Blumenthal Introduces Legislation to Reduce Burden of Student Loan Debt on Servicemembers

[WASHINGTON, DC] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation to provide blanket student loan forgiveness for active duty servicemembers after ten years of service.

Civil servants and servicemembers are eligible for loan forgiveness upon completion of ten years of service through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. However, many servicemembers do not apply for the program before they sign contracts and find out they are ineligible after they reach the ten-year mark in their service. The VALOR Act would close this loophole and guarantee that any active duty servicemember who completes ten years of service is able to receive loan forgiveness as the PSLF Program initially intended.

“Servicemembers make untold sacrifices for our nation—the least we can do is ease the burden of student loan debt that weighs heavily on them and their families,” said Blumenthal. “My measure pursues commonsense reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to ensure any active duty servicemember who completes ten years of service can receive the loan forgiveness they deserve.”

The VALOR Act is endorsed by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Bill text is available here. 

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