Portman’s bipartisan bill would pardon student loan debt for permanently disabled students

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) on April 11 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would permit student loan forgiveness for students having a permanent disability.

“I remain committed to addressing this legislative issue fully and urge my colleagues to support providing relief to families enduring such difficult circumstances,” Sen. Portman said last week.

Domenic’s Law, S. 1219, which Sen. Portman introduced with cosponsor U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), would allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to qualify for student loan discharge. 

“Families like the Carducci family of Steubenville, Ohio, whose son Domenic has become permanently and totally disabled, are going through unimaginable grief,” explained Sen. Portman, who named the bill in honor of Domenic Carducci. 

“Because of this tragic disability, they cannot afford a massive student loan bill,” the lawmaker said. “The last thing that families in these situations need is that kind of financial burden.” 

Current federal law authorizes the U.S. Education Department to forgive certain federal student loans in the case of total and permanent disability of the borrower, including for U.S. military veterans. Many private lenders also do the same thing, according to Sen. Portman’s statement.

However, parents may discharge federal student loans if their child dies, but not if their child develops a total and permanent disability, according to the statement.

If enacted, S. 1219 would resolve that inconsistency in statute, the senator said.

S. 1219 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.