House Passes Justice Prosecutors and Defenders Act of 2007, Would Repay Law Student Loans

The House passed H.R. 916 by a vote of 341 - 73. The bill would direct the Attorney General to assume the obligation to repay student loans for borrowers who agree to remain employed, for at least three years, as: (1) state or local criminal prosecutors; or (2) state, local, or federal public defenders in criminal cases. H.R. 916 also allows a borrower and the Attorney General to enter into an additional loan repayment agreement, after the required three-year period, for a successive period of service which may be less than three years and limits the amount paid under such program on behalf of any borrower to $10,000 per calendar year and $60,000 total. According to the CBO cost estimate implementing the bill would cost $83 million over the 2008-2012 period, with additional amounts spent in later years.

Thomas Legistative Resources for H.R. 916