[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 83 (Thursday, May 13, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2276-H2295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMPREHENSIVE DEBT COLLECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 380, I call up 
the bill (H.R. 2547) to expand and enhance consumer, student, 
servicemember, and small business protections with respect to debt 
collection practices, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stanton). Pursuant to House Resolution 
380, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Financial Services, printed in the bill, modified by the 
amendment printed in part A of House Report 117-29, is adopted and the 
bill, as amended, is considered read.
  The text of the bill, as amended, is as follows:

                               H.R. 2547

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the 
     ``Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

              TITLE I--SMALL BUSINESS LENDING FAIRNESS ACT

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Obligor transactions.
Sec. 103. Enforcement of security interests.

    TITLE II --FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES FOR SERVICEMEMBERS ACT

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of 
              servicemembers.
Sec. 203. GAO study and report.

            TITLE III--PRIVATE LOAN DISABILITY DISCHARGE ACT

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Protections for obligors and cosigners in case of death or 
              total and permanent disability.

     TITLE IV--CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR MEDICAL DEBT COLLECTIONS ACT

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Amendments to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Sec. 403. Prohibition on consumer reporting agencies reporting certain 
              medical debt.
Sec. 404. Requirements for furnishers of medical debt information.

             TITLE V--ENDING DEBT COLLECTION HARASSMENT ACT

Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Consumer protections relating to debt collection practices.

                TITLE VI--STOP DEBT COLLECTION ABUSE ACT

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Definitions.
Sec. 603. Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by 
              Federal agencies.
Sec. 604. Unfair practices.
Sec. 605. GAO study and report.

         TITLE VII--DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES HARMONIZATION ACT

Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Award of damages.
Sec. 703. Prohibition on the referral of emergency individual 
              assistance debt.

 TITLE VIII--NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE DEBT COLLECTION CLARIFICATION ACT

Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. Enforcement of security interests.

                   TITLE IX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 901. Discretionary surplus funds.
Sec. 902. Effective date.

              TITLE I--SMALL BUSINESS LENDING FAIRNESS ACT

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Small Business Lending 
     Fairness Act''.

     SEC. 102. OBLIGOR TRANSACTIONS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 140B. Unfair credit practices

       ``(a) In General.--In connection with the extension of 
     credit or creation of debt in or affecting commerce, as 
     defined in section 4 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 
     U.S.C. 44), including any advance of funds or sale or 
     assignment of future income or receivables that may or

[[Page H2277]]

     may not be credit, no person may directly or indirectly take 
     or receive from another person or seek to enforce an 
     obligation that constitutes or contains a cognovit or 
     confession of judgment (for purposes other than executory 
     process in the State of Louisiana), warrant of attorney, or 
     other waiver of the right to notice and the opportunity to be 
     heard in the event of suit or process thereon.
       ``(b) Exemption.--The exemptions described in section 104 
     shall not apply to this section.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Section 130 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1640) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Creditor.--In this section, the term `creditor' 
     refers to any person charged with compliance that is not the 
     obligor.''.
       (2) The table of sections in chapter 2 of the Truth in 
     Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1631 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:

``140B. Unfair credit practices.''.

     SEC. 103. ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY INTERESTS.

       Section 103 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1602) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(ff) The term `debt' means any obligation of a person to 
     pay to another person money--
       ``(1) that includes the right of the person providing the 
     money to a legal or an equitable remedy for breach of 
     performance if the breach gives rise to a right to payment; 
     and
       ``(2) regardless of whether the obligation or right to a 
     remedy described in paragraph (1) is absolute or contingent, 
     has been reduced to judgment, is fixed, matured, unmatured, 
     disputed, undisputed, recourse, nonrecourse, secured, or 
     unsecured''.

    TITLE II --FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES FOR SERVICEMEMBERS ACT

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Fair Debt Collection 
     Practices for Servicemembers Act''.

     SEC. 202. ENHANCED PROTECTION AGAINST DEBT COLLECTOR 
                   HARASSMENT OF SERVICEMEMBERS.

       (a) Communication in Connection With Debt Collection.--
     Section 805 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Communications Concerning Servicemember Debts.--
       ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered 
     member' means--
       ``(A) a covered member or a dependent as defined in section 
     987(i) of title 10, United States Code; and
       ``(B)(i) an individual who was separated, discharged, or 
     released from duty described in such section 987(i)(1), but 
     only during the 365-day period beginning on the date of 
     separation, discharge, or release; or
       ``(ii) a person, with respect to an individual described in 
     clause (i), described in subparagraph (A), (D), (E), or (I) 
     of section 1072(2) of title 10, United States Code.
       ``(2) Prohibitions.--A debt collector may not, in 
     connection with the collection of any debt of a covered 
     member--
       ``(A) threaten to have the covered member reduced in rank;
       ``(B) threaten to have the covered member's security 
     clearance revoked; or
       ``(C) threaten to have the covered member prosecuted under 
     chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code 
     of Military Justice).''.
       (b) Unfair Practices.--Section 808 of the Fair Debt 
     Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692f) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) The representation to any covered member (as defined 
     under section 805(e)(1)) that failure to cooperate with a 
     debt collector will result in--
       ``(A) a reduction in rank of the covered member;
       ``(B) a revocation of the covered member's security 
     clearance; or
       ``(C) prosecution under chapter 47 of title 10, United 
     States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice).''.

     SEC. 203. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall conduct a study on the impact of debt collection on 
     covered members (as defined under section 805(e)(1) of the 
     Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as added by section 202), 
     which shall--
       (1) identify types of false, deceptive, misleading, unfair, 
     abusive, and harassing debt collection practices experienced 
     by covered members and make recommendations to eliminate 
     these practices;
       (2) identify collection practices of creditors and debt 
     collectors experienced by covered members;
       (3) discuss the effect of these practices on military 
     readiness; and
       (4) discuss any national security implications, including 
     the extent to which covered members with security clearances 
     would be impacted by uncollected debt.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to Congress a report on the completed 
     study required under subsection (a).

            TITLE III--PRIVATE LOAN DISABILITY DISCHARGE ACT

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Private Loan Disability 
     Discharge Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 302. PROTECTIONS FOR OBLIGORS AND COSIGNERS IN CASE OF 
                   DEATH OR TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY.

       (a) In General.--Section 140(g) of the Truth in Lending Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 1650(g)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in the heading, by striking ``in case of death of 
     borrower'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ``of the 
     death'', the following: ``or total and permanent 
     disability''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (C), by inserting after ``of the 
     death'', the following: ``or total and permanent 
     disability''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Discharge in case of death or total and permanent 
     disability of borrower.--The holder of a private education 
     loan shall, when notified of the death or total and permanent 
     disability of a student obligor (and any cosigner), discharge 
     the liability of the student obligor on the loan and may not, 
     after such notification--
       ``(A) attempt to collect on the outstanding liability of 
     the student obligor; and
       ``(B) in the case of total and permanent disability, 
     monitor the disability status of the student obligor at any 
     point after the date of discharge.
       ``(4) Private discharge in cases of certain discharge for 
     death or disability.--The holder of a private education loan 
     shall, when notified of the discharge of liability of a 
     student obligor on a loan described under section 
     108(f)(5)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, discharge 
     any liability of the student obligor (and any cosigner) on 
     any private education loan which the private education loan 
     holder holds and may not, after such notification--
       ``(A) attempt to collect on the outstanding liability of 
     the student obligor; and
       ``(B) in the case of total and permanent disability, 
     monitor the disability status of the student obligor at any 
     point after the date of discharge.
       ``(5) Total and permanent disability defined.--For the 
     purposes of this subsection and with respect to an 
     individual, the term `total and permanent disability' means 
     the individual is totally and permanently disabled, as such 
     term is defined in section 685.102(b) of title 34, Code of 
     Federal Regulations.''.
       (b) Rulemaking.--The Director of the Bureau of Consumer 
     Financial Protection may issue rules to implement the 
     amendments made by subsection (a) as the Director determines 
     appropriate.

     TITLE IV--CONSUMER PROTECTION FOR MEDICAL DEBT COLLECTIONS ACT

     SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Consumer Protection for 
     Medical Debt Collections Act''.

     SEC. 402. AMENDMENTS TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES 
                   ACT.

       (a) Definition.--Section 803 of the Fair Debt Collection 
     Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692a) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(9) The term `medical debt' means a debt arising from the 
     receipt of medical services, products, or devices.''.
       (b) Unfair Practices.--Section 808 of the Fair Debt 
     Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692f), as amended by 
     section 202(b), is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(10) Engaging in activities to collect or attempting to 
     collect a medical debt before the end of the 2-year period 
     beginning on the date that the first payment with respect to 
     such medical debt is due.''.

     SEC. 403. PROHIBITION ON CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES 
                   REPORTING CERTAIN MEDICAL DEBT.

       (a) Definition.--Section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(bb) Medical Debt.--The term `medical debt' means a debt 
     arising from the receipt of medical services, products, or 
     devices.
       ``(cc) Medically Necessary Procedure.--The term `medically 
     necessary procedure' means--
       ``(1) health care services or supplies needed to diagnose 
     or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its 
     symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine; and
       ``(2) health care to prevent illness or detect illness at 
     an early stage, when treatment is likely to work best 
     (including preventive services such as pap tests, flu shots, 
     and screening mammograms).''.
       (b) In General.--Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit 
     Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(9) Any information related to a debt arising from a 
     medically necessary procedure.
       ``(10) Any information related to a medical debt, if the 
     date on which such debt was placed for collection, charged to 
     profit or loss, or subjected to any similar action antedates 
     the report by less than 365 calendar days.''.

     SEC. 404. REQUIREMENTS FOR FURNISHERS OF MEDICAL DEBT 
                   INFORMATION.

       (a) Additional Notice Requirements for Medical Debt.--
     Section 623 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1681s-2) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Additional Notice Requirements for Medical Debt.--
     Before furnishing information regarding a medical debt of a 
     consumer to a consumer reporting agency, the person 
     furnishing the information shall send a statement to the 
     consumer that includes the following:
       ``(1) A notification that the medical debt--
       ``(A) may not be included on a consumer report made by a 
     consumer reporting agency until the later of the date that is 
     365 days after--
       ``(i) the date on which the person sends the statement;
       ``(ii) with respect to the medical debt of a borrower 
     demonstrating hardship, a date determined by the Director of 
     the Bureau; or
       ``(iii) the date described under section 605(a)(10); and
       ``(B) may not ever be included on a consumer report made by 
     a consumer reporting agency, if

[[Page H2278]]

     the medical debt arises from a medically necessary procedure.
       ``(2) A notification that, if the debt is settled or paid 
     by the consumer or an insurance company before the end of the 
     period described under paragraph (1)(A), the debt may not be 
     reported to a consumer reporting agency.
       ``(3) A notification that the consumer may--
       ``(A) communicate with an insurance company to determine 
     coverage for the debt; or
       ``(B) apply for financial assistance.''.
       (b) Furnishing of Medical Debt Information.--Section 623 of 
     the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681s-2), as amended 
     by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end 
     the following:
       ``(g) Furnishing of Medical Debt Information.--
       ``(1) Prohibition on reporting debt related to medically 
     necessary procedures.--No person shall furnish any 
     information to a consumer reporting agency regarding a debt 
     arising from a medically necessary procedure.
       ``(2) Treatment of other medical debt information.--With 
     respect to a medical debt not described under paragraph (1), 
     no person shall furnish any information to a consumer 
     reporting agency regarding such debt before the end of the 
     365-day period beginning on the later of--
       ``(A) the date on which the person sends the statement 
     described under subsection (f) to the consumer;
       ``(B) with respect to the medical debt of a borrower 
     demonstrating hardship, a date determined by the Director of 
     the Bureau; or
       ``(C) the date described in section 605(a)(10).
       ``(3) Treatment of settled or paid medical debt.--With 
     respect to a medical debt not described under paragraph (1), 
     no person shall furnish any information to a consumer 
     reporting agency regarding such debt if the debt is settled 
     or paid by the consumer or an insurance company before the 
     end of the 365-day period described under paragraph (2).
       ``(4) Borrower demonstrating hardship defined.--In this 
     subsection, and with respect to a medical debt, the term 
     `borrower demonstrating hardship' means a borrower or a class 
     of borrowers who, as determined by the Director of the 
     Bureau, is facing or has experienced extenuating life 
     circumstances or events that result in severe financial or 
     personal barriers such that the borrower or class of 
     borrowers does not have the capacity to repay the medical 
     debt.''.

             TITLE V--ENDING DEBT COLLECTION HARASSMENT ACT

     SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Ending Debt Collection 
     Harassment Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 502. CONSUMER PROTECTIONS RELATING TO DEBT COLLECTION 
                   PRACTICES.

       (a) Reports on Debt Collection Complaints and Enforcement 
     Actions.--
       (1) Semi-annual report.--Section 1016(c) of the Consumer 
     Financial Protection Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5496(c)) is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) an analysis of the consumer complaints received by 
     the Bureau with respect to debt collection, including a 
     State-by-State breakdown of such complaints; and
       ``(11) a list of enforcement actions taken against debt 
     collectors during the preceding year.''.
       (2) Annual report.--Section 815(a) of the Fair Debt 
     Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692m(a)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Each such 
     report shall also include an analysis of the impact of 
     electronic communications by debt collectors on consumer 
     experiences with debt collection, including a consideration 
     of consumer complaints about the use of electronic 
     communications in debt collection.''.
       (b) Limitation on Debt Collection Rules.--Section 1022 of 
     the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 
     5512) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Limitation on Debt Collection Rules.--The Director 
     may not issue any rule with respect to debt collection that 
     does not prohibit a debt collector to send unlimited email 
     and text messages to a consumer.''.
       (c) Protection of Consumers From Unlimited Texts and Emails 
     Used in Debt Collection.--Section 806 of the Fair Debt 
     Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692d) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(7) Contacting the consumer electronically (including by 
     email or text message) without consent of the consumer to 
     communicate via that method, after such consent has been 
     withdrawn, or more frequently than the consumer consents to 
     be contacted.''.
       (d) Ensuring Consumers Receive Notice of Debt Collection 
     Protections.--Section 809(a) of the Fair Debt Collection 
     Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692g(a)) is amended in the matter 
     preceding paragraph (1)--
       (1) by striking ``Within five days'' and all that follows 
     through ``any debt,'' and inserting the following: ``Notice 
     of Debt; Contents.--Within five days after the initial 
     communication with a consumer in connection with the 
     collection of any debt,''; and
       (2) by striking ``, unless the following information is 
     contained in the initial communication or the consumer has 
     paid the debt,''.
       (e) Improved Limitations on Debt Collection Rules.--Section 
     814(d) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1692l(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
     ``Such rules--
       ``(1) may not allow a debt collector to send unlimited 
     electronic communications to a consumer;
       ``(2) shall require debt collectors to obtain consent 
     directly from consumers before contacting them using a method 
     other than by postal mail or by telephone;
       ``(3) may not waive the requirements of the Electronic 
     Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. 
     7001 et seq.); and
       ``(4) shall allow consumers to opt out of any method of 
     communication that the debt collector uses to communicate 
     with consumers, including a method for which such consumer 
     had given prior consent.''.

                TITLE VI--STOP DEBT COLLECTION ABUSE ACT

     SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Stop Debt Collection Abuse 
     Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 803 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692a) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``facilitating collection 
     of such debt for another'' and inserting ``collection of such 
     debt'';
       (2) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
       ``(5) The term `debt' means any obligation or alleged 
     obligation of a consumer--
       ``(A) to pay money arising out of a transaction in which 
     the money, property, insurance or services which are the 
     subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, 
     family, or household purposes, whether or not such obligation 
     has been reduced to judgment;
       ``(B) to pay a loan, overpayment, fine, penalty, 
     restitution, fee, or other money currently or originally owed 
     to or guaranteed by a Federal or State government, including 
     any courts or agencies; or
       ``(C) which is secured by real or personal property that is 
     used or was obtained primarily for personal, family, or 
     household purposes, where such property is subject to 
     forfeiture or repossession upon nonpayment of the obligation 
     or alleged obligation.
     ``The enforcement of a debt described in subparagraph (C) is 
     deemed to be a collection of a debt.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (6)--
       (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as 
     clauses (i) through (vi), respectively;
       (B) in clause (iii), as so redesignated, by inserting 
     ``(not including an independent contractor)'' after ``any 
     State'';
       (C) by amending clause (vi), as so redesignated, to read as 
     follows:
       ``(vi) any person collecting or attempting to collect any 
     debt owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another to the 
     extent such activity--
       ``(I) is incidental to a bona fide fiduciary obligation or 
     a bona fide escrow arrangement;
       ``(II) concerns a debt which was originated by such person;
       ``(III) concerns a debt which was not in default at the 
     time it was obtained by such person; or
       ``(IV) concerns a debt obtained by such person as a secured 
     party in a commercial credit transaction involving the 
     creditor.'';
       (D) by striking the paragraph designation and the first and 
     second sentences and inserting the following:
       ``(6)(A) The term `debt collector' means--
       ``(i) any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate 
     commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose 
     of which is the collection of any debts;
       ``(ii) any person who regularly collects or attempts to 
     collect, directly or indirectly, by the person's own means or 
     by hiring another debt collector, debts owed or due or 
     asserted to be owed or due another or that have been obtained 
     by assignment or transfer from another;
       ``(iii) any person who regularly collects debts currently 
     or originally owed or allegedly owed to a Federal or State 
     agency or court; or
       ``(iv) notwithstanding subparagraph (B)(vi), any creditor 
     who in the process of collecting debts of such creditor, uses 
     another name that would indicate that a third person is 
     collecting or attempting to collect such debts.''; and
       (E) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``The term does not 
     include'' and inserting the following:
       ``(B) The term does not include''.

     SEC. 603. DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES FOR DEBT COLLECTORS HIRED 
                   BY FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       (a) In General.--The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
     812 (15 U.S.C. 1692j) the following:

     ``Sec. 812A. Debt collection practices for debt collectors 
       hired by Federal agencies

       ``(a) Limitation on Time To Turn Debt Over to Debt 
     Collector.--A Federal agency that is a creditor may not sell 
     or transfer a debt described in section 803(5)(B) to a debt 
     collector earlier than 90 days after the date on which the 
     obligation or alleged obligation becomes delinquent or 
     defaults.
       ``(b) Required Notice.--
       ``(1) In general.--Before transferring or selling a debt 
     described in section 803(5)(B) to a debt collector or 
     contracting with a debt collector to collect such a debt, a 
     Federal agency shall notify the consumer not fewer than 3 
     times that the Federal agency will take such action.
       ``(2) Frequency of notifications.--The second and third 
     notifications described in paragraph (1) shall be made not 
     less than 30 days after the date on which the previous 
     notification is made.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Fair 
     Debt Collection Practices Act is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 812 the following:

``812A. Debt collection practices for debt collectors hired by Federal 
              agencies.''.

     SEC. 604. UNFAIR PRACTICES.

       Section 808 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692f) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and 
     inserting the following:

[[Page H2279]]

       ``(1) The collection of any amount (including any interest, 
     fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal 
     obligation) unless--
       ``(A) such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement 
     creating the debt or permitted by law; and
       ``(B) in the case of any amount charged by a debt collector 
     collecting a debt described in section 803(5)(B), such amount 
     is--
       ``(i) reasonable in relation to the actual costs of the 
     collection;
       ``(ii) authorized by a contract between the debt collector 
     and the Federal or State government; and
       ``(iii) not greater than 10 percent of the amount collected 
     by the debt collector.''.

     SEC. 605. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall commence a study on the use of debt collectors by 
     Federal and State government agencies, including--
       (1) the powers given to the debt collectors by Federal and 
     State government agencies;
       (2) the contracting process that allows a Federal and State 
     government agency to award debt collection to a certain 
     company, including the selection process;
       (3) any fees charged to debtors in addition to principal 
     and interest on the outstanding debt;
       (4) how the fees described in paragraph (3) vary from State 
     to State;
       (5) consumer protection at the Federal and State level that 
     offer recourse to those whom debts have been wrongfully 
     attributed;
       (6) the revenues received by debt collectors from Federal 
     and State government agencies;
       (7) the amount of any revenue sharing agreements between 
     debt collectors and Federal and State government agencies;
       (8) the difference in debt collection procedures across 
     geographic regions, including the extent to which debt 
     collectors pursue court judgments to collect debts;
       (9) information regarding the amount collected by Federal 
     and State government agencies through debt collectors, 
     including the total amount and the percentage of the amount 
     referred to the debt collectors;
       (10) the full cost of outsourcing collection to debt 
     collectors;
       (11) government agency oversight of debt collectors to 
     ensure that the rights of a consumer (as defined in section 
     803(3) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1692a(3))) are protected and that any debt relief and payment 
     options legally available to consumers is effectively 
     communicated and made available;
       (12) the extent to which Federal and State contracts with 
     debt collectors reflect or omit effective measures to 
     encourage debt collectors to align their practices with 
     public policy concerns (including relief for consumers 
     experiencing financial hardship) beyond maximizing debt 
     collection;
       (13) the extent to which debt collectors induce payment 
     through use or threat of adverse government actions, such as 
     arrest warrants or suspension of licenses or vehicle 
     registration; and
       (14) demographic data, including race and income 
     information, regarding the individuals subject to private 
     collection of debts owed to government entities.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to Congress a report on the completed 
     study required under subsection (a).
       (c) State Defined.--For the purposes of this section, the 
     term ``State'' has the meaning given the term section 803 of 
     the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

         TITLE VII--DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES HARMONIZATION ACT

     SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Debt Collection Practices 
     Harmonization Act''.

     SEC. 702. AWARD OF DAMAGES.

       (a) Additional Damages Indexed for Inflation.--
       (1) In general.--Section 813 of the Fair Debt Collection 
     Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692k) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)(2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     the following: ``with respect to any one action taken by a 
     debt collector in violation of this subchapter; or'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``or 1 per centum 
     of the net worth of the debt collector; and'' and inserting 
     the following: ``or 5 percent of the gross annual revenue of 
     the debt collector; and'';
       (B) in subsection (b), by inserting ``the maximum amount of 
     statutory damages at the time of noncompliance,'' before 
     ``the frequency'' each place it appears; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Adjustment for Inflation.--
       ``(1) Initial adjustment.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this subsection, the Bureau shall 
     provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest 
     multiple of $100 or $1,000, as applicable) in the amounts set 
     forth in this section equal to the percentage by which--
       ``(A) the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (all 
     items, United States city average) for the 12-month period 
     ending on the June 30 preceding the date on which the 
     percentage increase is provided, exceeds
       ``(B) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding January 1, 1978.
       ``(2) Annual adjustments.--With respect to any fiscal year 
     beginning after the date of the increase provided under 
     paragraph (1), the Bureau shall provide a percentage increase 
     (rounded to the nearest multiple of $100 or $1,000, as 
     applicable) in the amounts set forth in this section equal to 
     the percentage by which--
       ``(A) the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (all 
     items, United States city average) for the 12-month period 
     ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal 
     year for which the increase is made, exceeds
       ``(B) the Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period 
     preceding the 12-month period described in subparagraph 
     (A).''.
       (2) Applicability.--The increases made under section 813(f) 
     of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as added by 
     paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, shall apply with respect 
     to failures to comply with a provision of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1601 et seq.) occurring on or after the date of enactment of 
     this section.
       (b) Injunctive Relief.--Section 813(d) of the Fair Debt 
     Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692k(d)) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following: ``In a civil action alleging 
     a violation of this title, the court may award appropriate 
     relief, including injunctive relief.''.

     SEC. 703. PROHIBITION ON THE REFERRAL OF EMERGENCY INDIVIDUAL 
                   ASSISTANCE DEBT.

       Chapter 3 of title 31, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subchapter II, by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 334. Prohibition on the referral of emergency 
       individual assistance debt

       ``With respect to any assistance provided by the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency to an individual or household 
     pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122 et seq.), if the 
     Secretary of the Treasury seeks to recoup any amount of such 
     assistance because of an overpayment, the Secretary may not 
     contract with any debt collector as defined in section 803(6) 
     of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1692a(6)) or other private party to collect such amounts, 
     unless the overpayment occurred because of fraud or deceit 
     and the recipient of such assistance knew or should have 
     known about such fraud or deceit.''; and
       (2) in the table of contents for such chapter, by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 333 the following:

``334. Prohibition on the referral of emergency individual assistance 
              debt.''.

 TITLE VIII--NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE DEBT COLLECTION CLARIFICATION ACT

     SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Non-Judicial Foreclosure 
     Debt Collection Clarification Act''.

     SEC. 802. ENFORCEMENT OF SECURITY INTERESTS.

        Section 803(6) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 1692a(6)) is further amended by striking ``For the 
     purpose of section 808(6), such term also includes any person 
     who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the 
     mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the 
     enforcement of security interests.''.

                   TITLE IX--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 901. DISCRETIONARY SURPLUS FUNDS.

       (a) In General.--The dollar amount specified under section 
     7(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 
     289(a)(3)(A)) is reduced by $2,900,000,000.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on September 30, 2031.

     SEC. 902. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take 
     effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, as amended, shall be debatable for 
1 hour equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Financial Services.
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) and the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.

                              {time}  1230


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that a1l Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 2547 and to include extraneous material thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 2547, 
the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act.
  H.R. 2547 is a package of bills designed to bring new protections, 
fairness, accuracy, and transparency to the debt collection industry.
  Individuals and families across this country have long struggled with 
debt, including medical debt, student loan debt, and other debts. They 
often face difficult decisions regarding how to pay off their debts.
  During the pandemic crisis, which has harmed all of our communities, 
debt collectors have earned record profits. Their tactics are often 
divisive and predatory. Many debt collectors harass consumers with 
frequent phone calls, make threats, and provide misleading information 
to consumers. The debt collection industry is also plagued

[[Page H2280]]

by poor recordkeeping, resulting in many consumers being harassed for 
debts they do not owe.
  Debt collection is among the top issues that the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau receives the most complaints about from consumers, 
and those complaints have risen since 2019.
  This bill, H.R. 2547, brings new accountability to the debt 
collection industry and stronger protections for consumers from 
harassment and abuse, including by banning abusive confessions of 
judgment that have hurt small businesses, prohibiting debt collectors 
from harassing and threatening servicemembers, barring collection of 
medical debts from 2 years after the debt is incurred, prohibiting debt 
collectors from contacting consumers by email or text message without a 
consumer's affirmative consent, limiting egregious debt collection fees 
that have disproportionately hurt low-income and minority borrowers, 
and protecting consumers during a nonjudicial foreclosure proceeding.
  Taken together, these protections will help the most vulnerable 
consumers, including servicemembers, student borrowers, people of 
color, and those struggling under the weight of medical debt during 
this unprecedented pandemic.
  None of this is to say that people who owe lawful debts shouldn't pay 
them, but all Americans deserve to be free from harassment, undue 
pressure tactics, bullying, false information, threats, coercion, and 
other bad practices that debt collectors have used with relative 
impunity.
  The last time Congress made major updates to Federal laws on debt 
collection was 1978, over 40 years ago. It is long overdue for Congress 
to act to provide stronger protections from abusive debt collection for 
consumers.
  This comprehensive package includes a number of bills authored by 
several hardworking members of the Financial Services Committee, 
specifically bills sponsored by Representative Velazquez, 
Representative Dean, Representative Tlaib, Representative Pressley, 
Representative Cleaver, Representative Meeks, and Representative 
Auchincloss.
  I would like to thank all of them for their work on these bills, 
their contributions to this legislative package, and their leadership 
on these important reforms that will provide desperately needed relief 
and protection to consumers.
  I would urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2547.
  Let's just start off and call the bill what it is. It is another 
attempt by Democrats to socialize our financial system.
  Once again, under the guise of consumer support, Democrats are trying 
to implement their long-held partisan priorities. That is what we have 
seen a lot of in this Congress.
  Democrats are trying to sell H.R. 2547 to the American people as a 
necessary action to help families and small businesses hardest hit by 
the economic impacts of COVID-19. It is not.
  The truth is, this bill is just a redo of several partisan bills that 
we had from last Congress, pre-COVID. If there was any question as to 
whether or not Democrats viewed the pandemic as a ``tremendous 
opportunity to restructure things to fit their vision,'' this bill 
proves it.
  This bill is more about catering to progressive lobbyists and 
stakeholders who have long sought to tear down the pillars of our 
credit markets and financial system.
  First, it is clear that progressives want to eliminate a fundamental 
part of our free market system, the belief that you should be paid for 
services provided in a timely manner. The fact is, limiting the ability 
of businesses and individuals to be repaid for their services already 
provided will not benefit anyone. This is especially true for small 
businesses that have been hardest hit, frankly, from the pandemic 
shutdowns.
  If enacted, this bill will also drive up the cost of credit for all 
borrowers, especially low-income borrowers, as well as limit their 
credit options.
  There are commonsense ways to update and improve the process for 
collecting payments and to modernize the credit reporting regimes. This 
includes identifying ways to protect consumers and encourage them and 
their service providers or lenders to work out repayment plans.
  In fact, just last month, the entire House voted to support the 
gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, Representative Dean's bill to ensure 
that members of our military are not threatened with service-related 
consequences as they work to repay debts owed. That makes sense. It was 
a bipartisan bill with a great result.

  But the further you dig into this bill, the more problematic it gets. 
For example, this bill will actually make healthcare in this country 
more expensive and will limit the medical services provided to those 
who need it most. I don't think that is the intention, but that is, in 
fact, the impact.
  Making it more difficult for medical providers to seek payment for 
their services does not make them free, does not make the system less 
expensive. And excluding medical debt from an individual's credit 
report is not a way to support consumers or our healthcare providers, 
who have been, frankly, on the front lines of the COVID pandemic.
  I have a bill that allows medical debt that results from nonelective 
services to be protected, and ensures that if it is repaid, it is 
eliminated from a consumer credit report's adverse actions.
  I think that bill makes sense, right?
  If people repay their medical debt, I think we should acknowledge 
that on credit reports.
  But if it's elective surgery or if it is perhaps something medically 
of their own choosing, I think they should have to pay for that. And if 
they don't pay for those services, it should be on their credit report. 
I think these things make sense. I think there are ways we can ensure 
we have accurate reporting.
  Accurate reporting and full repayment allows the credit markets to 
work smoothly and to accurately account for risk. This, in turn, allows 
the financial system to continue to provide low-cost credit to those 
who need it most.
  Democrats also want to undermine the CFPB's work to finalize its debt 
collection rule last fall. This rule was the result of more than 7 
years of research, analysis, data collection; and it clarifies the 
allowable uses of modern communication technology. I think it is a 
proper update to these long-held consumer protection laws that we have 
on the books.
  This bill eliminates this positive step forward. This bill prohibits 
debt collectors from using 21st century methods of communication to 
reach consumers. That is insane. That is bad. That goes all against the 
whole movement post-COVID or in the midst of COVID, that we digitize 
our communication tools and enable people to do things more cheaply via 
technology.
  This bill includes stopping consumers from being contacted via email 
or text message without explicit prior consent. Consumers should be 
able to communicate about their payment options privately in the way 
they prefer. This bill eliminates that choice. Restricting options like 
that makes it more difficult to contact consumers. It doesn't help 
anyone.
  Perhaps the consumer doesn't know that they missed the payment, and 
this bill would say you can't text them to let them know they missed 
their payment. That is absurd. I don't think that is the bill author's 
intent, but that is the impact in the real market.
  Just to reiterate, limiting the ability of individuals and businesses 
to seek repayment for services provided will undermine the ability to 
underwrite and thereby increase the risk to the financial system.
  If you can't price for risk, you are going to have more risk. If we 
have more risk that is not appropriately priced, we will get bad 
outcomes in the financial system. This ultimately makes extending 
credit more expensive for all borrowers and may push the lowest income 
borrowers out of the system entirely.
  That is a bad result. That is not what we want. Either side of the 
aisle, we don't want that. This bill has that harmful impact.
  We all agree that consumers who owe a debt should be treated with 
respect and dignity and not be subject to abusive or harassing 
behavior. The law already upholds this. This bill is a Big

[[Page H2281]]

Government, anti-consumer, anti-small business solution in search of a 
problem.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and the harmful impacts 
herein.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, let me, first of all, thank Chairwoman 
Waters for including my legislation, my Debt Collection Improvement 
Act, into the Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act, which would, among other 
things, extend the protections in the Fair Debt Collection Practices 
Act to debt owed to a Federal, State, territory, District of Columbia, 
and local government agency, and limit the excessive fees that debt 
collectors may charge.
  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was enacted in 1978 to 
eliminate abusive debt collection practices by debt collectors and to 
ensure that those debt collectors who refrain from using abusive debt 
collection practices were not competitively disadvantaged.
  Congress has found abundant evidence of the use of abusive, 
deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices by many debt 
collectors, and Congress expressly found that abusive debt collection 
practices contribute to social ills. Those findings are still true 
today.
  Unfortunately, when Congress enacted the Fair Debt Collection 
Practices Act in 1978, it did not apply the law to debt collectors 
hired by Federal Government entities. As one witness before the 
Financial Services Committee pointed out, extending the Fair Debt 
Collection Practices Act to debt collectors hired by government 
entities is important because collection by or on behalf of the 
government is already unusually coercive as a result of the 
government's immense and unrivaled police power and other means of 
seizing citizens' assets.
  This title within the bill also ensures that fees from debt 
collectors working on behalf of the Federal Government cannot be 
unreasonable, and requires the GAO to conduct a study into the use of 
third-party debt collectors by State and local governments. This title 
within the bill is supported by more than 20 civil rights organizations 
and consumer rights groups across the Nation.
  The Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act before us is a 
timely piece of legislation. America's hardworking families, small 
businesses, and students deserve to be treated with respect, integrity, 
and fairness, including those who owe debt to the Federal Government.
  Americans currently find themselves in greater debt than at any other 
time in history, including prior to the great financial crisis of 2008. 
The debt burden stands at approximately $14.56 trillion and includes 
all types of consumer secured and unsecured loans.
  No American should have to deal with abusive, predatory practices 
from debt collectors, especially when those debt collectors have been 
hired by the United States Federal Government.
  This bill strengthens consumer protections by rectifying loopholes in 
existing Federal law that enables private companies hired by the 
Federal Government to unnecessarily harass individuals.
  If Congress is going to set up fair debt collection practices to hold 
the private sector accountable, the Federal agency collecting a debt 
from consumers should be held to the same standard.

                              {time}  1245

  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Davidson), my friend and colleague.
  Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the surface-level 
intentions of those who support this bill, things like checking the 
abuse of the Federal Government's power. But this comprehensive package 
would leave both consumers and creditors worse off than they are today.
  Certainly, there are elements that I do support, notably, language 
from the Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act. I was 
proud to cosponsor that particular bill when introduced by Ms. Dean 
from Pennsylvania, which passed the House last month. The Fair Debt 
Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act would ensure that debt 
collectors won't be able to threaten military servicemembers with a 
reduction in rank or have their security clearances revoked. Frankly, 
that keeps our military focused on fighting and winning our wars, 
instead of being co-opted into debt collection.
  But this is a truly partisan bill as packaged together, and it 
exemplifies what good work we can do when we work together in a 
bipartisan fashion, to see some of the components of it, and what can 
be done to undermine that work when it is all put together in the final 
package that we have before us here today.
  Once I took a look and saw the rest of this bill, the excitement I 
had for the components that I do support quickly dissipated. Taken as a 
whole, this overwhelmingly partisan bill amounts to a direct attack on 
creditors and an indirect attack on consumers.
  This bill would distort credit histories by removing predictive 
information from credit reports, including medical debt. While I 
recognize the implications that such information has on credit history, 
we must understand that removing predictive information only increases 
the cost of credit. When uncertainty is higher, it is priced into the 
cost, for individuals as well as all consumers with low or moderate 
income.
  Furthermore, this bill restricts the ability of debt collectors to 
collect on unpaid debt. It does this by forbidding debt collectors from 
contacting consumers via simple communications, as my colleague, Mr. 
McHenry, was highlighting. While I think we can all agree that debt 
collectors should be forbidden from carrying out abusive practices, we 
should certainly not forbid them from using traditional communication 
tools that are likely to succeed in contacting the person that owes the 
debt.
  Additionally, in October of 2020, the CFPB issued a rule to modernize 
debt collection practices, and this rule reflects the technical 
precision needed to ensure that both consumers and debt collectors are 
protected. Rather than tying the hands of debt collectors, like this 
bill does, we should push for consistency with that CFPB rule from last 
fall.
  In closing, I believe we should be clear on something. Consumers who 
owe a debt and businesses that are unable to collect the debt are both 
at a disadvantage when debt collectors are prohibited from contacting 
consumers.
  Madam Speaker, I urge opposition to this bill.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Velazquez).
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Madam Speaker, I am a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 
2547 and rise in its strong support. This important legislation 
contains my bill, the Small Business Lending Fairness Act, that 
prohibits the use of a confession of judgment in commercial loans at 
the Federal level.
  As chair of the House Small Business Committee, I understand better 
than most how the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted access to capital 
and forced the closure of many of America's small businesses.
  Unfortunately, some lenders and debt collectors are seeking to cash 
in on the pandemic. Whether it is a taxi driver in New York City 
pursuing the American Dream or a small business owner trying to make 
payroll, predatory lenders and collectors have been targeting small 
businesses with loans that have excessively high interest rates and 
unfair and abusive terms, like a confession of judgment.
  Because cash flow is so vital to a business' survival, many owners 
feel they have no choice but to sign away their rights to save their 
businesses and provide for their employees. By signing a confession of 
judgment, borrowers essentially waive the legal rights regarding any 
legal dispute that might arise. And if one does arise, the lender can 
unilaterally declare a default and take actions against the small 
business owner.
  Often, small business borrowers only find out about a judgment 
against them after the lender begins to seize bank accounts or other 
assets.
  While confessions of judgment have been banned at the Federal level 
for consumer loans since 1985, these protections have not been extended 
to commercial loans. Passing this legislation here today will bring us 
one step closer to finally ending this abusive practice.

[[Page H2282]]

  I want to thank Chairwoman Waters for including this important 
language in her bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I must say, for the Record, that I believe the bill's 
sponsors are of sincere purpose here, but I am pointing out what I 
think are the deficiencies that we could have worked through in a 
bipartisan way if there was a goal to have a bipartisan outcome for 
this bill.
  So while I oppose the bill, it is not for a lack of ideas on this 
side on how to improve it and actually how to come up with something 
reasonable to help our people and update our technology and laws.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Emmer), the ranking member of the Task Force on Financial 
Technology.
  Mr. EMMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the 
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, a partisan package of 
bills which threatens to limit access to credit and other 
financial products that Americans from all walks of life rely on.

  Simply put, this legislation undermines the collections process, the 
very system that ensures that Americans can access credit in the first 
place.
  Without a collections process, consumers' ability to obtain credit 
cards or other forms of credit would be restricted, and, in many cases, 
limited to a cash-only basis. If adopted, this bill will limit 
Americans' options and weaken our standard of living, a standard that 
every American deserves.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this misguided, partisan legislation 
and instead support policies that expand financial inclusion, 
strengthen our system of credit, and support businesses that fuel our 
economy.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, which includes my bill--
and I thank the chairwoman for that--the Ending Debt Collection 
Harassment Act.
  Like many, my mother took pride in paying her bills and paying them 
on time. But after several life-disruptive events--the death of an 
immediate family member, a layoff, and a mandatory surgery--there came 
a point where she could no longer afford it. No matter how hard she 
worked, we owed everyone--the utility company, the landlord, the bank--
and we were frequently harassed by debt collectors.
  Our story is the story of millions of families.
  Due to poverty wages, a lack of affordable healthcare, the absence of 
paid leave, and other policy failures which push working people to the 
margins, millions of people in America are forced to take on 
significant debt to survive.
  This is especially true during times of crisis, and debt collectors 
prey on that reality. They are making record profits during a pandemic, 
using aggressive tactics to scare and to exploit people.
  Consumer complaints of shaming tactics, of intimidation, of 
harassment, especially from our elders, continue to rise year after 
year. This bill provides the needed protection from mistreatment and 
harassment.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Steil).
  Mr. STEIL. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this act.
  American families' access to affordable loans depends on ensuring 
financial institutions have accurate credit history and can collect 
debts.
  The bill undermines both of those core requirements of our financial 
system. By making it harder for lenders to learn about borrowers and 
collect these unpaid loans, the bill will actually end up reducing 
access to credit and increasing prices. Let me repeat that. It is 
actually going to end up reducing access to credit and is going to 
increase prices.
  In other words, the bill before us today will actually hurt the very 
people it is intended to help. I think that is a really critical point 
here. By actually implementing this bill, what we are going to do is 
see higher prices, make it more difficult for individuals to obtain 
loans, and actually hurt those people that this bill is intended to 
help.
  I want more American families to have responsible access to the loans 
they need to be able to achieve their dreams.
  As anyone who has bought a home or a car or started a small business 
knows, access to affordable credit can be a critical lifeline.
  But, unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, and 
in this bill in particular, they think that sometimes they know best. 
This bill, as a result, will actually hurt American families, it will 
hurt small businesses, and it will hurt the financial stability of our 
financial system. I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Auchincloss).
  Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Madam Speaker, Congress passed the American Rescue 
Plan, a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a 
paycheck and behind on bills. As we begin work to build back a stronger 
economy post-pandemic, we must ensure that consumers are protected from 
bad faith debt collectors.
  The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was enacted in 1977, almost 45 
years ago. Since then, much has changed, including the way we 
communicate, how we purchase goods, and the credit products we use. 
Chairman Waters' bill, the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement 
Act, provides much-needed updates to the FDCPA to fit the needs of 
consumers today, not in 1977.
  This legislation includes my bill, the Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt 
Collection Clarification Act, which closes the gap in the FDCPA so that 
homeowners facing non-judicial foreclosure proceedings are protected 
under the law. The FDCPA sets procedures for the way that debt 
collectors interact with consumers to protect their rights and their 
privacy. This includes ensuring that debtors aren't paying more than 
they owe, that their debt information won't be shared with their boss, 
and that they will not be harassed by collectors. These protections 
should not be limited to foreclosure proceedings that take place in a 
courtroom.

  The legislation we are considering today includes other necessary 
consumer protection bills, like Congresswoman Dean's Fair Debt 
Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act, which would prohibit debt 
collectors from threatening a servicemember's rank to collect a debt, 
and Congresswoman's Pressley's bill, the Ending Debt Collection 
Harassment Act, which would prohibit debt collectors from contacting 
consumers electronically without consent.
  We cannot rebuild an economy that works for everyone without 
protecting consumers. Making sure borrowers are treated with dignity 
and protected from unwanted and unnecessary practices is an important 
step to ensuring economic fairness moving forward. I am proud to 
support the bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).
  Ms. DEAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2547.
  First, I would like to thank and lift up Chairwoman Waters for 
bringing up and authoring this important package, H.R. 2547, the 
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, and for including two of 
my bills in this legislation. We must work to ensure that debt 
collection is fair, transparent, and free from harassment.
  One of my two bills is in this package. It is the Fair Debt 
Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act. It will protect our heroes 
from unfair and aggressive debt harassment. These debt collection 
practices are manipulative and can interfere with soldiers' careers, 
like contacting their superior officers or threatening a rank 
reduction.
  Unfortunately, these practices do not stop with the servicemember. 
Debt collectors also target military spouses, unfairly burdening our 
military families who have sacrificed so much.

                              {time}  1300

  The language in this bill would specifically prohibit debt collectors 
from

[[Page H2283]]

conveying any threat to a servicemember, or his or her dependents, to 
have his or her rank reduced, their security clearance revoked, or 
prosecution occur under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
  These tactics must stop; our servicemembers, men and women, make 
extraordinary sacrifices on our behalf. I thank all the veterans and 
servicemembers who work in my office, Tim, Dave, and Timmy, and my own 
two brothers who have fought to protect our country.
  I recognize and appreciate the bipartisan support for this bill.
  My second bill in this package was written to correct an unfair 
practice a constituent brought to our office's attention. A constituent 
reached out for help getting a private student loan discharged because 
her daughter had become completely and totally permanently disabled. 
The mother was left with the remaining balance of the daughter's 
private student loans as a cosigner.
  The lending company said it was their policy to forgive the debt for 
the borrower but not for the cosigner of the original agreement. 
Further research by my office staff revealed there was no legal 
operating standard for discharging private student loans for cosigners 
after a permanent and total disability.
  This is wrong. No one can anticipate permanent disability, and we 
should work to decrease the burden that these people and their families 
face, which is what the Private Loan Disability Discharge Act will 
accomplish.
  This legislation will require private student loan lenders to 
discharge the loan balance for both the borrower and the cosigner if 
the borrower becomes totally and permanently disabled.
  This bill does not punish private lenders; it ensures all lenders are 
following the same rules.
  Both of these bills are about fairness and respect to the lender and 
consumer, following the spirit of the entire Comprehensive Debt 
Collection Improvement Act.
  This bill would protect servicemembers, small and minority-owned 
businesses, student loan borrowers, and those with disabilities, 
medical debt, and more.
  This package will place consumers and people first.
  Again, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her leadership, and I urge all 
of our colleagues to join me in supporting this important consumer and 
constituent protection legislation.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).
  Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, this bill is critically important to our 
families across the country.
  I am proud that this bill includes a provision that I have introduced 
the past two sessions of Congress, the Consumer Protection for Medical 
Debt Collection Act.
  Nearly 20 percent of adults have one or more medical debt collections 
listed on their credit reports. That means one in five of our neighbors 
across the country may be denied housing, transportation, or other 
necessities because of a sudden health crisis or visit to the emergency 
room. That hits particularly hard in communities like mine, where 
residents already face so many challenges with access to credit.
  Treating medical debt the same as other debt is just not right. It 
leads to irreparable harm to residents who simply just needed health 
and medical care.
  Medical debt is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in our 
country, and the pandemic has only made the medical debt crisis worse; 
2.5 million people saw medical debt enter collections since the 
pandemic began, totaling $2.2 billion in medical debt.
  H.R. 2547 will provide protections and safeguards to our neighbors 
who, through no fault of their own, got sick and could not afford 
medical care due to the broken healthcare system.
  This bill would prevent the collection of medical debt for 2 years 
from the date of medical billing and prohibits credit agencies from 
reporting all medical collections for a year.
  Medical bills and reimbursements are often vague and confusing, so 
this gives our neighbors time to figure out what they actually do owe.
  Finally, this bill would ban medical debt from a medically necessary 
procedure from ever appearing on your credit report.
  No one chooses to get sick. Undergoing a medically necessary 
procedure should never haunt someone financially. It has no place on 
our credit reports.
  I thank Chairwoman Waters for her leadership on this vital 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Green).
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as a practitioner, I rise.
  Having practiced law, I saw firsthand how predatory debt collection 
works. I know of the threats to get persons demoted. I know of the 
threats to cause people to lose their jobs. I know of the many threats 
to cause people to go to jail if they didn't pay a debt.
  This is unlawful. It ought not happen, but it does. We know that 
there is no debtors' prison in this country, but people still threaten 
people with going to jail if they don't pay debts.
  Yes, servicemembers ought to be protected. I stand for them. But I 
also stand with the hardworking Americans who, through no fault of 
their own, will sometimes find themselves owing debts.
  This must pass. I support H.R. 2547.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Georgia (Ms. Williams).
  Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
Chair Waters' Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act and 
amendments that I have been able to make to the bill.

  Our work in Congress must focus on how to make life better for the 
most marginalized in our communities. This bill centers that goal by 
ensuring fair debt collection and consumer protection. Today, I am 
offering two amendments to further advance that work.
  Currently, a borrower's credit score isn't negatively affected if 
they miss a Federal student loan payment during the pandemic. This 
protection was made possible with bipartisan support. It is time that 
we extend the same protection to private student loan borrowers, and I 
am happy to have partnered with Congresswoman Alma Adams to advance an 
amendment that does just that.
  I also authored an amendment that commissions a report to analyze 
racial disparities in debt collection practices and recommend 
solutions. Additional study in this area will help us ensure greater 
equity going forward.
  I urge my colleagues to support these amendments and the overall bill 
before us today.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2547.
  This bill is misguided. It will not improve debt collection or credit 
reporting but will instead harm consumers and small businesses.
  This bill would make extending credit more expensive for everyone, 
especially lower-income borrowers with thin or no credit files and who 
need it the most.
  This bill is yet another giveaway to progressives who want to 
eliminate the core foundation of our credit market and financial 
system.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2547, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Suozzi). The gentlewoman has 10\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, this bill provides urgently needed 
protections to individuals and families from unfair and abusive debt 
collection practices.
  Consumers should not have to face harassment or threats from abusive 
debt collectors, especially in the midst of this unprecedented 
pandemic. It is long overdue for Congress to bring new accountability 
to the debt collection industry.
  Because of the strong protections the bill creates for consumers, the 
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act is supported by more than 
85 consumer, civil rights, and small business organizations, including 
Americans for Financial Reform, Center for

[[Page H2284]]

Responsible Lending, Color of Change, Leadership Conference on Civil 
and Human Rights, National Consumer Law Center, New York Taxi Workers 
Alliance, Public Citizen, Small Business Majority, and Student Borrower 
Protection Center.
  Mr. Speaker, you have heard the debate and the discussion on this 
bill today. My colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle have tried 
in their presentation to have the people listening to this debate 
believe that the bill would hurt consumers. That is absolutely not 
true. My friends on the opposite side of the aisle seem more interested 
in protecting the debt collectors.
  As I mentioned, we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Many of our 
consumers have been laid off from their jobs. Some businesses have 
closed down.
  Americans like to pay their bills. They want to pay their bills. If 
they cannot pay their bills, we should not have debt collectors who are 
harassing them, calling the commanders of servicemembers and 
threatening to have them penalized in some way, using all the different 
platforms to harass.
  One of the Members on the opposite side of the aisle tried to make us 
believe that somehow we are saying you can't use any of the platforms 
on the internet. We are not saying that. We are saying don't misuse 
them, don't abuse them. We are saying that this is about the Members of 
Congress who are sent here to represent their constituents being able 
to represent them at one of the most important times in this economy.
  I would ask all Members, despite what you have heard from the 
opposite side of the aisle, to rise to this occasion and show our 
consumers we care about them and do not want them to be harassed and 
abused.
  These predatory debt collectors must stop the way that they are 
harassing our consumers and work with them. They should be doing 
workouts. If you can't pay $50 a month, you can have a workout that 
says you can pay $10 a month or $15 a month on your debt. Of course, 
the predatory debt collectors can do this if they wish.
  One of the things you must understand is they have earned more in 
profits during this pandemic than any other time in recent years, so 
they are gouging, and they are harassing needlessly so.
  I would ask the Members of Congress to please join us and vote 
``aye'' on this very important legislation. I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired.
  Each further amendment printed in part B of House Report 117-29 not 
earlier considered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant to section 3 
of House Resolution 380, shall be considered only in the order printed 
in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the 
report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time 
specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent, may be withdrawn by the proponent at any time before 
the question is put thereon, shall not be subject to amendment, and 
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
  It shall be in order at any time for the chair of the Committee on 
Financial Services or her designee to offer amendments en bloc 
consisting of further amendments printed in part B of House Report 117-
29, not earlier disposed of. Amendments en bloc shall be considered as 
read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled 
by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial 
Services or their respective designees, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question.


      Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Ms. Waters of California

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 
380, I offer amendments en bloc No. 1.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendments en 
bloc.
  Amendments en bloc No. 1 consisting of amendment Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 
7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, printed in part B of House Report 117-29, 
offered by Ms. Waters of California:


           amendment No. 1 Offered by Ms. Bonamici of oregon

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       After title VIII insert the following:

      TITLE IX--SECURING CONSUMERS AGAINST MISREPRESENTED DEBT ACT

     SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Securing Consumers Against 
     Misrepresented Debt Act of 2021'' or the ``SCAM Debt Act''.

     SEC. 902. LEGAL ACTIONS BY DEBT COLLECTORS.

       Section 811 of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692i) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(b) Requirements for Debt Collectors.--A debt collector 
     that takes legal action to collect or attempt to collect a 
     debt shall comply with the following requirements:
       ``(1) Provide the consumer written notice of the intent to 
     take legal action, sent to the consumer's last known address 
     at least 30 days and not later than 60 days in advance of 
     commencing the legal action, that shall include--
       ``(A) all methods that the consumer can use to contact the 
     debt collector; and
       ``(B) all information contained in the notice required 
     under section 809(a) (excluding the information described in 
     paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of such section), updated to 
     ensure correctness.
       ``(2) In the initial pleading filed by a debt collector to 
     commence a legal action to collect a debt, include--
       ``(A) all information contained in the notice required 
     under section 809(a) (excluding the information described in 
     paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of such section), except any 
     account numbers and any personally identifiable information, 
     updated to ensure correctness;
       ``(B) the last four digits of the account number of the 
     original debt;
       ``(C) admissible documentary evidence of--
       ``(i) the written agreement, contract, or instrument 
     creating the debt, if any, or other documents showing that 
     the consumer agreed to the agreement, contract, or instrument 
     creating the debt;
       ``(ii) any terms and conditions relevant to the debt;
       ``(iii) that the consumer incurred the debt and the amount 
     owed; and
       ``(iv) that there is a chain of title of the ownership of 
     debt and the right to collect the debt, including documents 
     showing the date of each transfer of ownership of the debt 
     and the identity of each owner of the debt; and
       ``(D) a sworn affidavit stating--
       ``(i) that the applicable statute of limitations for 
     collecting the debt has not expired and the date on which 
     such statute of limitations expires; and
       ``(ii) that the debt collector personally reviewed all 
     applicable records and documents relating to the debt to be 
     collected.''.


        amendment no. 2 Offerred by Ms. Adams of North Carolina

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       In section 1001, as redesignated, strike ``This Act'' and 
     insert ``Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this 
     Act''.
       After title VIII insert the following:

     TITLE IX--TEMPORARY RELIEF FOR PRIVATE STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS

     SEC. 901. TEMPORARY RELIEF FOR PRIVATE STUDENT LOAN 
                   BORROWERS.

       (a) In General.--A servicer of a private education loan 
     shall not report an adverse item of information relating to 
     the nonpayment of a private education loan that occurred 
     during the covered period.
       (b) Consumer Reporting Agencies.--During the covered 
     period, a consumer reporting agency--
       (1) may not make a consumer report containing adverse 
     information relating to the nonpayment of a private education 
     loan by a covered borrower; and
       (2) shall promptly remove, in a period of time as 
     determined by the Director of the Consumer Financial 
     Protection Bureau, from a consumer report any such adverse 
     information reported during the covered period.
       (c) Implementation.--The Director of the Consumer Financial 
     Protection Bureau may issue guidance or rules to implement 
     this section, including--
       (1) requiring any notifications and other requirements that 
     may be necessary to carry out this section; and
       (2) ensuring a covered borrower is aware of their rights 
     under this section relating to the exclusion or removal of 
     any relevant adverse information the consumer report of the 
     consumer.
       (d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect 30 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered borrower.--The term ``covered borrower'' means 
     a borrower of a private education loan.
       (2) Covered period.--The term ``covered period'' means the 
     period beginning on March 13, 2020 (the date the President 
     declared the emergency under section 501 of the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 4121 et seq.) relating to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
     (COVID-19) pandemic) and ending on the date that is 30 days 
     after the end of the incident period for such emergency.
       (3) Fair credit reporting act definitions.--The terms 
     ``consumer report'' and

[[Page H2285]]

     ``consumer reporting agency'' have the meanings given, 
     respectively, in section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 1681a).
       (4) Private education loan.--The term ``private education 
     loan'' has the meaning given the term in section 140 of the 
     Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1650).


           amendment no. 3 Offered by Mr. Bowman of New York

       On page 18, line 19, strike ``email and text messages'' and 
     insert ``email, text messages, and direct messages through 
     social media''.
       On page 18, line 21, strike ``TEXTS AND EMAILS'' and insert 
     ``TEXTS, EMAILS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES''.
       On page 19, strike lines 1 through 5 and insert the 
     following:
       ``(7) Contacting the person electronically, including by 
     email, text message, and direct message through social media, 
     if--
       ``(A) the communication is required to be in writing and 
     the person has not consented to receive the communication 
     electronically in accordance with the requirements of the 
     Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act;
       ``(B) the communication is governed by the Telephone 
     Consumer Protection Act and the person has not consented to 
     receive such communication in accordance with the 
     requirements of such Act;
       ``(C) consent by the person to receive the communication 
     was not provided directly to the debt collector;
       ``(D) consent by the person to receive the communication 
     electronically has been withdrawn; or
       ``(E) the frequency of contact by the debt collector is 
     greater than consented to by the person.''.
       On page 19, after line 5 insert the following:
       (d) Protection Of Consumers From Social Media 
     Communications In Debt Collection.--Section 808(7) of the 
     Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692f) is 
     amended by inserting the following before the period: ``or 
     through a social media platform if the communication is 
     viewable by the general public or the person's social media 
     contacts''.
       On page 19, line 6, strike ``(d)'' and insert ``(e)''.
       On page 19, line 19, strike ``(e)'' and insert ``(f)''.


            amendment no. 5 offered by Ms. Bush of Missouri

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       After title VIII insert the following:

                           TITLE IX--REPORTS

     SEC. 901 REPORT ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC DEBT COLLECTION 
                   PRACTICES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Director of the Bureau of 
     Consumer Financial Protection shall submit a report to 
     Financial Services Committee of the House of Representatives 
     and Banking Committee of the Senate that--
       (1) analyzes available data relating to consumer complaints 
     about debt collection practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, 
     including the collection of medical debt and the collection 
     of debt from servicemembers;
       (2) lists all enforcement actions taken by the Bureau 
     during the COVID-19 pandemic that related to debt collection; 
     and
       (3) describes how the Bureau will use regulatory, 
     supervisory and enforcement tools to combat predatory debt 
     collection practices identified during the COVID-19 pandemic.
       (b) Additional Required Information.--
       (1) In general.--The Director shall require each larger 
     participant in the consumer debt collection market (as such 
     term is defined in section 1090 of title 12 of the Code of 
     Federal Regulations to provide to the Director information 
     about any default judgements pursued by such larger 
     participant through litigation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
       (2) Inclusion in report.--The Director shall compile all 
     information received from larger participants under paragraph 
     (1) and shall include such information in the report required 
     under subsection (a)
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Bureau 
     of Consumer Financial Protection.
       (2) The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Consumer 
     Financial Protection.


           amendment no. 6 offered by mr. cohen of tennessee

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       After title VIII insert the following:

             TITLE IX--FAIR DEBT COLLECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT

     SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Fair Debt Collection 
     Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 902. PROHIBITION ON COLLECTING TIME-BARRED DEBT.

       (a) In General.--The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
     811 the following:

     ``Sec. 811A. Prohibition on collecting time-barred debt

       ``A debt collector may not collect, or attempt to collect, 
     any debt of a consumer with respect to which the statute of 
     limitations has expired.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Fair 
     Debt Collection Practices Act is amended by inserting after 
     the item relating to section 811 the following:
``811A. Prohibition on collecting time-barred debt.''.


           amendment no. 7 offered by ms. craig of minnesota

       Add at the end the following:

  TITLE X--RELEASE OF COSIGNERS ON PRIVATE STUDENT LOANS ON DEATH OF 
                                BORROWER

     SEC. 1001. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Ryan Frascone Memorial 
     Student Loan Relief Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 1002. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE TRUTH 
                   IN LENDING ACT.

       (a) In General.--Effective on the date of enactment of the 
     Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection 
     Act (Public Law 115-174), section 601(b) of such Act is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to private education loan agreements entered into 
     before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act.''.
       (b) Treasury Loan Purchase Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     establish a program under which the Secretary shall purchase 
     and retire outstanding private education loans--
       (A) where the borrower on such loan is deceased;
       (B) where there remains a cosigner on the loan;
       (C) that were entered into before the date that is 180 days 
     after the date of enactment of the Economic Growth, 
     Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act; and
       (D) only upon an application from a holder of such loan 
     pursuant to paragraph (2) that demonstrates the holder has 
     suffered financial injury as a result of the amendment made 
     by subsection (a).
       (2) Application.--The holder of a loan described under 
     paragraph (1) may apply to the Secretary of the Treasury to 
     have the Secretary purchase and retire such loan by 
     submitting an application in such form and manner as the 
     Secretary may require.
       (3) Authorization of appropriation.--There is authorized to 
     be appropriated to the Secretary of the Treasury $5,000,000 
     to carry out this subsection.
       (4) Truth in lending act terms.--In this subsection, the 
     terms ``cosigner'' and ``private education loan'' have the 
     meaning given those terms, respectively, under section 140 of 
     the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1650)
       (c) Severability.--The provisions of this Act are 
     severable. If any part of this Act is declared invalid or 
     unconstitutional, that declaration shall not affect the part 
     which remains.


           AMENDMENT NO. 10 OFFERED BY MS. NEWMAN OF ILLINOIS

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       After title VIII insert the following:

                   TITLE IX--CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS

     SEC. 901 CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS AGAINST ABUSIVE DEBT 
                   COLLECTION PRACTICES.

       (a) In General.--The Director shall, in consultation with 
     relevant stakeholders and experts that specialize in consumer 
     financial protection with respect to debt collection 
     practices, maintain a webpage on the website of the Bureau 
     that outlines consumer rights, protections, and remedies with 
     respect to debt collection practices.
       (b) Accessibility.--
       (1) In general.--The Director shall ensure that the webpage 
     established pursuant to subsection (a) is easily accessible 
     and understandable.
       (2) Languages.--The Director may, as determined appropriate 
     by the Director, make the website available in languages 
     other than English.
       (c) Contents.--The website established pursuant to 
     subsection (a) may include--
       (1) a description of acceptable and unacceptable practices 
     that debt collectors may engage in while attempting to 
     collect debt; and
       (2) know your rights information that--
       (A) outlines actions a consumer may take if they are 
     experiencing abusive or inappropriate debt collection 
     practices;
       (B) provides resources to take action to prevent or stop 
     abusive or inappropriate debt collection practices;
       (C) contact information and other available resources for a 
     consumer to learn more to prevent or stop such abusive 
     practices; and
       (D) any other information the Bureau deems appropriate to 
     better inform consumers of their rights with respect to debt 
     collection practices.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the Bureau 
     of Consumer Financial Protection.
       (2) The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Consumer 
     Financial Protection.


           AMENDMENT NO. 11 OFFERED BY MS. OMAR OF MINNESOTA

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       In section 1001, as redesignated, strike ``This Act'' and 
     insert ``Except as otherwise provided in this Act, this 
     Act''.
       After title VIII insert the following:

[[Page H2286]]

  


  TITLE IX--REPORT ON EXPERIENCES OF DELINQUENT BORROWERS OF PRIVATE 
                            EDUCATION LOANS

     SEC. 901. REPORT ON EXPERIENCES OF DELINQUENT STUDENT LOAN 
                   BORROWERS.

       Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial 
     Protection Bureau shall carry out a study and submit to 
     Congress a report on the consumer experiences and financial 
     impacts of debt collection practices on delinquent borrowers 
     of private education loans (as defined in section 140(a) of 
     the Truth in Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1650(a)) and such report 
     shall include an analysis of--
       (1) the frequency and nature of private student lenders 
     challenging undue hardship bankruptcy petitions made by 
     borrowers of private education loans; and
       (2) whether private student lenders disproportionately 
     challenge undue hardship petitions made by low-income or 
     otherwise vulnerable borrowers of private education loans.


          AMENDMENT NO. 12 OFFERED BY MR. PAYNE OF NEW JERSEY

       Page 17, line 24 strike ``and''.
       Page 17, after line 24 add the following:
       ``(11) an analysis of the number of people unable to pay a 
     debt because a debt collector is unable to accept a cash 
     payment; and''.
       Page 18, line 1, strike ``(11)'' and insert ``(12)''.


         AMENDMENT NO. 13 OFFERED BY MS. ROSS OF NORTH CAROLINA

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       After title VIII insert the following:

                           TITLE IX--REPORTS

     SEC. 901. REPORT ON USE OF ELECTRONIC AND TELEPHONE 
                   COMMUNICATIONS IN THE DEBT COLLECTION INDUSTRY.

       Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this section, the Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall submit a report to the Committee on Financial Services 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate that--
       (1) analyzes trends and impacts associated with the use of 
     electronic and telephone communications in the debt 
     collection industry, including a study of the annoyance, 
     abuse, and harassment of consumers by debt collectors, and 
     methods for reducing the frequency of electronic and 
     telephone communications by debt collectors to consumers; and
       (2) contains specific regulatory and legislative proposals 
     to accomplish those goals.


          AMENDMENT NO. 14 OFFERED BY MS. WILLIAMS OF GEORGIA

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       After title VIII insert the following:

                           TITLE IX--REPORTS

     SEC. 901 REPORT ON DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES AND RACIAL 
                   DISPARITIES.

       Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this section, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer 
     Financial Protection shall submit a report to the Financial 
     Services Committee of the House of Representatives and 
     Banking Committee of the Senate that--
       (1) identifies and analyzes racial disparities relating to 
     debt collection practices; and
       (2) provides administrative and legislative recommendations 
     to address such disparities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) and the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.

                              {time}  1315

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this set of amendments that will 
strengthen the protections in my bill, H.R. 2547, the Comprehensive 
Debt Collection Improvement Act.
  I thank Representatives Adams, Bonamici, Bowman, Bush, Cohen, Craig, 
Newman, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Payne, Ross, and Williams for their work 
on their amendments to improve the bill and provide additional 
protections for consumers.
  These amendments would create a Consumer Bill of Rights Against 
Abusive Debt Collection Practices, putting in plain language what debt 
collection protections and remedies a consumer has; require CFPB 
strategy to use their enforcement and other tools to combat abusive 
debt collection during the pandemic; study racial disparities in debt 
collection and develop solutions to address these disparities.
  Several amendments would also help students by providing private 
student loan borrowers with the same credit reporting protections that 
Federal student loan borrowers have during the pandemic; releasing 
cosigners in the event of the death of a private student loan borrower, 
regardless of when that debt occurred; studying practices and 
additional reforms to better protect private student loan borrowers.
  Finally, these amendments address new forms of communication 
specifically prohibiting debt collectors from harassing a consumer on 
social media, and studying electronic communications and developing 
recommendations to further protect consumers from harassment.
  Together, these amendments will protect our constituents from abusive 
debt collectors. So I urge Members to vote ``yes.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I claim the time in opposition, and I am opposed to this en bloc.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that people are hurting. There is no 
doubt that many Americans continue to feel the weight of the pandemic 
in their daily lives. Yet Republicans know that preventing individuals 
and businesses from being paid for services rendered will not help 
those individuals and families who need it the most.
  This bill will not benefit consumers or businesses, particularly 
those small businesses that are the backbone of our economy. In fact, 
if enacted, this bill and the amendments will drive up the cost for all 
borrowers and will make credit less accessible to the borrowers who 
need it the most. Many of these amendments were not even considered 
during markup, and could result in unintended consequences and conflict 
with existing law and regulations.
  For example, this en bloc makes it harder to collect on payment for 
services. It creates more confusion. This en bloc requires duplicative 
actions and is in conflict with current CFPB rules. This results in 
consumers receiving varying and inconsistent information. It also 
imposes specific requirements on the process and content of legal 
actions--some in direct conflict with existing laws and court 
procedures.
  All of these have potential consequences and deserve to be debated 
through regular order, not in the 11th hour on the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, this en bloc continues the Democrats' goal of bringing 
all student loan borrowers under the Federal student loan portfolio, 
this time under the guise of COVID relief. In expanding the Federal 
student loan profile, this en bloc fails to address the underlying 
issues related to the Federal student loan debt crisis, which was 
already exacerbated by the Democrats' goal of nationalizing student 
lending in 2010.
  This en bloc fails to recognize the success of the private student 
loan market. Approximately 98 percent of student loans are repaid in 
the private market.
  This en bloc continues to ignore the work that the CFPB did when it 
finalized its debt collection rule last fall. This final rule reflects 
more than 7 years of research and analysis, and clarifies the allowable 
uses of modern communication technology.
  This en bloc prohibits debt collectors from contacting consumers by 
email or text message without explicit prior consent from the consumer. 
Under this amendment, social media messages are also prohibited. This 
approach ignores the fact that the final rule allows consumers to opt 
out of specific means of communications used by debt collectors.
  Republicans believe that consumers should be able to communicate 
about their payment options privately and using the methods that they 
want to communicate.
  This is yet another example of Democrats attempting to hamstring the 
ability to modernize the regulatory framework to account for modern 
technology and consumer preference.
  Finally, this en bloc requires the CFPB to produce a prescriptive 
report on the debt collection process. The CFPB, in consultation with 
the FTC, already issues an annual oversight report on debt collection, 
which includes data on consumer complaints and enforcement actions.
  The point is, constraining debt collection will undermine the 
underwriting system and increase risk to the financial system. This 
ultimately makes extending credit more expensive for all borrowers and 
may exclude the lowest income borrowers entirely.

[[Page H2287]]

  There are commonsense ways to update and improve the process for debt 
collection and credit reporting.
  Republicans believe that consumers who owe a debt should be treated 
with respect and dignity and are not subjected to abusive or harassing 
behaviors. While there are commonsense ways to update and improve the 
debt collection process, the law already upholds this notion.
  Mr. Speaker, this en bloc is another partisan wish list of 
progressive policies in search of a problem. I urge my colleagues to 
oppose this en bloc.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc 
amendment.
  I have done financial counseling for low-income clients at Legal Aid 
and I learned firsthand that people don't struggle by choice.
  I was an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission where my work 
involved enforcing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I have seen 
how predatory debt collection tactics hurt our families and our 
communities. Consumers face harassment at home and at work. They 
frequently get misinformation about debts they might not even legally 
owe. The problems around debt collection are pervasive.
  Data from the Urban Institute shows that 68 million Americans had a 
debt in collection before the pandemic, and most consumers sued by 
collection agencies don't have legal representation.
  My amendment will update the law so consumers get advance notice of 
legal action against them and accurate details about what they legally 
owe. Strengthening protections for consumers will help individuals and 
families get through this economic crisis and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support the en bloc 
amendment and the underlying bill. I thank Chairwoman Waters and 
Chairman Perlmutter for their leadership.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Ms. Bush).
  Ms. BUSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her and the 
committee's leadership on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, St. Louis and I rise today in support of the 
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, critical legislation 
that would enhance debt collection protections for consumers, students, 
servicemembers, and small businesses.
  This pandemic has devastated Black and Brown communities, like mine 
in St. Louis. As someone who was uninsured during this pandemic, got 
sick, and is still struggling with those medical bills, I know the 
hardship faced every day by people across this country.
  My amendment to this bill would require the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau to present a report to Congress that analyzes debt 
collection practices using consumer complaint data. Debt collectors 
should not be able to call, email, text you to the point of harassment. 
Your medical debt should not be reported on your credit, especially in 
the wake of a global pandemic.
  The CFPB has an obligation to protect our seniors, protect our 
frontline workers, protect our service workers, and protect our 
families by developing tools to combat predatory debt collection 
practices.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Bowman).
  Mr. BOWMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, 80 percent of Americans have debt, and we punish people 
for it. But the shame should actually be on policies that incentivize 
debt and predatory behavior in debt collection. The lack of protections 
in place for borrowers is a reflection of those harmful policies.
  Debt collectors today can use virtually any means available to harass 
borrowers, even in the middle of a global pandemic that has taken 
nearly 600,000 American lives, increased unemployment, and left 
millions unsure of how they will put food on the table.
  Debt collectors can call you, email you, text you, and even contact 
you on social media. My amendment will help rein in this endless 
harassment by prohibiting collectors from contacting borrowers on 
social media without explicit permission.
  Mr. Speaker, while there is still more work to be done on this front, 
this an important place to start, and I encourage my colleagues to 
support the amendment.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for her important 
work on this bill and for helping with my amendment to be included 
therein.
  The amendment that I have is cosponsored by Representatives Ocasio-
Cortez and Bonamici. It adds a section to the law that says, if you 
have got a debt that is beyond the statute of limitations, that debt 
collection companies can't go after you.
  There is a statute of limitations because sometimes over a period of 
time, the facts become kind of vague in people's minds. So the proof 
isn't strong, and they want to make sure that this could be an 
appropriate subject matter for a court case.
  Also, sometimes debts are sold and debt collection agencies buy them, 
and they don't really know the facts, the amounts, and all of that. So 
if a debt is over the statute, this prohibits the debt collectors from 
going after someone.
  I think I found this about 8 years ago in an AARP magazine, which I 
read, and they said how awful this was. And I thought it was, too. It 
took 8 years to get it here because it took a Democratic team to bring 
it to the floor to look out for debtors.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate all the support we have got from my 
cosponsors, and I hope we pass the bill.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Ms. Craig).
  Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for yielding and 
for including my amendment in this en bloc.
  Mr. Speaker, years ago, a bright and talented young man from Eagan 
named Ryan Frascone took out student loans to enroll in classes at 
Metro State University. Ryan studied engineering. He was a kind, 
engaging, and hardworking young man. But, in 2013, Ryan passed away--
one of thousands who have tragically fallen victim to the opioid 
epidemic plaguing this Nation.

                              {time}  1330

  In the midst of that tragedy, I am sure student loans were the last 
thing on his parents, Julie and Mark's minds. But to this day, 8 years 
after losing their son Ryan, his parents must still write a check every 
month to pay for his student loans.
  I think we can all agree that the last thing that any American parent 
should have to undergo is a monthly reminder of such tragedy and loss 
in the form of a student loan payment. Today, we have an opportunity to 
right that wrong with this amendment.
  Please join me in supporting the Ryan Frascone Memorial Student Loan 
Relief Act. And to Mark and Julie, I want to say to you, on the 
anniversary of his death this week, we are going to make this right in 
this country.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, these amendments offered by our colleagues make H.R. 
2547 even stronger for our constituents who deserve to be treated 
fairly. I would like to again thank Representatives Adams, Bonamici, 
Bowman, Bush, Cohen, Craig, Newman, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Payne, Ross, 
and Williams for their work on these amendments to H.R. 2547.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these amendments, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and 
I urge my colleagues to oppose this en bloc.

[[Page H2288]]

  Mr. Speaker, this en bloc will not improve debt collection or credit 
reporting, but will instead harm consumers and small businesses. It 
will make extending credit more expensive for everyone, especially 
lower income borrowers with thin or no credit files and who need it the 
most.
  The intent is clear, the Democrats want to eliminate the core 
foundation of our credit market and financial system.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this en bloc, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the 
previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  The question is on the amendments en bloc.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
are postponed.


      Amendments En Bloc No. 2 Offered by Ms. Waters of California

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 
380, I offer amendments en bloc No. 2.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendments en 
bloc.
  Amendments en bloc No. 2 consisting of amendment Nos. 4 and 8, 
printed in part B of House Report 117-29, offered by Ms. Waters of 
California:


            AMENDMENT NO. 4 OFFERED BY MR. BURGESS OF TEXAS

       Strike section 901 and insert the following:

     SEC. 901 EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take 
     effect on the date that is the later of--
       (1) the date that is 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act; and
       (2) the date on which the Secretary of the Treasury 
     certifies to Congress that the enactment of this Act will 
     not--
       (A) limit the availability of debt products for Americans 
     who do not have a credit history, who have a poor credit 
     history, or who are from lower socio-economic backgrounds'' 
     part to apply to both parts; or
       (B) increase the cost of debt products for Americans who do 
     not have a credit history, who have a poor credit history, or 
     who are from lower socio-economic backgrounds.


         AMENDMENT NO. 8 OFFERED BY MR. LUETKEMEYER OF MISSOURI

       Redesignate title IX as title X.
       Redesignate section 901 as section 1001.
       Strike section 1001 and insert the following:

     SEC. 1001. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take 
     effect on the date on which the Comptroller General of the 
     United States issues a report pursuant to section 901.
       After title VIII insert the following:

                           TITLE IX--REPORTS

     SEC. 901. GAO REPORT.

       The Comptroller General of the United States shall, not 
     later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     submit to the Financial Services Committee of the House of 
     Representatives and the Banking Committee of the Senate a 
     study that identifies any impacts that imposing restrictions 
     on debt collection will have on low- to moderate-income and 
     minority borrowers.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) and the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendments offered by 
Representatives Luetkemeyer and Burgess. Representative Burgess' 
amendment does not provide any new protections for low-income consumers 
or consumers with no credit or poor credit history.
  Instead, this is an attempt to prevent my bill, H.R. 2547, from being 
implemented at all. Under the guise of a certification standard, Mr. 
Burgess' amendment would create a legal loophole for unscrupulous debt 
collectors to challenge and potentially block not just some, but all of 
the protections included in this bill for servicemembers, student 
borrowers, borrowers with a medical debt, and so many more.
  This is not a serious attempt to have low-income borrowers, it is an 
attempt to protect debt collectors who are making record profits during 
this pandemic.
  I do not support this poison pill amendment. Representative 
Luetkemeyer's amendment to study and delay misses the mark on what is 
needed to protect consumers from the harm of ongoing, unfair debt 
collection practices.
  Copious research has been shown that debt collection harassment and 
mistreatment have created undue stress and financial burdens on 
consumers, especially for low-income people, and in communities of 
color.
  My bill does not restrict debt collection, but rather ensures 
consumer protection for those who are facing harassment or other 
abusive tactics used by debt collectors.
  Millions of consumers are still struggling to make ends meet during 
this tragic public health pandemic. Instead of considering the amount 
of stress consumers feel when they get sick, need medical care, and 
face harassment from a debt collector, Mr. Luetkemeyer's amendment 
would commission a study and delay implementation of my bill by a full 
year.
  H.R. 2547 would already provide the Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau with a sensible 6-month implementation period, during which the 
Bureau can give all stakeholders guidance on how to comply.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose both of these amendments, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I am not opposed to this en bloc.
  Mr. Speaker, these amendments will ensure that we know the true 
consequences of this bill before it is enacted into law. These 
amendments direct the Treasury Department and the GAO to separately 
study the impacts this bill will have on low-to-moderate income, 
minority, or thin-or no-credit-file consumers.
  Payment for services rendered is a fundamental premise of our free 
market system. Republicans understand this concept and work hard to 
ensure legislation does not cut off access to credit or price large 
swaths of Americans out of the consumer credit market.
  Moreover, we should not be limiting small businesses' ability to 
collect payments at any time, but especially when they are already 
hurting from the pandemic-related shutdowns.
  The point is, constraining debt collection will undermine the 
underwriting system and increase risk to the financial system. This 
ultimately makes extending credit more expensive for all borrowers, and 
may exclude the lowest income borrowers entirely.
  There is bipartisan consensus that a consumer who owes a debt should 
be treated with respect and dignity and not be subjected to abusive or 
harassing behavior. The law already upholds this notion.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairwoman, the 
gentlewoman from California for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a stupendous effort, and I did not want to miss 
the opportunity to speak on behalf of my constituents, for debt blocks 
you from living your life as a family, as a recent college graduate, as 
a veteran, and as an enlisted person. All of these people are in my 
congressional district. Texas has the highest number of military 
personnel.
  Have you ever had them come into your house, excuse me, into your 
office--sometimes it is like my house because I live there, almost--and 
tell you about the inability to access credit, or the eviction notice, 
or the repossessing of the car, and therefore, impacting on their 
credit, but more importantly, being threatened to lose benefits by 
outside debt collectors.
  So the legislation here, and might I rise to oppose the amendments 
that are en bloc at this time, but I thought it was important to be 
able to discuss the importance of this particular combination of 
legislation that goes to the very needs and hearts of our district by 
prohibiting the use of confession of judgment as an unfair credit 
practice, and providing the opportunity, as I said, to ensure that we 
are protecting those individuals that are military.

[[Page H2289]]

  According to the CFPB, in the past year, debt collection accounted 
for 27 percent of all complaints received, 49 percent of which were for 
attempts to collect a debt not owed. During COVID-19 people suffered 
economically.
  For example, in April 2020, Kate Boatswain, Texas resident and 
grandmother of three, had been laid off from work due to the pandemic. 
Her savings account had held a $4,900 tax refund. But when she checked 
her account, it showed a negative balance. Ms. Boatswain drove to her 
credit union to find out what happened, only to be told that staff 
members were not allowed to explain. She was given a number to a debt 
collection law firm. They had taken her money.
  So this legislation that protects military persons, grandmothers, 
small business owners, is extremely crucial, and I ask my colleagues to 
support this legislation, H.R. 2547. Let's stop debt and let's make 
sure Americans can thrive.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the rule governing debate of 
H.R. 2547, the ``Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act,'' which 
is an incredibly important comprehensive bill that clarifies and 
expands the rights of Americans facing all forms of debt collection, 
and also extends existing consumer protections to small businesses, 
prohibits debt collectors from threatening service members with a 
reduction in rank or loss of security clearance, restricts contact to 
consumers by email or text messages, and requires discharge of private 
student loans in the case of permanent disability for the borrower.
  H.R. 2547 better protects vulnerable consumers by enacting a wide 
variety of critical reforms, including:
  Prohibiting the use of confessions of judgment as an unfair credit 
practice that eliminate notice and the right to be heard;
  Prohibiting certain abusive collection practices directed at 
servicemembers, including threats to reduce rank or revoke security 
clearance;
  Requiring discharge of private student loans due to total and 
permanent disability;
  Prohibiting collection of medical debt for the first two years and 
credit reporting of debt arising from any medically necessary 
procedures;
  Requiring debt collectors to obtain consent before using electronic 
communications and provide written validation notices;
  Amending the FDCPA to expand and clarify coverage, including 
extending coverage for all federal, state, and local debts collected by 
debt collectors;
  Adjusting statutory damages in the FDCPA for inflation and indexing 
them to index for inflation in the future; and
  Clarifying FDCPA coverage for non-judicial foreclosures.
  An estimated 77 million Americans have a debt that has been turned 
over to a private collection agency, and predatory debt collection 
affects communities and families across the country.
  The debts owed can be as small as a few dollars, and they can involve 
every kind of consumer debt, from car payments to utility bills to 
student loans to medical fees.
  Debt in collection can wreak havoc on individuals, subjecting them to 
harassing debt collection calls and potential lawsuits.
  Annually, hundreds of thousands of individuals face threats, 
harassment at home and the workplace, and abusive litigation from 
unscrupulous debt collectors.
  While all Americans are covered by laws barring debt collectors from 
overly aggressive or deceptive tactics, these laws are insufficient in 
many cases, and protections for Americans must be improved.
  Debt collectors use predatory tactics that undermine citizens' rights 
with misleading and confusing information.
  Each year, millions of lawsuits are filed by ``lawsuit mills,'' and 
in some cases, thousands of affidavits are filed in a single day that 
have inaccurate information about the debt and the debtors.
  Consumers are often not even given the chance to defend themselves 
because collectors hire process servers that falsely certify documents 
have been delivered.
  Most consumers are not represented by an attorney and debt collectors 
overwhelmingly seek default judgments against them in these cases.
  This past year has seen a rise in aggressive debt collections due to 
the impact of COVID-19, according to the Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau (``CFPB'').
  Despite the enactment of the FDCPA in 1977, debt collection remains a 
frequent source of complaints to the CFPB.
  According to the CFPB, in the past year debt collection accounted for 
27 percent of all complaints received, 49 percent of which were for 
attempts to collect a debt not owed.
  These trends devastate communities across the country as unmanageable 
debt and household financial crises become ubiquitous across the 
country during this pandemic, and they impact Black and LatinX 
communities most harshly due to longstanding racial and ethnic gaps in 
poverty and wealth.
  The COVID-19 pandemic has been among the most disruptive long-term 
events we will see in our lifetimes, and it is not surprising that the 
shockwaves it sent across the planet were felt deeply in the consumer 
financial marketplace.
  Texans have the second-highest rate of debt in collections in the 
country and are uniquely vulnerable because the state's consumer 
protections for bank account garnishments are virtually nonexistent.
  For example, in April 2020 Kate Boatswain, Texas resident and 
grandmother of three, had been laid off work due to the pandemic.
  Her savings account had held a $4,900 tax refund, but when she 
checked her account, it showed a negative balance.
  Ms. Boatswain drove to her credit union to find out what happened, 
only to be told that staff members were not allowed to explain why.
  She was given a number to a debt collection law firm, and a man at 
the firm tersely explained that she had owed money to Wells Fargo since 
2006.
  The debt was now owned by a client of the law firm who was trying to 
collect, and the client was not interested in solutions--telling Ms. 
Boatswain that, ``We already have your money.''
  In a time of national crisis and economic hardship, Ms. Boatswain was 
left without money for her mortgage and for her family.
  As we work to bolster our national economic recovery, Americans must 
have better safeguards against predatory debt collection actions like 
this.
  This bill offers comprehensive reforms against predatory debt 
collection efforts in several ways, and I would like to touch on two 
protections included in these reforms--those reforms offered for our 
small business owners and members of the military.
  Since at least 2018, an arcane legal document called a confession of 
judgment has targeted our hard-working small businesses and forced 
financial ruin on tens of thousands of contractors and small business 
owners.
  Before many small business owners get a loan, they are forced to sign 
a statement called a confession of judgment which gives up their right 
to defend themselves if the lender takes them to court.
  Armed with this confession of judgment, a lender can, without proof, 
accuse borrowers of not paying and legally seize their assets before 
they know what has happened--a practice that has not surprisingly been 
abused by some lenders.
  Then, without contacting the borrower, lenders can immediately 
withdraw the value of the loan, including the full interest payments, 
from their accounts.
  By requiring the borrower to accept any and all liabilities and 
damages pertaining to the loan, it undermines and circumvents the 
entire judicial process.
  The borrower has no legal right to dispute these claims or prove 
their compliance with the terms of the loan contract, making them 
virtually powerless to reclaim--what often ends up being--their life's 
savings.
  Although Congress banned the use of confessions of judgment for 
consumers in 1985, small businesses were left exposed and remain 
particularly susceptible to this unfair debt collection practice.
  H.R. 2547 fixes this oversight by extending the ban on confessions of 
judgment to commercial loans nationally by amending the Truth in 
Lending Act and closing the loophole that has allowed thousands of 
American small businesses to be seized and brought down by dishonest 
lenders.
  Military members and their families face particular financial 
challenges requiring extra protections: in service to their country, 
they relocate frequently, deploy overseas and are a prime target for 
scammers.
  Military members are also more vulnerable to debt collectors in some 
instances, and debt collectors have taken advantage of this 
vulnerability by targeting members of the Armed Services through 
calling their superior officers, threatening reduction in rank and even 
courts-martial.
  Nearly 40 percent of complaints filed by servicemembers with the CFPB 
concern debt collection--as compared to only 26 percent by non-
servicemembers.
  Our servicemen and servicewomen make extraordinary sacrifices on our 
behalf, and they should not be forced to confront aggressive and 
manipulative debt collectors who capitalize on the strains required of 
them in the course of their duties.
  We must address this fact and protect the women and men who have 
served our country and remove the unethical methods debt collectors use 
to prey upon our servicemembers.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all members to support this legislation, 
because it is critical for

[[Page H2290]]

the United States' Congress to stand with our small business owners, 
students, the women and men who have served our country, and millions 
of Americans to address unfair and predatory debt collection efforts.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this en bloc will ensure that we know the true 
consequences of this bill before it becomes effective. Payment for 
services rendered is a fundamental premise of our credit-based free 
market system.
  Republicans want to ensure legislation passed by this House will not 
limit access to credit, price large swaths of Americans out of the 
consumer credit market, or restrict small businesses' ability to 
collect payments for services provided.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this en bloc, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, Representatives Burgess and Luetkemeyer' proposed 
amendments would not provide stronger protections for consumers who are 
saddled with debt, while navigating the various challenges they have 
faced, through no fault of their own, by this terrible pandemic.
  Instead, these amendments would needlessly delay or prevent my bill, 
H.R. 2547, the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, from 
being implemented.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject these amendments, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the 
previous question is ordered on the amendments en bloc offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  The question is on the amendments en bloc.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
are postponed.

                              {time}  1345


                 Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mrs. Wagner

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 
9 printed in part B of House Report 117-29.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise as the designee of Ranking Member 
McHenry, and I have an amendment at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. REQUIREMENT FOR CONFESSIONS OF JUDGEMENT.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 2 of the Truth in Lending Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1631 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 140B. Unfair credit practices

       ``In connection with the extension of credit or creation of 
     debt in or affecting commerce, as defined in section 4 of the 
     Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 44), including any 
     advance of funds or sale or assignment of future income or 
     receivables that may or may not be credit, no person may take 
     or receive from another person an obligation that constitutes 
     or contains a cognovit or confession of judgment (for 
     purposes other than executory process in the State of 
     Louisiana), warrant of attorney, or other waiver of the right 
     to notice and the opportunity to be heard in the event of 
     suit or process thereon unless the other person provides to 
     the lender a written affidavit describing the nature of the 
     default and the date on which such default occurred.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--The Truth in 
     Lending Act (15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 103, by adding at the end the following:
       ``(ff) The term `debt' means any obligation of a person to 
     pay to another person money--
       ``(1) regardless of whether such obligation is absolute or 
     contingent if the understanding between the parties is that 
     any part of the money shall be or may be returned;
       ``(2) that includes the right of the person providing the 
     money to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if the 
     breach gives rise to a right to payment; and
       ``(3) regardless of whether the obligation or right to an 
     equitable remedy described in paragraph (2) has been reduced 
     to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, 
     undisputed, secured, or unsecured.''; and
       (2) in section 130(a), by striking ``creditor'' each place 
     the term appears and inserting ``person''.

     SEC. 2. ENHANCED PROTECTION AGAINST DEBT COLLECTOR HARASSMENT 
                   OF SERVICEMEMBERS.

       (a) Communication in Connection With Debt Collection.--
     Section 805 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692c) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Communications Concerning Servicemember Debts.--
       ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `covered 
     member' means--
       ``(A) a covered member or a dependent as defined in section 
     987(i) of title 10, United States Code; and
       ``(B)(i) an individual who was separated, discharged, or 
     released from duty described in such section 987(i)(1), but 
     only during the 365-day period beginning on the date of 
     separation, discharge, or release; or
       ``(ii) a person, with respect to an individual described in 
     clause (i), described in subparagraph (A), (D), (E), or (I) 
     of section 1072(2) of title 10, United States Code.
       ``(2) Prohibitions.--A debt collector may not, in 
     connection with the collection of any debt of a covered 
     member--
       ``(A) threaten to have the covered member reduced in rank;
       ``(B) threaten to have the covered member's security 
     clearance revoked; or
       ``(C) threaten to have the covered member prosecuted under 
     chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uniform Code 
     of Military Justice).''.
       (b) Unfair Practices.--Section 808 of the Fair Debt 
     Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692f) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) The representation to any covered member (as defined 
     under section 805(e)(1)) that failure to cooperate with a 
     debt collector will result in--
       ``(A) a reduction in rank of the covered member;
       ``(B) a revocation of the covered member's security 
     clearance; or
       ``(C) prosecution under chapter 47 of title 10, United 
     States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice).''.

     SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall conduct a study on the impact of debt collection on 
     covered members (as defined under section 805(e)(1) of the 
     Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as added by section 201), 
     which shall--
       (1) identify types of false, deceptive, misleading, unfair, 
     abusive, and harassing debt collection practices experienced 
     by covered members and make recommendations to eliminate 
     these practices;
       (2) identify collection practices of creditors and debt 
     collectors experienced by covered members;
       (3) discuss the effect of these practices on military 
     readiness; and
       (4) discuss any national security implications, including 
     the extent to which covered members with security clearances 
     would be impacted by uncollected debt.
       (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to Congress a report on the completed 
     study required under subsection (a).

     SEC. 4. PROTECTIONS FOR OBLIGORS AND COSIGNERS IN CASES OF 
                   DEATH OR TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY.

       (a) In General.--Section 140(g) of the Truth in Lending Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 1650) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) in the heading, by striking ``in case of death of 
     borrower'';
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after ``of the 
     death'', the following: ``or total and permanent 
     disability''; and
       (C) in subparagraph (C), by inserting after ``of the 
     death'', the following: ``or total and permanent 
     disability''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Discharge in case of death or total and permanent 
     disability of borrower.--The holder of a private education 
     loan may, upon request of the estate of a deceased student 
     obligor or, in the case of a student obligor who incurs a 
     total and permanent disability, upon certification by a 
     medical professional of such total and permanent disability, 
     discharge the liability of the student obligor on the loan 
     and may not, after such a discharge--
       ``(A) attempt to collect on the outstanding liability of 
     the student obligor; and
       ``(B) in the case of total and permanent disability, 
     monitor the disability status of the student obligor at any 
     point after the date of discharge.
       ``(4) Total and permanent disability defined.--For the 
     purposes of this subsection and with respect to an 
     individual, the term `total and permanent disability' means 
     the individual is totally and permanently disabled, as such 
     term is defined in section 685.102(b) of title 34 of the Code 
     of Federal Regulations.''.
       (b) Rulemaking.--The Director of the Bureau of Consumer 
     Financial Protection may issue rules to implement the 
     amendments made by subsection (a) as the Director determines 
     appropriate.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

[[Page H2291]]

  


     SEC. 5. EXCLUSION OF PAID MEDICAL DEBT.

       Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 
     1681c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) Paid debt arising from the receipt of medically 
     necessary, non-elective medical services, products, or 
     devices which from the date of payment, antedate the report 
     by more than 1 year.''.

     SEC. 6. OPT-OUT NOTICE FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS OR 
                   ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE.

       Section 805 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 
     U.S.C. 1692c), as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Opt-out Notice for Electronic Communications or 
     Attempts to Communicate.--A debt collector who communicates 
     or attempts to communicate with a consumer electronically in 
     connection with the collection of a debt using a specific 
     email address, telephone number for text messages, or other 
     electronic-medium address shall include in such communication 
     or attempt to communicate a clear and conspicuous statement 
     describing a reasonable and simple method by which the 
     consumer can opt out of further electronic communications or 
     attempts to communicate by the debt collector to that address 
     or telephone number. The debt collector may not require, 
     directly or indirectly, that the consumer, in order to opt 
     out, pay any fee to the debt collector or provide any 
     information other than the consumer's opt-out preferences and 
     the email address, telephone number for text messages, or 
     other electronic-medium address subject to the opt-out 
     request.''.

     SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       Except as otherwise provided, this Act and the amendments 
     made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 
     days after the date of enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the 
gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Missouri.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, since taking the majority in the House last Congress, 
Democrats have attempted to undermine the financial system through a 
partisan wish list that is focused on one thing: undermining the 
pillars of our financial system. Now with one party dominating, they 
are jamming through a bill that will not only hurt the very borrowers 
they claim they are trying to help, but it will bring down our credit 
markets.
  There is no doubt that individuals and families are hurting. There is 
no doubt that the pandemic brought on additional challenges. But 
undermining our financial system is not the way to help Americans.
  Our financial system needs strong underwriting practices to keep it 
strong and reduce risk when extending credit. This is what makes credit 
more available at a lower cost to more borrowers. This is not to say 
that the system is perfect. Republicans agree there are some 
improvements that can be made to the way the system operates.
  The gentleman's amendment would replace the underlying bill with 
several targeted approaches to improve the debt collection and credit 
reporting framework.
  First, this amendment requires the inclusion of a clear disclosure 
when a confession of judgment, or COJ, is part of a business lending 
contract. It also requires lenders to obtain a written affidavit 
containing the date and nature of a borrower's default in order to 
execute a confession of judgment. This will help to ensure small 
businesses know the full terms and conditions of their agreement and 
help to crack down on reported misuse of COJs while allowing these 
important repayment tools to remain in use.
  This amendment preserves the servicemember protection bill sponsored 
by the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania. In fact, I would remind my 
colleagues that we just passed this bill on suspension 3 weeks ago. We 
should focus on getting this bill enacted into law rather than 
packaging it up in a wish list of partisan policies.
  This amendment would allow the estate of a deceased or permanently 
disabled student loan borrower to request a discharge of the student 
loan debt. This change would codify the current practice used by 
private lenders to ensure that student loan borrowers are indeed 
protected.
  This amendment would also address concerns with medical debt. It 
would eliminate the inclusion of paid, medically necessary, nonelective 
medical debt in credit reports. This provision is a responsible way to 
address the challenges that many face in repaying medical debt. At the 
same time, it does not make healthcare more expensive or services less 
available.
  Finally, this amendment acknowledges the work of the CFPB. What my 
colleagues won't tell you is that the final debt collection rule was 
the culmination of more than 7 years of research and analysis. It 
clarified the allowable uses of modern communication technology.
  This amendment, unlike the underlying bill, is a commonsense approach 
to improve the consumer experience in debt collection and credit 
reporting. It will strengthen our financial system while increasing 
options and choices for consumers when they owe debt.
  I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will recognize 
this effort to make improvements that will benefit consumers and small 
businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the ranking member's amendment, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the substitute amendment offered 
by our committee's ranking member, Mr. McHenry.
  Mr. McHenry's partisan proposal is a nonstarter and not a serious 
attempt to find common ground with bipartisan support. The Republican 
substitute amendment does not include several important elements of my 
bill, H.R. 2547, and fundamentally weakens many essential protections 
in the few provisions he included.
  For example, Mr. McHenry included a prohibition on confessions of 
judgment based on title I. However, he included a harmful provision 
related to written affidavits, effectively undermining the prohibition 
on confessions of judgment, and severely reducing protections for small 
businesses struggling during this pandemic.
  The Federal Trade Commission banned confessions of judgment more than 
35 years ago in 1985 for consumer loans. Our committee learned that 
small business owners, like taxicab drivers, have unwittingly waived 
their typical due process rights when it comes to debt collection 
because these harmful confessions of judgment terms were tucked into 
their small business loan.
  Representative Velazquez has been leading the effort on this in the 
House, working in a bipartisan fashion with Senators Brown and Rubio. 
However, if we take the approach proposed by Mr. McHenry, small 
businesses will continue to be ripped off.
  Moreover, I would add H.R. 2547 includes several other bipartisan 
provisions, including title II, which is based on a bill by 
Representative Dean to protect servicemembers from harassment and 
threats from debt collectors. The House has unanimously passed title II 
as a standalone bill twice, both last year and this year.
  Additionally, title VI would enhance protections related to Federal 
agency debts based on a bill by Representative Cleaver that has been 
bipartisan for a number of years, but when we tried to move it on the 
suspension calendar last year, Republicans changed their mind.
  Unfortunately, at a time when consumers are suffering while debt 
collectors make record profits during the pandemic, the House 
Republican alternative is not a serious effort to reform and modernize 
our debt collection laws.

  So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject the McHenry 
substitute amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Auchincloss).
  Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Speaker, I reject the amendment from the ranking 
member, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reject it because it 
undermines the premise of the chairwoman's bill. The premise of the 
chairwoman's bill is not prudential underwriting as a core premise of 
our economy which, of course, we need. It is not about payments for 
goods and services

[[Page H2292]]

which is obviously a pillar of the United States system of business.
  It is about fairness. It is about fairness in the allocation of 
credit and fairness in the collection of debt.
  What the chairwoman has put forward and what the amendment from the 
ranking member would undermine is a bill that recognizes that people 
should not be punished for circumstances outside of their control. They 
should not be precluded from accessing credit for something that 
happened to them that they did not wish upon themselves, and that they 
had no volition in doing.
  For example, this bill would ensure that medical debts do not 
prohibit people's access to credit. The senior Senator from my home 
State of Massachusetts famously demonstrated that medical bankruptcies 
were plaguing the middle class and the working class in this country. 
Indeed, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has reported that 
medical debt has a significant impact on consumer credit. After 
Americans undergo lifesaving treatment, they should not have to worry 
about the impact of a necessary medical procedure that they will have 
to stay at home to convalesce will have on their ability to then 
restart their life, start a business, or care for their family.
  H.R. 2547 seeks to give consumers time to fully recover until they 
are able to pay their bills. Nobody chooses to get sick, Mr. Speaker, 
and being sick should not show up on your credit report as you seek to 
access credit in the future.
  This bill is also about fairness in how we collect debts. There, of 
course, should be payments for goods and services, but there does not 
need to be and there should not be harassment.
  As a former marine officer, it deeply concerns me that servicemembers 
who need to concentrate on the mission at hand might be distracted, 
and, indeed, might even be demoted for debts outside of their control.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this amendment replaces the underlying bill with 
targeted approaches to improve the debt collection and credit reporting 
framework. This amendment preserves options for consumers and ensures 
that small businesses are paid for services that they provide. This 
amendment will ensure our financial system remains safe and sound.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 380, the 
previous question is ordered on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).
  The question is on the amendment.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question 
are postponed.


      Amendments En Bloc No. 1 Offered by Ms. Waters of California

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the 
unfinished business is the question on the adoption of amendments en 
bloc No. 1, printed in part B of House Report 117-29, on which further 
proceedings were postponed and on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendments en bloc.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendments en bloc.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendments en bloc 
offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 210, 
nays 202, not voting 18, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 138]

                               YEAS--210

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lofgren
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Mfume
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NAYS--202

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brady
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyde
     Cole
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gohmert
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Good (VA)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrell
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Letlow
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (IL)
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (AL)
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Pfluger
     Posey
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Weber (TX)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams (TX)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                             NOT VOTING--18

     Beyer
     Comer
     Davis, Rodney
     Golden
     Jacobs (NY)
     Jones
     Kelly (MS)
     LaHood
     Lesko
     Lieu
     Lowenthal
     Moore (WI)
     Murphy (FL)
     Simpson
     Stivers
     Webster (FL)
     Wild
     Wilson (SC)

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. MEIJER changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Ms. DEAN and Mr. HORSFORD changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''

[[Page H2293]]

  So the en bloc amendments were agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I arrived a moment too late to vote. Had I 
been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 138.
  Mr. JONES. Madam Speaker, due to personal reasons, I was unable to 
record my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on 
rollcall No. 138.


    MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS

     Allred (Stevens)
     Cardenas (Gallego)
     Correa (Vargas)
     Crenshaw (Pfluger)
     Eshoo (Thompson (CA))
     Grijalva (Garcia (IL))
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Lofgren (Jeffries)
     McEachin (Wexton)
     Meng (Clark (MA))
     Napolitano (Chu)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Porter (Wexton)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Ruppersberger (Raskin)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (DelBene)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Torres (CA) (Barragan)
     Van Drew (Norman)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)


      Amendments En Bloc No. 2 Offered by Ms. Waters of California

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the 
unfinished business is the question on the adoption of amendments en 
bloc No. 2, printed in part B of House Report 117-29, on which further 
proceedings were postponed and on which the yeas and nays were ordered.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendments en bloc.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendments en bloc.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendments en bloc 
offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 208, 
nays 214, not voting 8, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 139]

                               YEAS--208

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyde
     Cole
     Comer
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gohmert
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Good (VA)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Gottheimer
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrell
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (IL)
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (AL)
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Pfluger
     Posey
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Sherrill
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spanberger
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Weber (TX)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams (TX)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                               NAYS--214

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Biggs
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--8

     Brady
     Crawford
     Golden
     Jacobs (NY)
     Kelly (MS)
     Murphy (FL)
     Thompson (PA)
     Webster (FL)

                              {time}  1502

  Mr. TAKANO, Mses. PRESSLEY, SLOTKIN, CASTOR of Florida, Messrs. NEAL, 
COOPER, RYAN, SUOZZI, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Messrs. CASTRO of Texas and SEAN 
PATRICK MALONEY of New York changed their vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Messrs. GROTHMAN, ARRINGTON, BARR, LOUDERMILK, and ROUZER changed 
their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So the en bloc amendments were rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.


    MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS

     Allred (Stevens)
     Cardenas (Gallego)
     Correa (Vargas)
     Crenshaw (Pfluger)
     Eshoo (Thompson (CA))
     Grijalva (Garcia (IL))
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Jones (Jacobs (CA))
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Lieu (Beyer)
     Lofgren (Jeffries)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     McEachin (Wexton)
     Meng (Clark (MA))
     Moore (WI) (Beyer)
     Napolitano (Chu)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Porter (Wexton)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Ruppersberger (Raskin)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (Del Bene)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Torres (CA) (Barragan)
     Van Drew (Norman)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)


                 Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mrs. Wagner

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jacobs of California). Pursuant to 
clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the question on 
amendment No. 9, printed in part B of House Report 117-29, on which 
further proceedings were postponed and on which the yeas and nays were 
ordered.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment offered by 
the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 199, 
nays 224, not voting 7, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 140]

                               YEAS--199

     Aderholt
     Allen
     Amodei
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Bost
     Brady
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Case

[[Page H2294]]


     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyde
     Cole
     Comer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gohmert
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gooden (TX)
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrell
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Lamborn
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (IL)
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (AL)
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Pfluger
     Posey
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Weber (TX)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams (TX)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                               NAYS--224

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Armstrong
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Biggs
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Boebert
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Good (VA)
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Greene (GA)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Massie
     Matsui
     McBath
     McClintock
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Perry
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roy
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stauber
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--7

     Golden
     Gosar
     Jacobs (NY)
     Kelly (MS)
     Murphy (FL)
     Rogers (AL)
     Webster (FL)

                              {time}  1535

  Mr. NORCROSS changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Messrs. GROTHMAN and TIMMONS changed their vote from ``nay'' to 
``yea.''
  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. STAUBER. I was recorded as a ``no'' roll-call 140 and intended as 
a ``yes.''


    MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS

     Allred (Stevens)
     Cardenas (Gallego)
     Correa (Vargas)
     Crenshaw (Pfluger)
     Eshoo (Thompson (CA))
     Grijalva (Garcia (IL))
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Jones (Jacobs (CA))
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Lieu (Beyer)
     Lofgren (Jeffries)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     McEachin (Wexton)
     Meng (Clark (MA))
     Moore (WI) (Beyer)
     Napolitano (Chu)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Porter (Wexton)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Ruppersberger (Raskin)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (DelBene)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Torres (CA) (Barragan)
     Van Drew (Norman)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The previous question is ordered on the 
bill, as amended.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 215, 
nays 207, not voting 8, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 141]

                               YEAS--215

     Adams
     Aguilar
     Allred
     Auchincloss
     Axne
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bourdeaux
     Bowman
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brown
     Brownley
     Bush
     Bustos
     Butterfield
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carson
     Carter (LA)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chu
     Cicilline
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Connolly
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Craig
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Davids (KS)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Evans
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Frankel, Lois
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Gomez
     Gonzalez, Vicente
     Gottheimer
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Harder (CA)
     Hayes
     Higgins (NY)
     Himes
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs (CA)
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jones
     Kahele
     Kaptur
     Keating
     Kelly (IL)
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim (NJ)
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster
     Lamb
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Leger Fernandez
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu
     Lofgren
     Lowenthal
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Manning
     Matsui
     McBath
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Mfume
     Moore (WI)
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mrvan
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Neguse
     Newman
     Norcross
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peters
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Rice (NY)
     Ross
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrier
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, David
     Sewell
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (WA)
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stevens
     Strickland
     Suozzi
     Swalwell
     Takano
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Titus
     Tlaib
     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres (NY)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Underwood
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson Coleman
     Welch
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams (GA)
     Wilson (FL)
     Yarmuth

                               NAYS--207

     Aderholt
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Babin
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barr
     Bentz
     Bergman
     Bice (OK)
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (NC)
     Boebert
     Bost
     Brady
     Brooks
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Bucshon
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Calvert
     Cammack
     Carl
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Cawthorn
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Cline
     Cloud

[[Page H2295]]


     Clyde
     Cole
     Comer
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Curtis
     Davidson
     Davis, Rodney
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Donalds
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Estes
     Fallon
     Feenstra
     Ferguson
     Fischbach
     Fitzgerald
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fortenberry
     Foxx
     Franklin, C. Scott
     Fulcher
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Garbarino
     Garcia (CA)
     Gibbs
     Gimenez
     Gohmert
     Gonzales, Tony
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Good (VA)
     Gooden (TX)
     Gosar
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Graves (MO)
     Green (TN)
     Greene (GA)
     Griffith
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Hagedorn
     Harris
     Harshbarger
     Hartzler
     Hern
     Herrell
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (LA)
     Hill
     Hinson
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Issa
     Jackson
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Katko
     Keller
     Kelly (PA)
     Kim (CA)
     Kinzinger
     Kustoff
     LaHood
     LaMalfa
     Latta
     LaTurner
     Lesko
     Letlow
     Long
     Loudermilk
     Lucas
     Luetkemeyer
     Mace
     Malliotakis
     Mann
     Massie
     Mast
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McClain
     McClintock
     McHenry
     McKinley
     Meijer
     Meuser
     Miller (IL)
     Miller (WV)
     Miller-Meeks
     Moolenaar
     Mooney
     Moore (AL)
     Moore (UT)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Nehls
     Newhouse
     Norman
     Nunes
     Obernolte
     Owens
     Palazzo
     Palmer
     Pence
     Perry
     Pfluger
     Posey
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (SC)
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rose
     Rosendale
     Rouzer
     Roy
     Rutherford
     Salazar
     Scalise
     Schrader
     Schweikert
     Scott, Austin
     Sessions
     Simpson
     Smith (MO)
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smucker
     Spartz
     Stauber
     Steel
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Steube
     Stewart
     Stivers
     Taylor
     Tenney
     Thompson (PA)
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Turner
     Upton
     Valadao
     Van Drew
     Van Duyne
     Wagner
     Walberg
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Weber (TX)
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Williams (TX)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Young
     Zeldin

                             NOT VOTING--8

     Allen
     Golden
     Jacobs (NY)
     Kelly (MS)
     Lamborn
     Murphy (FL)
     Webster (FL)
     Wilson (SC)

                              {time}  1607

  Mr. SCHRADER changed his vote from ``yea'' to ``nay.''
  Messrs. VEASEY, COSTA, and KEATING changed their vote from ``nay'' to 
``yea.''
  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated against:
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted 
``nay'' on rollcall No. 141.


    MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 8, 117TH CONGRESS

     Allred (Stevens)
     Cardenas (Gallego)
     Correa (Vargas)
     Crenshaw (Pfluger)
     Eshoo (Thompson (CA))
     Grijalva (Garci (IL))
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Jones (Jacobs (CA))
     Kirkpatrick (Stanton)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Lieu (Beyer)
     Lofgren (Jeffries)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     McEachin (Wexton)
     Meng (Clark (MA))
     Moore (WI) (Beyer)
     Napolitano (Chu)
     Payne (Pallone)
     Porter (Wexton)
     Ruiz (Aguilar)
     Ruppersberger (Raskin)
     Rush (Underwood)
     Sewell (DelBene)
     Strickland (DelBene)
     Torres (CA) (Barragan)
     Van Drew (Norman)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

                          ____________________