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Policy and Advocacy Student Loans Legislation Letter to Legislator
Policy and Advocacy Student Loans Legislation Letter to Legislator

AccessLex Institute Supports H.R. 10220, the Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act

The Honorable Tim Walberg 
Chairman 
House Education and Workforce Committee
2176 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Robert Scott
Ranking Member
House Education and Workforce Committee
2328 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Walberg and Ranking Member Scott:

AccessLex Institute® is pleased to offer its support for H.R. 10220, the Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act. Introduced on September 2, 2026 by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), H.R. 10220 would streamline the enrollment process for struggling borrowers by allowing the Education Department (ED) to notify and automatically enroll delinquent borrowers into an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan.

AccessLex Institute, in partnership with its nearly 200 nonprofit and state-affiliated ABA-approved, member law schools, has been committed to improving access to legal education and to maximizing the affordability and value of a law degree since 1983. The AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence® advocates for policies that make legal education work better for students and society alike and conducts research on the most critical issues facing legal education today.

Despite IDR plans often being the best option for struggling borrowers, the process of enrolling in an IDR plan can be challenging for borrowers because of the myriad options, eligibility requirements, and administrative hurdles. This can lead to borrowers who would benefit from lower monthly payments remaining in unaffordable repayment arrangements and potentially defaulting on their student loans. The SIMPLE Act would remedy many of these issues by allowing ED to access taxpayer information to automatically enroll borrowers who are 75 days behind on their payments into an IDR plan that has the lowest monthly payment.

In short, AccessLex Institute supports the SIMPLE Act because it would reduce barriers to enrollment in affordable repayment options, help prevent default, and ensure that struggling borrowers are connected to the repayment plan that best meets their financial circumstances.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or Nancy Conneely, Vice President of Policy, at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Christopher P. Chapman
President and Chief Executive Officer
AccessLex Institute

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