WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, both D-N.H., joined a group of their colleagues in calling on Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to correct the Department’s missteps in implementing the Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program. In the letter, the senators call on DeVos to implement a comprehensive strategy to increase the approval rates for loan relief through the program.

“Members of Congress wrote to you nearly a year ago about the needless hurdles that the department has created for TEPSLF, including the bifurcated application process,” the senators wrote. “While the department took some steps to correct errors in communications with borrowers as a result of these inquiries, it did not take any significant action to make it easier for borrowers who had ended up in the wrong repayment plans to qualify for the loan forgiveness opportunity that was created for them. While we clearly disagree about the urgent need to provide student debt relief to federal student loan borrowers who have served their country and communities, the department must implement the law.”

“No later than 30 days after receiving this letter, we request that the department provide the authorizing and appropriations committees with a corrective action plan that includes new outreach initiatives and specific instructions and policies for student loan servicers to assist borrowers working in public service,” the senators continued.

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