112 STAT. 3358 PUBLIC LAW 105-368—NOV. 11, 1998 "(c) PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT.— The Secretary may make education debt reduction payments to a participant in the Education Debt Reduction Program for a period only if the Secretary determines that the individual maintained an acceptable level of performance in the position or positions served by the participant during the period. " (d) MAXIMUM ANNUAL AMOUNT.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of education debt reduction payments made to a participant for a year under the Education Debt Reduction Program may not exceed— "(A) $6,000 for the first year of the participant's participation in the Program; "(B) $8,000 for the second year of the participant's participation in the Program; and "(C) $10,000 for the third year of the participant's participation in the Program. "(2) The total amount payable to a participant in such Program for any year may not exceed the amount of the principal and interest on loans referred to in subsection (a) that is paid by the individual during such year. "§ 7684. Expiration of program "The Secretary may not make education debt reduction pay- ments to individuals who have not commenced participation in the Education Debt Reduction Program before December 31, 2001.". (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. — The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter (as amended by section 802(b)) is further amended by adding at the end the following new items: "SUBCHAPTER VII—EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION PROGRAM "7681. Authority for program. "7 6 82. Eligibility. "76 83. Education debt reduction. "7684. Expiration of program.". SEC. 804. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON PAYMENT OF TUITION LOANS. Section 523(b) of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-585; 106 Stat. 4959; 38 U.S.C. 7601 note) is repealed. SEC. 805. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. Chapter 76 is amended as follows: (1) Section 7601(a) is amended— (A) by striking "and" at the end of paragraph (2); (B) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (3) and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: "(4) the employee incentive scholarship program provided for in subchapter VI of this chapter; and"; and "(5) the education debt reduction program provided for in subchapter VII of this chapter.". (2) Section 7602 is amended— (A) in subsection (a)(1)— (i) by striking "subchapter I or H" and inserting "subchapter II, III, or VI"; (ii) by striking "or for which" and inserting ", for which"; and (iii) by inserting before the period at the end the following: ", or for which a scholarship may be awarded
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