---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 3078"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "3078"
heading: "Interest payment program"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/3078"
units:
  - "Chapter 43 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps"
  - "Subchapter V — Rights and Benefits"
---

# §3078. Interest payment program

- (a) **Authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) may pay the interest and any [special allowances](#f) that accrue on one or more student loans of an eligible [officer](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3), in accordance with this section.
- (b) **Eligible officers—** An [officer](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) is eligible for the benefit described in [subsection (a)](#a) while the [officer](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3)—
  - (1) is serving on [active duty](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-1);
  - (2) has not completed more than three years of service on [active duty](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-1);
  - (3) is the debtor on one or more unpaid loans described in [subsection (c)](#c); and
  - (4) is not in default on any such loan.
- (c) **Student loans—** The authority to make payments under [subsection (a)](#a) may be exercised with respect to the following loans:
  - (1) A loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1071](/usc/20/1071.md) et seq.).
  - (2) A loan made under part D of such title ([20 U.S.C. 1087a](/usc/20/1087a.md) et seq.).
  - (3) A loan made under part E of such title ([20 U.S.C. 1087aa](/usc/20/1087aa.md) et seq.).
- (d) **Maximum benefit—** Interest and any [special allowance](#f) may be paid on behalf of an [officer](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) under this section for any of the 36 consecutive months during which the [officer](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-3) is eligible under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (e) **Coordination with Secretary of Education—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) shall consult with the [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) of Education regarding the [administration](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-7) of this section.
  - (2) **Reimbursement authorized—** The [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) is authorized to reimburse the [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) of Education—
    - (A) for the funds necessary to pay interest and [special allowances](#f) on student loans under this section (in accordance with sections 428(o), 455(l), and 464(j) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1078(o)](/usc/20/1078.md?p=o), 1087e(l), and 1087dd(j));[^1] and
    - (B) for any reasonable administrative costs incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-6) of Education in coordinating the [program](/usc/33/467.md?p=11) under this section with the [administration](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-7) of the student loan [programs](/usc/33/467.md?p=11) under parts B, D, and E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1071](/usc/20/1071.md) et seq., 1087a et seq., 1087aa et seq.).
- (f) **Special allowance defined—** In this section, the term ‘special allowance’ means a special allowance that is payable under section 438 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1087–1](/usc/20/1087–1.md)).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The semicolon probably should be preceded by a third closing parenthesis.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–372, title II, § 268, as added Pub. L. 116–259, title II, § 202(a), Dec. 23, 2020, 134 Stat. 1162.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (e)(2)(B), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219. Parts B, D, and E of title IV of the Act are classified generally to parts B (§ 1071 et seq.), D (§ 1087a et seq.), and E (§ 1087aa et seq.), respectively, of subchapter IV of chapter 28 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1 of Pub. L. 89–329, set out as a Short Title note under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.