H.R. 6446: Student Borrower HELP Act of 2016

114th Congress · introduced 2016-12-06 · Finance and Financial Sector · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-12-06 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Student Borrower HELP Act of 2016

Plain summary

Student Borrower Higher Education Lending Protection Act of 2016 or the Student Borrower HELP Act of 2016 This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to provide to student borrowers of private education loans: (1) loan payment deferments without interest accruing during any period in which the student borrower is temporarily disabled, and (2) loan discharges if a student borrower dies or becomes totally or permanently disabled. If a student borrower dies or becomes totally or permanently disabled, the student borrower, any cosigner on the loan, or the estate of either the student borrower or the cosigner shall not be obligated to make any additional loan payments. The Internal Revenue Code is amended to exclude from an individual's gross income (which would otherwise include cancellation of debt as income) amounts based on the discharge of a student loan under this bill. An individual is therefore not subject to tax liability for the discharge of student loan debt under this bill. Private educational lenders must disclose to borrowers the number of private education loans they offer and the number and rate of defaults on such loans.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Student Borrower HELP Act of 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Steve Cohen (D-TN), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ-6] reported raising $2.8 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr6446.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>

Record fed-us-cong114-hr6446 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114