HEROES Act

This bill aims to expand eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program by including volunteer firefighters and volunteer emergency medical technicians. It amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to recognize these critical volunteer roles as qualifying public service jobs for student loan forgiveness. The legislation specifically defines a "qualified volunteer firefighter" as an individual providing firefighting or emergency response services for a recognized department or public safety organization, who is not otherwise full-time employed by that same entity. Similarly, a "qualified volunteer emergency medical technician" is defined as a certified individual providing emergency medical care for an eligible organization, also not otherwise full-time employed by the same entity. These definitions ensure that the program targets genuine volunteer service. Furthermore, the bill mandates the Secretary of Education to determine the minimum volunteer time required for these individuals to be considered equivalent to a full-time employee for loan forgiveness purposes. This minimum time must be at least what is needed for them to be considered an active member of their respective organizations. The Secretary is also tasked with developing regulations, in consultation with public safety organizations, to implement these changes, including establishing verification processes for volunteer hours.