A bill to amend the Bankruptcy Act to provide for the nondischargeability of certain student loan debts guaranteed or insured by the United States.
Public Law 96-56 · H.R. 2807 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Aug 14, 1979 · Finance and Financial Sector
Sponsor: Rep. Don Edwards (D-CA-10)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
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.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Amends the Bankruptcy Act to prohibit the discharge of any federally insured or guaranteed student loan prior to five years from the commencement of the repayment period for such loan unless the court determines that repayment from future income will impose an undue hardship on the bankrupt or the bankrupt's dependents. Stipulates that such prohibition shall apply with respect to any proceeding commenced under the Bankruptcy Act during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending October 1, 1979.
Subjects educational loans made, insured, or guaranteed in whole or in part by a governmental unit or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a government unit, or nonprofit institution of higher education to such prohibition.
Excludes periods of deferment from the calculation of the first five years of the repayment period.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
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.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Aug 14, 1979Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-56.
- Aug 3, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Aug 2, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Aug 1, 1979PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Jul 11, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Jun 21, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 8, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- May 7, 1979FloorFloor · Measure passed House.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Mar 13, 1979CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.