Encourage our Educators Act

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 10, 2017

Encourage our Educators Act

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify provisions of the teacher loan forgiveness program.

Specifically, the legislation reduces from five to three years the period of service a full-time teacher must complete consecutively to be eligible for forgiveness under the Federal Family Education Loan or Direct Loan program. It also increases from $5,000 to $17,500 the amount of available loan forgiveness for an elementary or secondary school teacher in any subject. (Currently, forgiveness up to $17,500 is only available for a full-time secondary school math or science teacher or for a special education teacher.)

The bill eliminates the prohibition on counting the same qualifying service for both the teacher and the public service loan forgiveness programs.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] · D–MI

Committees

Education and Workforce Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 10, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jan 10, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 10, 2017
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 10, 2017 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 3366 · Teach Our Teachers Act

Source last updated: Aug 11, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.414 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.414, 115th Congress: Encourage our Educators Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/414

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr414/BILLS-115hr414ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.414 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.414 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.414, 115th Congress: Encourage our Educators Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/414

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr414/BILLS-115hr414ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.414 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.414 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.414, 115th Congress: Encourage our Educators Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/414

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr414/BILLS-115hr414ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.414 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.414 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

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Discuss H.R.414, 115th Congress: Encourage our Educators Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/414

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2017-01-10.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr414/BILLS-115hr414ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-11T16:31:28Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.414 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.