Bonamici Introduces Legislation to Prevent Student Loan Default

September 2, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC [9/2/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to help student loan borrowers avoid default. The Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act would help student loan borrowers avoid delinquency by automatically enrolling struggling borrowers in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans to make repayment more affordable. This process will remove unnecessary paperwork requirements and use existing taxpayer information  to automatically connect borrowers with protections. “Bureaucratic hurdles should not keep student loan borrowers from more affordable repayment plans,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The SIMPLE Act is commonsense legislation to use existing taxpayer information to automatically place people in plans that better meet their financial needs and provide protection from harmful default." Student loan default can lead to wage garnishment and the withholding of tax refunds and Social Security benefits. It also can harm credit ratings, making it difficult for borrowers to purchase a car or a home. These consequences disproportionately affect low-income borrowers and borrowers with up to $10,000 in debt and no degree, who are most vulnerable to default. “Problems arise for many student loan borrowers not due to an inability or unwillingness to pay, but rather due to needless complexity within the system. Many are simply unaware of generous income-driven repayment plans that can lower their monthly payments. The SIMPLE Act would expand access to affordable income-driven repayment options by automatically enrolling struggling borrowers in those plans before they experience the punitive consequences of default. The financial aid community stands in support of this bill,” said Karen McCarthy, Vice President of Public Policy & Federal Relations, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). “We applaud Rep. Bonamici for leading the SIMPLE Act, which makes common-sense improvements to help student loan borrowers access more affordable repayment options and avoid the devastating consequences of loan default,” said Michele Zampini, Associate Vice President of Federal Policy & Advocacy, for The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). You can read the full text of the SIMPLE Act here . A summary of the legislation can be found here . The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Lucy McBath, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Takano, and Frederica Wilson. ### Issues : Education