Members of Congress are starting to question a little known section of bankruptcy law that makes it nearly impossible to get rid of student loan debt when graduates file for bankruptcy.

Though few students know about the law, the combination of a deep recession and ever increasing levels of student debt are making more people take notice.  When graduates struggle to find full employment and pay off their loans, they’re often left without options.  To discharge student loans in bankruptcy, graduates must meet an almost impossible standard of “undue hardship.”

Now bills in both the Senate and House of Representatives propose to let people filing bankruptcy get out of some student loan debt.  Under the proposals, federal loans couldn’t be discharged.  Federal loans are both backed by taxpayers and already have more options for forgiveness or slower repayment.  Private loans for education, however, would be dischargeable. 

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