(Washington, D.C.) – Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI) is joined by Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mary Miller (R-IL), and Danny K. Davis (D-IL) to reintroduce the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act. This legislation will eliminate a government-imposed punishment for marriage and ease the burden of student loan debt by amending the tax code to ensure that student loan interest is tax-deductible for each spouse independently. This bill has received endorsements from the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), the Family Research Council, and Third Way.
Grothman, DelBene, Miller, and Davis are joined by six bipartisan cosponsors, including Representatives Andrew Clyde (R-GA), John Larson (D-CT), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), David Rouzer (R-NC), and Michael Rulli (R-OH).
“The federal government has a troubling record of polices that discourage marriage, and the student loan interest deduction is no exception,” said Grothman.“This is why I’m reintroducing the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act to end the unnecessary marriage penalty on student loans that punish marriage and undermine the nuclear family. This is an initial dent on the war the federal government has waged on marriage.
“If two unmarried individuals each have student loans, they can each receive up to a $2,500 tax deduction, for a total of $5,000. However, their collective deduction is capped at $2,500 when married and filing jointly. My bill will rectify this anti-marriage provision by allowing each spouse to claim their full $2,500 deduction.
“Separately applying the $2,500 deductible for each spouse in a marriage is a common-sense approach that reduces financial stress for young couples and removes yet another government-imposed barrier to marriage. Our policies should support, not penalize, American families. While this is only an initial dent in the federal government’s war on marriage, it’s a meaningful step toward protecting the institution of marriage from unfair discrimination.”
“Higher education is a critical path to economic security,” said Davis. “Unfortunately, Americans collectively struggle under $1.77 trillion in crushing student loan debt, with an average $38,375 in federal student loans. I am proud to join my colleagues in leading this bill that would double the student loan interest deduction for married couples filing jointly. Congress must take every opportunity to ease the heavy financial burden on student loan borrowers.”
“Young couples already face numerous financial challenges, and the federal government should not add to that burden simply because they choose to build a life together,” said Miller. “Rep. Grothman’s Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act brings much-needed fairness to the current tax system and supports both fiscal responsibility and strong families.”
“Student loan debt should not prevent couples from getting married. Yet, for many Americans, the cost of the marriage penalty outweighs the benefit of marriage,” said DelBene. “While making college more affordable remains a top priority, the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act is a practical solution that would ease financial pressure on couples by ending the marriage penalty for student loan borrowers and remove an unnecessary barrier to building a future together.”
“National Taxpayers Union is proud to once again endorse the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act,”said Thomas Aiello, Senior Director of Government Affairs at NTU. “Under current law, the tax code wrongly imposes burdens on certain taxpayers depending on if they choose to marry. Thankfully, this legislation ends that penalty and corrects the unequal tax burden that exists. We applaud Rep. Grothman for his leadership on this issue and look forward to helping this legislation become law.”
“FRC is grateful to Congressman Grothman for introducing the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act,” said the Family Research Council. “Family is the foundation of society and family starts with a husband and wife joining in marriage. Marriage should be supported in federal legislation, not penalized.”
Background Information
Currently, interest on student loan debt, both public and private, is tax deductible up to $2,500. However, current law penalizes married couples by only allowing them to take one deduction– even if both spouses would separately qualify.
The Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act will end this unfair tax treatment of student loan interest against married couples by allowing married couples filing a joint tax return to apply the $2,500 limitation on the tax deduction for student loan interest separately to each spouse, ensuring they can receive a maximum of $5,000 in deductions and eliminating the penalty they are currently paying upon getting married.
Passing this bill will end an unfair marriage penalty in the tax code and ease the burden couples face when paying off student loan debt.
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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
