What is the REDI Act?
The Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act (S.942 / H.R.2028) is a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR) and House Reps. Brian Babin (R-TX-36) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6) that would allow medical and dental residents to defer student loan payments interest-free during their training. This legislation recognizes the unique financial challenges faced by residents, who often earn modest stipends while carrying high levels of student debt.
If passed, this bill would improve children’s access to needed out-of-state health care by streamlining the burdensome and time-consuming Medicaid provider screening and enrollment process.
The REDI Act was reintroduced to the 119th Congress in March 2025 and currently has 6 co-sponsors in the Senate and 51 co-sponsors in the House.
Why is the REDI Act important?
Median student debt for medical graduates exceeds $200,000, while residency salaries average about $60,000. Current law requires residents to accrue interest on loans during training, even if payments are paused. For cleft and craniofacial specialists, this added burden can discourage doctors from pursuing specialized care or practicing in underserved areas.
Benefits of the REDI Act include:
- Relieves financial stress during training years by stopping interest accrual.
- Supports workforce development in craniofacial and other critical specialties.
- Encourages more physicians to practice in rural and underserved areas.
- Helps ensure children and adults with cleft and craniofacial conditions have access to needed care.
How can I help?
Contact your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor the REDI Act by reaching out to them directly or using our simple email tool. We encourage you to include your personal story or video in the message.
You can find out who your local Congress representative is at the following link here.
You can find out who your local Senate representative is at the following link here.
