest and principal due on the applicable eligible Federal student loans of borrowers who are children or spouses of eligible public safety officers.

(b)

Method of loan forgiveness

Subject to subsection (c), in carrying out the loan forgiveness program required under subsection (a), as soon as practicable after the Secretary of Education has confirmed that an applicant is a child or spouse of an eligible public safety officer who is a borrower of an eligible Federal student loan, the Secretary of Education shall—

(1)

through the holder of a loan, assume the obligation to repay the outstanding balance of interest and principal due (and any other amounts due, including any other costs or fees assessed) on the applicable eligible Federal student loans of the borrower made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq.), or, if the holder of the loan is the Secretary, cancel such outstanding balance;

(2)

cancel the outstanding balance of interest and principal due (and any other amounts due, including any other costs or fees assessed) on the applicable eligible Federal student loans of the borrower made under part E of such title; and

(3)

through the holder of a loan, assume the obligation to repay the outstanding balance of interest and principal due (and any other amounts due, including any other costs or fees assessed) on the applicable eligible Federal student loans of the borrower made, insured, or guaranteed under part D of such title, or, if the holder of the loan is the Secretary, cancel such outstanding balance.

(c)

Maximum amount of forgiveness

The total amount of forgiveness received by a borrower under this section may not exceed $25,000 with respect to all eligible Federal student loans of the borrower.

(d)

Repayment refunds prohibited

Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any refunding of any eligible Federal student loan repayment made before the date a borrower’s loans are forgiven in accordance with this section.

(e)

Exclusion from taxable income

The amount of a borrower’s eligible Federal student loans forgiven under this section shall not be included in the gross income of the borrower for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(f)

Definitions

In this section—

(1)

the term eligible Federal student loan means any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B, part D, or part E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including a consolidation loan under such title; and

(2)

the term eligible public safety officer means a public safety officer, as defined in section 1204 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796b), who is determined to have died or become permanently and totally disabled as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty, subject to the limitations on such a determination made under subpart 1.

.