Senator Harkin Introduces Civil Loan Repayment Bill

On April 19, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. 1167, a bill amending the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to authorize funding to provide loan repayment assistance payments for civil legal assistance attorneys.

The bill would provide $6,000 for any borrower in a calendar year, not to exceed an aggregate total of $40,000. The borrower would be required to remain at a program for a minimum of three years. Senator Harkin's bill would amend the Higher Education Act to authorize payments in the amount of $10 million for FY 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year. It has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA).

To view Senator Harkin's statement introducing the bill, go here.