WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) introduced legislation to allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to qualify for student loan discharge. 

The bill, named for Domenic Carducci of Steubenville, Ohio, and Ed Desorcy of Harrisville, Rhode Island, would resolve an inconsistency in statute by authorizing the U.S. Department of Education to discharge parents’ Federal Family Education Loans (FFELs) if their child becomes totally and permanently disabled. Currently, parents are allowed to discharge federal student loans if their child passes away, but not if their child develops a total and permanent disability. 

Senator Coons first introduced Domenic and Ed’s Law in the 117th Congress with former Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio). 

“While I’m proud our legislation to eliminate the tax on discharged federal student loans for students who experience a total and permanent disability was signed into law in 2017, parents who borrow federal funds on their child’s behalf still need relief,” said Senator Coons. “This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will ease the burden of student loan debt for families navigating disability. I urge my colleagues in Congress to pass this important legislation to provide much-needed relief for families across the country.”

“No parent should be forced to shoulder the burden of FFEL loans while caring for their disabled child,” said Senator Vance. “Domenic Carducci, a fellow Buckeye from Steubenville, and his family deserve the relief this bipartisan legislation would provide.”

“When a student becomes disabled, their parents should be focused on providing care and support instead of worrying about paying off student loans they’ve taken out on their child’s behalf,” said Congressman Magaziner. “This bipartisan legislation is partly named after my constituent, Ed Desorcy, who lost his vision while attending college – and due to this tragedy, his parents were saddled with student debt and medical bills. No parent should face this financial burden in these difficult circumstances, and this commonsense legislation will provide much-needed relief to families in Rhode Island and across the nation.” 

Domenic and Ed’s Law is endorsed by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, the National Association of Disability Representatives, the National Education Association, Young Invincibles, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the Special Needs Alliance, the United Spinal Association Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities, the Social Security Task Force National Association of Disability Representatives, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the National Association of the Deaf, Active Minds, the National Federation of the Blind, the Association of University Centers and Disabilities, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, the Association on Higher Education and Disabilities, ACPA – College Student Educators International, the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of University Women, the Education Finance Council, the Higher Education Loan Coalition, the American Council on Education, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

The full text of the bill is available here.