Magaziner Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Student Loan Relief for National Guard Members and Reservists

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02) introduced a bipartisan bill with Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-01), the National Guard and Reserve Student Loan Fairness Act, to expand eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) to part-time service members in the National Guard and Reserves.

Individuals who work full-time for a government or not-for-profit organization may be eligible for the PSLF program, including service members who are employed full-time for the National Guard or Reserve components. 

However, the estimated 849,700 Americans who serve part-time in the National Guard and Reserve are often called on for regularly scheduled trainings, deployments, or in the case of the National Guard, to support their home state governors in times of local emergency or natural disaster, and do not receive PSLFcredit for this service — even though it often requires full-time work for days or weeks at a time.

“National Guard Members and Reservists who put on the uniform to serve our country deserve the same fair access to benefits as all Americans in public service roles,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02). “That is why I am introducing the National Guard and Reserve Student Loan Fairness Act with Representative Trent Kelly to ensure that all service members are eligible for student loan forgiveness for every day they serve.”

“Members of the National Guard and Reserves make tremendous sacrifices to serve our country. This bipartisan legislation ensures their service is fairly recognized, putting them on equal footing with other public servants by expanding access to student loan forgiveness. I’m proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Magaziner to honor their commitment and support their service," said Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01).

Magaziner’s bill will allow members of the National Guard and Reserve to count their days of part-time service proportionally towards the 10 years of qualifying employment necessary to be eligible for PSLF.

Currently, under the PSLF program, an individual may have their entire outstanding Direct federal student loan balance forgiven after making 120 qualifying payments. A qualifying payment is one that occurs during a month when an individual makes a monthly payment on their student loans and is employed full time (at least 30 hours per week) at a qualifying employer. 

Qualifying employment for the PSLF program includes being employed by a government organization (including the U.S. military), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, or certain other private nonprofit organizations that are providers of enumerated public services.

Read the full text of the bill here.