Congress · Laws

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish fixed interest rates for student and parent borrowers, to extend current law with respect to special allowances for lenders, and for other purposes.

Public Law 107-139 · S. 1762 · 107th Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Feb 8, 2002 · Education

Sponsor: Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD)

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 372 yea, 3 nay372–3
SenateUnanimous consent

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to set fixed interest rates for new loans made on or after July 1, 2006, under: (1) the Federal Family Education Loan program (FFEL) for student loans (6.8 percent), parent (PLUS) loans, and consolidation loans (8.25 percent or a lesser amount based on a weighted average of interest rates of the loans consolidated); and (2) the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (both 6.8 percent), Federal Direct PLUS loans (7.9 percent), and Federal Direct Consolidation loans (8.25 percent or lesser weighted average). Extends current interest rate provisions for: (1) student or parent loans with a first disbursement before July 1, 2006; and (2) consolidation loans with an application received by the lender before July 1, 2006.

Extends provisions for special allowances for lenders. Prohibits payment of such special allowances in the case of PLUS loans made on or after July 1, 2006, unless a certain percentage is reached according to a formula based in part on the average of certain bond equivalent rates published by the Federal Reserve System's Board of Governors for the last calendar week before such date.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 107th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 372 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

372 yea3 nay60 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(181)

Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-50
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-13
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Stephanie JonesD-OH-11
Rep. Major OwensD-NY-11
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. Bernie SandersD-VT
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Martin SaboD-MN-5
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Alcee HastingsD-FL-23
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. Earl HilliardD-AL-7
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Sherrod BrownD-OH-13
Rep. Cynthia McKinneyD-GA-4
Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-10
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-32
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Nancy PelosiD-CA-8
Rep. William CoyneD-PA-14
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
Rep. Eva ClaytonD-NC-1
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-15
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-29
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Dick GephardtD-MO-3
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. Lynn RiversD-MI-13
Rep. Carrie MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Lane EvansD-IL-17
Rep. Thomas BarrettD-WI-5
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. Marty MeehanD-MA-5
Rep. Robert BorskiD-PA-3
Rep. Julia CarsonD-IN-10
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-29
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Thomas SawyerD-OH-14
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Ted StricklandD-OH-6
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonaldD-CA-37
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Loretta SanchezD-CA-46
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Robert MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Tom LantosD-CA-12
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-2
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Jerry KleczkaD-WI-4
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-28
Rep. Bob MenendezD-NJ-13
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-24
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-22
Rep. John BaldacciD-ME-2
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Peter DeutschD-FL-20
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Joseph HoeffelD-PA-13
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-42
Rep. Albert WynnD-MD-4
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-9
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-49
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Benjamin CardinD-MD-3
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Harold FordD-TN-9
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-9
Rep. Martin FrostD-TX-24
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-27
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Max SandlinD-TX-1
Rep. Ken BentsenD-TX-25
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Gary ConditD-CA-18
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Jane HarmanD-CA-36
Rep. Jim DavisD-FL-11
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Frank MascaraD-PA-20
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Tony HallD-OH-3
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-11
Rep. James MaloneyD-CT-5
Rep. Timothy RoemerD-IN-3
Rep. Robert ClementD-TN-5
Rep. Brad CarsonD-OK-2
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Jim TurnerD-TX-2
Rep. Cal DooleyD-CA-20
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-6
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. David PhelpsD-IL-19
Rep. William LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-5
Rep. James BarciaD-MI-5
Rep. Charlie StenholmD-TX-17
Rep. Chris JohnD-LA-7
Rep. Ronnie ShowsD-MS-4
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Ken LucasD-KY-4
Rep. Ralph HallD-TX-4

Republicans who voted yea(190)

Rep. Constance MorellaR-MD-8
Rep. Jim LeachR-IA-1
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-20
Rep. Nancy JohnsonR-CT-6
Rep. Sherry BoehlertR-NY-23
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Stephen HornR-CA-38
Rep. Greg GanskeR-IA-4
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15
Rep. Rob SimmonsR-CT-2
Rep. Curt WeldonR-PA-7
Rep. John ThuneR-SD
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-19
Rep. Amo HoughtonR-NY-31
Rep. John McHughR-NY-24
Rep. Doug OseR-CA-3
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
Rep. Doug BereuterR-NE-1
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Felix GrucciR-NY-1
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
Rep. Mark KirkR-IL-10
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. John SweeneyR-NY-22
Rep. Mark FoleyR-FL-16
Rep. Jim GreenwoodR-PA-8
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Sue KellyR-NY-19
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. Tom OsborneR-NE-3
Rep. Ray LaHoodR-IL-18
Rep. Lindsey GrahamR-SC-3
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-21
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Wayne GilchrestR-MD-1
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Robert EhrlichR-MD-2
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Paul GillmorR-OH-5
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Clay ShawR-FL-22
Rep. George GekasR-PA-17
Rep. Charlie BassR-NH-2
Rep. Joseph SkeenR-NM-2
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-5
Rep. Zach WampR-TN-3
Rep. Anne NorthupR-KY-3
Rep. Bob NeyR-OH-18
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. Dave HobsonR-OH-7
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
Rep. Duke CunninghamR-CA-51
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-40
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-20
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-27
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Johnny IsaksonR-GA-6
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-43
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-11
Rep. H. CallahanR-AL-1
Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
Rep. Ernest IstookR-OK-5
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
Rep. Jim KolbeR-AZ-5
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-5
Rep. Jim NussleR-IA-2
Rep. John CookseyR-LA-5
Rep. Jennifer DunnR-WA-8
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-48
Rep. Melissa HartR-PA-4
Rep. George NethercuttR-WA-5
Rep. David DreierR-CA-28
Rep. Richard BakerR-LA-6
Rep. Billy TauzinR-LA-3
Rep. Michael BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8
Rep. Cass BallengerR-NC-10
Rep. Saxby ChamblissR-GA-8
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. Bill JenkinsR-TN-1
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. Jim McCreryR-LA-4
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-6
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Richard BurrR-NC-5
Rep. J.C. WattsR-OK-4
Rep. Chip PickeringR-MS-3
Rep. Roger WickerR-MS-1
Rep. Porter GossR-FL-14
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Rob PortmanR-OH-2
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Ed SchrockR-VA-2
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. James HansenR-UT-1
Rep. Larry CombestR-TX-19
Rep. Van HillearyR-TN-4
Rep. Ed BryantR-TN-7
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
Rep. Dan MillerR-FL-13
Rep. John LinderR-GA-11
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-4
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. John SununuR-NH-1
Rep. Gil GutknechtR-MN-1
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Scott McInnisR-CO-3
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Jo Ann DavisR-VA-1
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8
Rep. Jim GibbonsR-NV-2
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. Charlie NorwoodR-GA-10
Rep. Charles TaylorR-NC-11
Rep. Jack KingstonR-GA-1
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Mark GreenR-WI-8
Rep. Richard ArmeyR-TX-26
Rep. Richard PomboR-CA-11
Rep. Robert StumpR-AZ-3
Rep. Nick SmithR-MI-7
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3
Rep. Tom DeLayR-TX-22
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. J.D. HayworthR-AZ-6
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Christopher CoxR-CA-47
Rep. Mark KennedyR-MN-2
Rep. Jim DeMintR-SC-4
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Jim RyunR-KS-2
Rep. Butch OtterR-ID-1
Rep. Bob BarrR-GA-7
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-2
Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-4
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-45
Rep. Pat ToomeyR-PA-15
Rep. Brian KernsR-IN-7
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-8
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-39
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-9
Rep. John HostettlerR-IN-8
Rep. Joel HefleyR-CO-5
Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Rep. Bob SchafferR-CO-4

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 510 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. 1 yea vote was cast by members of neither major party and is highlighted on the compass but not listed. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee · Senate · referred to, reported by

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 15 actions.

Feb 8, 2002Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 107-139.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Jan 30, 2002PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
Jan 24, 2002FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
FloorFloor · On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 372 - 3 (Roll no. 4).House roll call 4
FloorFloor · Rule H. Res. 334 passed House.
Dec 20, 2001FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by recorded vote (2/3 required): 257 - 148 (Roll no. 512).House roll call 512
FloorFloor · Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by recorded vote (2/3 required): 257 - 148 (Roll no. 512).House roll call 512
FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Miller, George objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
FloorFloor · Mr. Boehner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Dec 14, 2001FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 12, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Dec 4, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.