text: SECTION 1. CANCELLATION OF STUDENT LOAN INDEBTEDNESS FOR SPOUSES, 
                SURVIVING JOINT DEBTORS, AND PARENTS.
  
      (a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
              (1) Eligible public servant.--The term ``eligible public 
          servant'' means an individual who--
                      (A) served as a police officer, firefighter, other 
                  safety or rescue personnel, or as a member of the Armed 
                  Forces; and
                      (B) died (or dies) or became (or becomes) 
                  permanently and totally disabled due to injuries 
                  suffered in the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001;
          as determined in accordance with regulations of the Secretary.
              (2) Eligible victim.--The term ``eligible victim'' means an 
          individual who died (or dies) or became (or becomes) 
          permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in 
          the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, as determined in 
          accordance with regulations of the Secretary.
              (3) Eligible spouse.--The term ``eligible spouse'' means 
          the spouse of an eligible public servant, as determined in 
          accordance with regulations of the Secretary.
              (4) Eligible surviving debtor.--The term ``eligible 
          surviving debtor'' means an individual who owes a Federal 
          student loan that is a consolidation loan that was used, 
          jointly by that individual and an eligible victim, to repay the 
          Federal student loans of that individual and of such eligible 
          victim.
              (5) Eligible parent.--The term ``eligible parent'' means 
          the parent of an eligible victim if--
                      (A) the parent owes a Federal student loan that is 
                  a consolidation loan that was used to repay a PLUS loan 
                  incurred on behalf of such eligible victim; or
                      (B) the parent owes a Federal student loan that is 
                  a PLUS loan incurred on behalf of an eligible victim 
                  who became (or becomes) permanently and totally 
                  disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist 
                  attack on September 11, 2001.
              (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Education.
              (7) Federal student loan.--The term ``Federal student 
          loan'' means any loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part 
          B, D, or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
      (b) Relief From Indebtedness.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for the 
          discharge or cancellation of--
                      (A) the Federal student loan indebtedness of an 
                  eligible spouse;
                      (B) the consolidation loan indebtedness of an 
                  eligible surviving debtor;
                      (C) the portion of the consolidation loan 
                  indebtedness of an eligible parent that was incurred on 
                  behalf of an eligible victim, if the amount of such 
                  indebtedness with respect to such eligible victim may 
                  be reliably determined on the basis of records 
                  available to the lender; and
                      (D) the PLUS loan indebtedness of an eligible 
                  parent that was incurred on behalf of an eligible 
                  victim described in subsection (a)(5)(B).
              (2) Method of discharge or cancellation.--A loan required 
          to be discharged or canceled under paragraph (1) shall be 
          discharged or canceled by the method used under section 437(a), 
          455(a)(1), or 464(c)(1)(F) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
          (20 U.S.C. 1087(a), 1087e(a)(1), 1087dd(c)(1)(F)), whichever is 
          applicable to such loan.
      (c) Facilitation of Claims.--The Secretary shall--
              (1) establish procedures for the filing of applications for 
          discharge or cancellation under this section by regulations 
          that shall be prescribed and published within 90 days after the 
          date of enactment of this Act and without regard to the 
          requirements of section 553 of title 5, United States Code; and
              (2) take such actions as may be necessary to publicize the 
          availability of discharge or cancellation of Federal student 
          loan indebtedness for eligible spouses, eligible surviving 
          debtors, and eligible parents under this section.
      (d) Availability of Funds for Payments.--Funds available for the 
  purposes of making payments to lenders in accordance with section 
  437(a) for the discharge of indebtedness of deceased or disabled 
  individuals shall be available for making payments under section 437(a) 
  to lenders of loans to the eligible spouses, eligible surviving 
  debtors, and eligible parents as required by this section.
      (e) Applicable to Outstanding Debt.--The provisions of this section 
  shall be applied to discharge or cancel only Federal student loans 
  (including consolidation loans) on which amounts were owed on September 
  11, 2001.
target: Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to discharge or cancel the Federal student loan indebtedness of spouses, surviving joint debtors, and parents of public servants and other individuals who died (or die) or who became (or become) permanently and totally disabled from injuries suffered in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
feat_title: A bill to provide for cancellation of student loan indebtedness for spouses, surviving joint debtors, and parents of individuals who died or became permanently and totally disabled due to injuries suffered in the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001