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Federal Student Loan Refinancing: Lower Rates and New Rules

This act introduces a program allowing federal student loans to be refinanced, potentially lowering monthly payments through new, reduced interest rates. It aims to ease student debt management and ensures that prior payments count towards loan forgiveness programs.
Key points
Ability to refinance federal student loans (Direct Loans and FFEL) at new, lower interest rates, potentially reducing monthly financial burdens.
New interest rates will be based on the lowest yield of the 10-year Treasury note plus a fixed margin, aiming for more favorable terms.
Previous payments made before refinancing will count towards the required period for loan forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Based Repayment.
The program targets borrowers with the greatest financial need, with eligibility based on income or debt-to-income ratio to be set by the Secretary of Education.
No automatic extension of the loan repayment period after refinancing, but borrowers can choose a different repayment plan.
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_603
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Process start date: 2021-03-04
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Coronavirus Emergency Student Loan Refinancing Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_603.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-03-04.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Ability to refinance federal student loans (Direct Loans and FFEL) at new, lower interest rates, potentially reducing monthly financial burdens.
  • New interest rates will be based on the lowest yield of the 10-year Treasury note plus a fixed margin, aiming for more favorable terms.
  • Previous payments made before refinancing will count towards the required period for loan forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Based Repayment.
  • The program targets borrowers with the greatest financial need, with eligibility based on income or debt-to-income ratio to be set by the Secretary of Education.
  • No automatic extension of the loan repayment period after refinancing, but borrowers can choose a different repayment plan.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

CATEGORIES

Education Benefits