Congress Members and Family Exempt from Student Loans and Laws?
“Children of Congress members do not have to pay back their college student loans. Staffers of Congress family members are also exempt from having to pay back student loans. Members of Congress can retire at full pay after only one term. Members of Congress have exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed, under which ordinary citizens must live. For example, they are exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment. And as the latest example, they have exempted themselves from Healthcare Reform, in all of its aspects”
Summary
Children of members of Congress must repay their student loans, and congressional staffers’ family members are not exempt from repayment. Members of Congress cannot retire with full pay after a single term, have no legal immunity from sexual‑harassment prosecution, and are not exempt from the provisions of the Healthcare Reform law. All the cited claims are inaccurate.
Sources 55 searched
- Student Financial Aid | U.S. House of Representatives
Guides students through the process of locating and applying for financial aid. Prepared by the Congressional Research Service for Members of Congress, updated April 2015 · Start gathering information early
- Can Feds Use the Student Loan Repayment Benefit For Their Kids? - Government Executive
One interesting question that has cropped up among Government Executive readers so far: Can federal employees use the benefit to help repay their children’s outstanding student loans? Yes, as it turns out -- a fact that may surprise some of you.
- H. Rept. 118-71 - PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RELATING TO "WAIVERS AND MODIFICATIONS OF FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS" | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Interest would have to be calculated (and possibly capitalized on top of existing loan balances), and some borrowers who had their loans discharged due to payment counts that included any paused payments from September to December 2022 could arguably be determined NOT to have completed all the steps necessary to have their loans forgiven. This unwinding and potential claw back process would be incredibly complicated and confusing for borrowers, servicers, and likely the Department as well.
- Myths About Congress - U.S. Representative Barry Loudermilk
Pay for Members of Congress in 2011 and 2012 will remain at the 2009 and 2010 level. ... According to FactCheck.org, “Members of Congress have good health insurance by any standard, but it’s not free and not reserved only for them – and it’s not government insurance.
- MYTH VS FACT | Representative Dusty Johnson - House.gov
D.C. FACT: I give this one three Pinocchios. Members of Congress do not receive free housing or any housing reimbursement. I rent a bedroom from a nice couple who has lived in Washington for years.
- Myths About Congress | U.S. Representative Scott Perry
I have received several questions about some of the “perks” many people believe Members of Congress receive. I went to Washington to stop business as usual, get wasteful government spending under control, and return the...
- Overview of Speech or Debate Clause | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Home > Browse the Constitution Annotated > Article I—Legislative Branch > Section 6—Rights and Disabilities > Clause 1—Pay, Privileges, and Immunities > ArtI.S6.C1.3 Speech or Debate > ArtI.S6.C1.3.1 Overview of Speech or Debate Clause ... The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.
- Article 1 Section 6 Clause 1 | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Home > Browse the Constitution ... Immunities ... The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States....
- Are Congressional Staffers and Family Members Exempt from Repaying Student Loans? | Snopes.com
It does not cover loans made to their children or other family members, and it does not provide student loan benefits to congressional family members. United States Office of Personnel Management. "Federal Student Loan Repayment Program -- Calendar Year 2016." February 2018. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.
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