---
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"
date: "2026-07-12"
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 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 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 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 under this section with the [administration](/usc/33/3002.md?p=b-7) of the student loan programs 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.