# 116-hr-7761: Protecting Access to Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID–19 Pandemic Act

116-hr-7761, Protecting Access to Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID–19 Pandemic Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA); status Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7761
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-7761
- Congress: 116
- Title: Protecting Access to Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID–19 Pandemic Act
- Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
- Introduced: 2020-07-23
- Sponsor: Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 37
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Protecting Access to Loan Forgiveness for Public Servants During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act This bill allows public service employees who are impacted by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency to continue to participate, without disruption, in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Specifically, an individual who was employed in a public service job and who experiences lapse in employment (e.g., a furlough, a layoff, or the individual's resignation due to illness or caregiving responsibilities) because of the COVID-19 public health emergency may continue to participate in the PSLF program without disruption. The bill treats such an individual as employed in a public service job during the emergency and deems a monthly payment made by the individual as a qualifying monthly payment toward loan cancellation under the PSLF program. However, unless the individual would have completed requirements for loan cancellation during the public health emergency, the individual must resume employment in a public service job within six months after the end of the emergency. In addition, the bill directs the Department of Education to develop and make available guidance related to the assistance provided by the bill.

## Cosponsors (37)

- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (R-OH), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] (D-TN), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1] (R-PA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rouda, Harley [D-CA-48] (D-CA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2020-07-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2020-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2020-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2020-07-31T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] (D-OH), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large] (D-GU), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2020-08-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2020-08-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9] (D-MA), 2020-08-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2020-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2020-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2020-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2020-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2020-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2020-11-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2020-11-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act
- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act
- 116-hr-2694: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
- 116-hr-2420: National Museum of the American Latino Act
- 116-hr-1980: Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act
- 116-hr-1379: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-7761 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7761)

## Related
- [116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2382)
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [116-hr-2694: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2694)
- [116-hr-2420: National Museum of the American Latino Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2420)
- [116-hr-1980: Smithsonian Women’s History Museum Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1980)
- [116-hr-1379: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1379)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7761 (as of 2025-11-18).