[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER 8 OF TITLE 5, 
  UNITED STATES CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED BY THE BUREAU OF CONSUMER 
FINANCIAL PROTECTION RELATING TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE RULE RELATING TO 
 ``DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES (REGULATION F); PAY-TO-PAY FEES''--Motion 
                               to Proceed

  Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 381, 
S.J. Res. 125.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 381, S.J. Res. 125, a 
     joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval 
     under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule 
     submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 
     relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to ``Debt 
     Collection Practices (Regulation F); Pay-to-Pay Fees''.

  Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I filed a joint resolution of 
disapproval to restore the CFPB's existing rule against charging 
consumers a convenience fee to pay their bills a certain way. Adding 
these surprise pay-to-pay fees to bills are useless and unnecessary in 
general but especially in a time when American families are struggling 
with the growing affordability crisis.
  During my time here in the Senate, I have worked to lower costs and 
fought to make everything from housing to groceries more affordable for 
Maryland. I am also fighting these unfair fees because our residents 
have also had to contend with these unfair debt collection practices.
  Maryland consumers have now filed nearly 24,000 complaints against 
debt collection with the CFPB. The CFPB has stood on the side of 
consumers, creating an advisory opinion to clarify debt collectors' 
obligations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and explicitly 
prohibiting debt collectors from charging pay-to-pay fees.
  Unfortunately, this administration has chosen the side of making 
things harder for American consumers by withdrawing this rule. Although 
underlying statutes like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act 
continue to prohibit abusive debt collection practices, this 
administration's rescission of this guidance signals to bad actors that 
they may have leeway to charge convenience fees without fear of facing 
any real consequences from the current CFPB.
  That is why I filed a joint resolution of disapproval to restore the 
CFPB's rule, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Senate Democrats 
and the CFPB have been committed to protecting working families, and 
fighting these unlawful fees is another step to making life fairer for 
all of them.


                       Vote on Motion to Proceed

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion.
  In the opinion of the Chair, the noes have it.
  The motion was rejected.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.

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