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H.R.5458 / 111th Congress

Christopher's Law

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Official summary

Version 36 · Passed House amended · Sep 28, 2010

Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act and Christopher's Law - (Sec. 2) Amends the Truth in Lending Act to require institutions of higher education (IHEs) that provide student loan counseling to new borrowers and cosigners at the time of any student loan application, origination, or consolidation, or at the time the cosigner assumes responsibility for repayment, to include information on creating a durable power of attorney for financial decisionmaking.

Requires private educational lenders to provide borrowers and cosigners of student loans with that information at the time of loan application.

Requires lenders of private educational loans for which cosigners are held jointly liable to describe clearly and conspicuously, in writing, the cosigners' obligations regarding such loans, including the effect a borrower's or cosigner's death, disability, or inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity would have on such obligations.

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Directs the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to publish model forms for the information this Act requires to be provided regarding: (1) the creation of a durable power of attorney; and (2) a cosigner's obligation.

(Sec. 3) Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require IHEs to provide borrowers of federal educational loans information at their entrance counseling regarding: (1) the effect their death, disability, or inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity would have on their federal and private educational loans; and (2) their state's model form, published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, for creating a durable power of attorney.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Adler, John H. [D-NJ-3] · D–NJ

Committees

  • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  • Education and Workforce Committee
  • Financial Services Committee
27 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7078)

  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7078)

  5. DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5458.

  6. Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7077-7079)

  7. Mr. Adler (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  8. Referred to House Education and Labor

  9. Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  10. Referred to House Financial Services

  11. Introduced in House

  12. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jul 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.5458 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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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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