((a)) ** Program to cover student loan repayment, educational assistance, and professional development for House employees**
((1)) ** Establishment** The Chief Administrative Officer shall establish a program under which an employing office of the House of Representatives may agree—
((A)) to repay (by direct payment on behalf of the employee) any student loan previously taken out by an employee of the office;
((B)) to make direct payments on behalf of an employee of the office or to reimburse an employee of the office for expenses paid by the employee for the employee’s educational and professional development; and
((C)) to make direct payments on behalf of an employee of the office or to reimburse an employee of the office for credentialing, professional accreditation, professional licensure, and professional certification expenses paid by the employee.
((2)) ** Exclusion of members** For purposes of this section, a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) shall not be considered to be an employee of the House of Representatives.
((b)) ** Lifetime limit on aggregate payments made on behalf of any individual** The aggregate amount of payments made on behalf of any individual under the program under this section by all employing offices of the House of Representatives may not exceed $80,000.
((c)) ** Regulations** The Committee on House Administration shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the program under this section.
((d)) ** Authorization of appropriations** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the program under this section during fiscal year 2003 and each succeeding fiscal year.
