Bill > HR3146

This bill, known as the HEROES Act (Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Student Debt Act), would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program by including volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as eligible for student loan forgiveness. To qualify, these volunteers must provide emergency services for a legally recognized fire department or public safety organization without being full-time employees of that organization. The bill defines "qualified volunteer firefighters" as individuals providing firefighting, prevention, emergency medical, or related emergency response services, and "qualified volunteer emergency medical technicians" as those trained and certified to provide emergency medical care or ambulance services. The Secretary of Education would be required to establish minimum volunteer time requirements for these individuals to be considered as working in a full-time job for loan forgiveness purposes, ensuring that the volunteer time aligns with the organization's standards for active membership. Additionally, the Secretary must develop regulations in consultation with public safety organizations to implement these changes, including guidelines for tracking and verifying volunteer time.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3146/all-info