Following Senator Hassan’s Successful Push to Expedite Public Student Loan Forgiveness for Service Members, VA Says Its Working to Get the Word Out About New Reforms to the Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on what the agency is doing to alert service members and veterans about new reforms to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that will help veterans and service members pay off their student loans more quickly.

To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here.

“This year I introduced another bipartisan bill that allows service members who pause their student loan payments while deployed or on extended active duty orders to count that time toward their public service loan forgiveness,” Senator Hassan said at a U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs’ Committee hearing. “Earlier this month the Biden administration announced that it would implement this change through executive authority – and apply it retroactively, so that veterans could benefit even if they have already finished their military service. That’s really great news for veterans – but I am concerned that many of those eligible may not hear about this change.”

Ronald Burke Jr., Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Oversight at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), shared that the VA plans to reach out to veterans eligible for these benefits through social media and other marketing techniques, including videos and email. Ricardo Da Silva, Program Integration Officer for Education Service at the VBA, also noted that the VA partners with the Department of Education and others to get the word out to veterans and service members.

Senator Hassan also asked Mr. Burke about the importance of providing resources to train veterans for careers in technology.

“I recently introduced a bill with Senator Cornyn that would create a pilot program to provide cybersecurity training for veterans, with a focus on employing veterans in the federal government,” said Senator Hassan. “I believe we can train more veterans for technology careers, especially with the success of the VA’s existing VET TEC program, which allows veterans to gain computer experience.”

Mr. Burke shared that the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program is increasingly popular with veterans because it helps veterans access higher-paying jobs.

Senator Hassan also spoke about strengthening the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program so that veterans have more affordable housing options. In July, Senator Hassan led a bipartisan call for improvements to the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program to help more veterans and military families purchase homes. In her letter, Senator Hassan specifically asks the VA for additional flexibilities for veterans within the home loan program, while providing comprehensive education about the program for veteran homebuyers, realtors, and lenders.

“What’s happening in New Hampshire a lot is that the appraisals that your loan program are doing are coming in low, and veterans don’t always know that they can appeal those appraisals,” said Senator Hassan . “And in the meantime they’re losing their opportunity to purchase. So it’s making the loan program less popular and available to veterans than we would want it to be.”

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