COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 14, 2020

COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

This bill allows students who graduate from institutions of higher education in 2020 to defer payments on their federal student loans for up to three years.

The Department of Education (ED) may extend deferment eligibility to students who graduate in 2021 and 2022, if ED determines that the anticipated economic impact of the coronavirus (i.e., the virus that causes COVID-19 or another coronavirus with pandemic potential) on these graduates necessitates an extension. ED must consider certain factors, such as recent unemployment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, when determining whether to extend deferment eligibility to these graduates.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] · D–CA

Committees

Education and Workforce Committee

13 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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

Apr 14, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Apr 14, 2020
Introduced in House
Apr 14, 2020
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 · Apr 14, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 3556 · COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Source last updated: Dec 3, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.6502 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.6502, 116th Congress: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6502

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6502/BILLS-116hr6502ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-03T08:49:16Z. 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.6502 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.6502 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6502, 116th Congress: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6502

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6502/BILLS-116hr6502ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-03T08:49:16Z. 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.6502 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.6502 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6502, 116th Congress: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6502

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6502/BILLS-116hr6502ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-03T08:49:16Z. 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.6502 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.6502 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.6502, 116th Congress: COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6502

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-04-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6502/BILLS-116hr6502ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-12-03T08:49:16Z. 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.6502 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.