WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today introduced H.R. 3086, the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act.  The bipartisan bill, with 71 Republican and Democrat cosponsors, grants the Secretary of Education the authority to grant waivers under Title IV of the Higher Education Act — which governs federal student financial assistance programs — as he deems necessary.  

            Under the HEROES bill, the Secretary will be able to grant waivers to reservists called up for active duty, relieving them from making federal student loan payments while they serve our nation’s Armed Forces.  To help those directly affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks, it also would allow the Secretary to relieve victims and their families by extending repayment terms and deadlines. 

            “As America mobilizes for the war against terror, students serving in our Armed Forces need our full support.  The Education Secretary needs the authority to act quickly to protect the interests of U.S. students as well as the integrity of the financial aid programs themselves,” said Rep. McKeon. 

            “We need to do all we can to support our men and women in the military.  They shouldn’t be expected to make federal student loan payments while they’re away from their jobs and schools defending our freedom,” McKeon said. 

            “During the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations, the Secretary of Education received the same waiver authority,” noted Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), chairman of the Education & the Workforce Committee.  “Providing relief from federal student loan payments is the least we can do for the men and women who are leaving their families, jobs and schools to serve our country.”

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