WASHINGTON: Protect Student Choice, a coalition of student lenders founded in July, launched a public affairs campaign this week, following passage of a bill in the House of Representatives that would convert the private student-lending industry into a federal program.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the “unintended consequences” of this legislation if it is passed in the Senate, said Don Goldberg, partner at Qorvis Communications, which is providing support.

The group argues that the ...