# Plain Language Summary: They Had Our Back We Have Theirs Act of 2022

This bill creates a new benefit for families of police officers, firefighters, and other public safety workers who die or become permanently disabled while doing their jobs. Specifically, it provides up to $25,000 in federal student loan forgiveness for the children and spouses of these fallen or disabled officers. If a public safety officer dies in the line of duty, their family members who have federal student loans can have up to $25,000 of their loan debt erased—this includes both the principal amount they borrowed and any interest that's accumulated. The forgiveness must be processed within 180 days of the officer's death.

The bill covers most types of federal student loans, including standard student loans and consolidation loans. The forgiven amount won't count as taxable income, meaning families won't have to pay taxes on this benefit. It's important to note that this forgiveness is capped at $25,000 per person, and the government won't refund any loan payments that were already made before the forgiveness takes effect. The benefit applies only when a public safety officer has died or become permanently and totally disabled as a direct result of injuries sustained while performing their duties—not from other causes.

This is essentially a way for the federal government to provide financial support to the families of public safety officers who make the ultimate sacrifice or suffer permanent injuries protecting their communities. Rather than creating a new cash payment program, the bill uses student loan forgiveness as the mechanism, which helps reduce the financial burden on families during an already difficult time.

They Had Our Back We Have Theirs Act of 2022

Herrell, Yvette

They Had Our Back We Have Theirs Act of 2022 This bill provides specified levels of educational assistance and federal student loan forgiveness to children and spouses of eligible public safety officers. An eligible public safety officer is a public safety officer who died or was permanently and totally disabled from an injury sustained in the line of duty.