Intelligence Community Student Loan Repayment Programs

Pub. L. 116–260, div. W, title III, § 310, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2369, provided that:

“(a)

Sense of Congress.—

It is the sense of Congress that—

“(1)

student loan repayment programs are a crucial tool in attracting and retaining talented individuals to the intelligence community, particularly individuals from diverse backgrounds;

“(2)

generous student loan repayment programs help the intelligence community compete with the private sector for talented employees;

“(3)

departments and agencies containing elements of the intelligence community have authority to establish student loan repayment programs either under section 5379 of title 5, United States Code, or under the delegable authority of the Director of National Intelligence under section 102A(n)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3024(n)(1));

“(4)

although the Director should use the authority under such section 102A(n)(1) sparingly, and should be exceedingly sparing in delegating such authority to an element of the intelligence community, the Director should approve well-predicated requests for such authority in the student loan repayment context if an element of the intelligence community can articulate an impediment to establishing or enhancing a program under section 5379 of title 5, United States Code; and

“(5)

student loan repayment programs established by an element of the intelligence community should provide flexibility to intelligence community employees, including employees who pursue loan-financed education in the middle of their careers or after the day on which they first become intelligence community employees.

“(b)

Student Loan Repayment Program Standards.—

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020], the Director of National Intelligence, or a designee of the Director who is an employee of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, shall establish minimum standards for the repayment of student loans of employees of elements of the intelligence community by such elements of the intelligence community.

“(c)

Report.—

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the standards established under subsection (b). Such report shall include—

“(1)

an explanation of why such minimum standards were established; and

“(2)

how such standards advance the goals of—

“(A)

attracting and retaining a talented intelligence community workforce;

“(B)

competing with private sector companies for talented employees; and

“(C)

promoting the development of a diverse workforce.

“(d)

Failure To Meet Standards.—

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the standards required under subsection (b) are established, the head of an element of the intelligence community that does not meet such standards shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing an explanation for why such element does not meet such standards and an identification of any additional authority or appropriations required to for the element to meet such standards.

“(e)

Submittal of Regulations and Policies to Congress.—

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the standards required under subsection (b) are established, the head of an element of the intelligence community shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a copy of all internal regulations and policies governing the student loan repayment program of that element as well as copies of such policies redacted to remove classified information.

“(f)

Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.—

In this section, the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means—

“(1)

the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives;

“(2)

the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;

“(3)

with respect to an element of the intelligence community within the Department of Defense, the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives;

“(4)

with respect to an element of the intelligence community within the Department of Justice, the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives;

“(5)

with respect to an element of the intelligence community within the Department of Homeland Security, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;

“(6)

with respect to an element of the intelligence community within the Department of State, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;

“(7)

with respect to an element of the intelligence community within the Department of Energy, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and

“(8)

with respect to an element of the intelligence community within the Department of the Treasury, the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives.

“(g)

Form of Reports.—

Each of the reports required under subsections (c) and (d) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.”

[For definition of “intelligence community” as used in section 310 of div. W of Pub. L. 116–260, set out above, see section 2 of div. W of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.]