SUMMARY:  NTEU-supported bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the       House and Senate to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). 

            Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Mike Braun (R-IN), along with Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), have introduced the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Payment Completion Fairness Act (S. 1331/HR 2949).  This bipartisan bill that would change federal law that unnecessarily requires that PSLF applicants be employed in a public service role at the time of forgiveness, even if they have already made 120 qualifying payments.  This has negatively affected public service employees who have completed their 120 payments, decided to retire or move on from their current jobs or public service careers, and suddenly become ineligible for forgiveness even though they dutifully served their communities for at least ten years.

            Joining with NTEU in supporting the PSLF Payment Completion Fairness Act are the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

            NTEU has been working with the administration to make the PSLF program work better for public employees.  Significant progress has been made and I am grateful to the administration for their action on this.  However, some changes require congressional action.  This bill is one of several legislative proposals NTEU will be pursuing in addition to continuing to negotiate loan forgiveness programs with our agencies. 

            If you have any questions on this, please contact Kurt Vorndran in the Legislation Department via email at kurt.vorndran@nteu.org.  Thank you.