119 HR 9828 IH: Federal Employee Financial Protection Act of 2026 U.S. House of Representatives 2026-07-22 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 9828IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 22, 2026Mr. Alford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial ServicesA BILLTo amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to prohibit certain adverse information related to late or missed payments during a Government shutdown by a furloughed or unpaid Government employee from being included in consumer reports, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Employee Financial Protection Act of 2026.

2.

Protection of credit reporting

(a)

In general

Section 605 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681c) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i)

Government shutdowns

(1)

In general

A consumer reporting agency may not make any consumer report containing an adverse item of information related to a late payment or nonpayment on an account of a covered employee that occurred during a covered period. (2)

Treatment of certain payments

For purposes of making any consumer report, a consumer reporting agency shall treat any late payment or nonpayment described in paragraph (1) as if the consumer had made the payment. (3)

Definitions

In this subsection: (A)

Covered employee

The term covered employee means any employee of the Federal Government who is furloughed or required to work without pay during a lapse in appropriations. (B)

Covered period

The term covered period means any period during which there is a lapse in appropriations resulting in delayed compensation to a covered employee. . (b)

Rulemaking

Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection shall issue rules to carry out the amendment made by this section.

3.

Sense of Congress regarding private lenders

It is the sense of Congress that private lenders should— (1)provide temporary forbearance or payment flexibility to covered employees (as defined in section 605(i)(3) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act); (2)waive late fees and penalties incurred during the covered period (as defined in such section 605(i)(3)); and (3)refrain from furnishing adverse credit information related to late payments or nonpayments during the covered period.