; canceling loan obligation; approved leave of absence Section 484B of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1091b ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (f) Waiver The Secretary may waive the requirement under this section with respect to an institution, that if a recipient of assistance under this title withdraws from an institution during a payment period or period of enrollment in which the recipient began attendance, the amount of grant or loan assistance (other than assistance received under part C) be returned to the title IV programs under this Act, if— (1) the recipient of assistance withdraws during a payment period as a result of a qualifying emergency; and (2) the institution requests such a waiver. (g) Canceling loan obligation Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary shall cancel the obligation to repay the portion of a loan made under part D for a recipient of assistance who withdraws from the institution as a result of a qualifying emergency for the payment period for which a waiver for the loan is granted under subsection (f). (h) Approved leave of absence Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of receiving assistance under this title, an institution of higher education may, as a result of a qualifying emergency, provide a student with an approved leave of absence that does not require the student to return at the same point in the academic program that the student began the leave of absence. . (b) Waivers of Federal Pell grant repayment; waivers of grant assistance repayment Section 484B(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1091b(b)(2) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (D)— (A) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following: (i) who were residing in, employed in, or attending an institution of higher education that is located in an area in which there exists a qualifying emergency; ; and (B) in clause (ii), by inserting or emergency after disaster