S.1947 / 114th Congress

Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Aug 5, 2015

Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income, for income tax purposes, income imputed from the discharge of student loan indebtedness pursuant to a federal program that provides for income contingent or income-based repayment of such loan.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] · D–OR

Committees

Finance Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Aug 5, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug 5, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Aug 5, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.1947 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 S.1947, 114th Congress: Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1947

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1947/BILLS-114s1947is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:16Z. 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 S.1947 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 S.1947 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 S.1947, 114th Congress: Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1947

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1947/BILLS-114s1947is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:16Z. 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 S.1947 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 S.1947 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 S.1947, 114th Congress: Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1947

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1947/BILLS-114s1947is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:16Z. 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 S.1947 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 S.1947 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 S.1947, 114th Congress: Income-Based Repayment Debt Forgiveness Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1947

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-08-05.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1947/BILLS-114s1947is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:16:16Z. 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 S.1947 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.