I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7477 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 29, 2024 Mr. Van Orden (for himself, Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Mr. Peters , and Ms. Stefanik ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services , and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of Defense to complete a data matching agreement with the Secretary of Education in order to ensure individuals who are current or former active-duty military service members or civilian employees and are otherwise eligible for assistance under the public service loan forgiveness program have their periods of employment automatically certified and counted towards the public service loan forgiveness program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Military Access to Higher Education Benefits Act of 2024 . 2. Data matching agreement with the department of education Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall complete a data matching agreement with the Secretary of Education in order to ensure that individuals who are current or former active-duty military service members or civilian employees and are otherwise eligible for assistance under the public service loan forgiveness program under section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(m) ) have their periods of employment, beginning on October 1, 2007, certified.