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United States · Law · HR

H.R. 5715 (110th)

Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

8 April 2008

Last action

7 May 2008 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 110-227.

Sponsors

Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-7], Rep. McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [R-CA-25], Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben [D-TX-15], Rep. Altmire, Jason [D-PA-4], Carol Shea-Porter, Rep. Hare, Phil [D-IL-17], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Raúl Grijalva, John Sarbanes, Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. [D-NY-1], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], David Loebsack, Rep. Wu, David [D-OR-1], Rep. Sestak, Joe [D-PA-7], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Davis, David [R-TN-1], Rep. Keller, Ric [R-FL-8], Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], EDDIE JOHNSON, Bennie Thompson, Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. [D-RI-1], Keith Ellison, JOHN LEWIS, Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-7], Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Linda Sánchez, Rescom. Fortuno, Luis G. [R-PR-At Large], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10]

Subjects

Education

Source updated

21 July 2025

Education

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum annual and aggregate unsubsidized Stafford loan amounts that may be provided to undergraduate and graduate students under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Gives parent borrowers of PLUS FFELs the option to defer loan principal repayment for up to six months after the students for whom such loans are borrowed cease to carry at least one-half the normal full-time academic workload. Authorizes lenders, for loans made from July 2008 through June 2009, to determine that borrowers of PLUS loans under the FFEL or Direct Loan programs who are up to 180 days delinquent on their home mortgages meet a specified extenuating circumstances requirement which makes them eligible for such loans despite having an adverse credit history. Includes parent borrowers in the FFEL lender-of-last-resort program for borrowers otherwise unable to obtain such loans. Allows institutions of higher education (IHEs) to participate in such program, thereby requiring guaranty agencies serving as lenders-of-last-resort to make FFELs to student and parent borrowers of such IHEs regardless of their ability to otherwise obtain such loans. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to advance needed funds to guaranty agencies acting as lenders-of-last-resort in such situations. Gives the Secretary the authority, until July 2009, to purchase FFELs from lenders upon the determination that there is an inadequate availability of loan capital to meet the demand for such loans. Prohibits such loan purchases from resulting in any cost to the federal government. Expresses the sense of Congress that the federal financial institutions should consider using available authorities in a timely manner, if needed, to enhance student and family access to federal student loans in a manner that results in no increased costs to taxpayers.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 8 April 2008

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 8 April 2008

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 8 April 2008

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 9 April 2008

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  5. 9 April 2008

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  6. 14 April 2008

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 361.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 14 April 2008

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 110-583.

    Source: Committee

  8. 14 April 2008

    Reported

    Reported by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 110-583.

    Source: Committee

  9. 15 April 2008

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1107 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5715 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The amendment printed in Part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole.

    Source: Floor

  10. 16 April 2008

    Floor

    Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5715 as unfinished business.

    Source: Floor

  11. 16 April 2008

    Vote

    On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by recorded vote: 395 - 1 (Roll no. 200).

    Source: Floor

  12. 16 April 2008

    Floor

    Mr. Miller, George moved that the Committee rise.

    Source: Floor

  13. 16 April 2008

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5715 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The amendment printed in Part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole.

    Source: Floor

  14. 16 April 2008

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Jesse L. Jackson Jr. to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

  15. 16 April 2008

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1107 and Rule XVIII.

    Source: Floor

  16. 16 April 2008

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1107. (consideration: CR H2394-2399)

    Source: Floor

  17. 16 April 2008

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 1107 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  18. 17 April 2008

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  19. 17 April 2008

    Vote

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 383 - 27 (Roll no. 204).

    Source: Floor

  20. 17 April 2008

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 383 - 27 (Roll no. 204).

    Source: Floor

  21. 17 April 2008

    Passed

    The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text: CR H2460-2462)

    Source: Floor

  22. 17 April 2008

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2467)

    Source: Floor

  23. 17 April 2008

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5715.

    Source: Floor

  24. 17 April 2008

    Floor

    The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

    Source: Floor

  25. 17 April 2008

    Floor

    Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5715 as unfinished business.

    Source: Floor

  26. 17 April 2008

    Floor

    GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole continued with the remaining debate on H.R. 5715.

    Source: Floor

  27. 17 April 2008

    Floor

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2456-2466)

    Source: Floor

  28. 28 April 2008

    Calendars

    Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

    Source: Calendars

  29. 29 April 2008

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 722.

    Source: Calendars

  30. 30 April 2008

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S3642-3643)

    Source: Floor

  31. 30 April 2008

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  32. 1 May 2008

    Action

    Cleared for White House.

  33. 1 May 2008

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  34. 1 May 2008

    Vote

    On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 388 - 21 (Roll no. 239). (text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H2983-2984)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  35. 1 May 2008

    Vote

    Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 388 - 21 (Roll no. 239).(text as House agreed to Senate amendments: CR H2983-2984)

    Source: NotUsed

  36. 1 May 2008

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  37. 1 May 2008

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments to H.R. 5715.

    Source: Floor

  38. 1 May 2008

    ResolvingDifferences

    Mr. Miller, George moved that the House suspend the rules an agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H2983-2987, H2989)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  39. 6 May 2008

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  40. 6 May 2008

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  41. 7 May 2008

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 110-227.

    Source: President

  42. 7 May 2008

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  43. 7 May 2008

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

19 official files

Public Law (text)

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Sponsors

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Sources

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