# 115-hr-6921: Students and Families Empowerment Act

115-hr-6921, Students and Families Empowerment Act, is a 115th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4] (D-NY); status Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6921
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 115-hr-6921
- Congress: 115
- Title: Students and Families Empowerment Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.
- Introduced: 2018-09-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Taxation
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Students and Families Empowerment Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the deduction for interest on education loans, to replace the dollar limitation and the limitation based on modified adjusted gross income with a $750,000 limit ($1.5 million in the case of a joint return) on the aggregate amount of qualified education loans that may be taken into account for the deduction. The bill excludes from gross income the discharge of any student loan debt pursuant to income contingent and income-based repayment plans under the Higher Education Act of 1965. The bill also amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend from 6 months to 12 months: (1) the grace period before payment must begin on Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans after the student ceases to carry at least one-half of the normal full-time academic workload, and (2) the deferment periods for parent borrowers and graduate or professional student borrowers with Federal Direct PLUS Loans. The bill prohibits interest from accruing on a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan or a Federal Direct PLUS Loan during the 12-month extension or deferral period.

## Related bills

- 115-hr-7326: Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2018
- 115-hr-7293: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the "Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office".
- 115-hr-7268: Humane Retirement Act
- 115-hr-7267: Political Accountability and Transparency Act
- 115-hr-7228: Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act of 2018
- 115-hr-7198: Long Island Aviation History Act

## Sources
- [115-hr-6921 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6921)

## Related
- [115-hr-7326: Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-7326)
- [115-hr-7293: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Ay…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-7293)
- [115-hr-7268: Humane Retirement Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-7268)
- [115-hr-7267: Political Accountability and Transparency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-7267)
- [115-hr-7228: Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act of 2018](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-7228)
- [115-hr-7198: Long Island Aviation History Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-7198)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/115-hr-6921 (as of 2025-11-18).