[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 
``FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT (REGULATION F); TIME-BARRED DEBT''

  Mr. KIM. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 382, S.J. 
Res. 126.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 382, S.J. Res. 126, 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 ``Fair 
     Debt Collection Practices Act (Regulation F); Time-Barred 
     Debt''.

  Mr. KIM. Mr. President, I rise today because the American dream of 
owning a home is getting further and further out of reach, and as 
working families get crushed by Trump's economy, Congress needs to take 
steps to make life more affordable.
  I filed this joint resolution of disapproval today to do just that 
and reinstate commonsense guidance at the CFPB that protects hard-
working families from being forced or threatened into paying debts that 
they don't legally owe.

  These time-barred or nonenforceable debts are appropriately named 
``zombie'' debts. Nearly all States have laws that make it illegal to 
start a lawsuit after a fixed number of years since a legal claim 
arose. However, that isn't enough to stop debt collectors from trying 
to extort money from homeowners by threatening legal action that they 
have no right to take. These ``zombie'' debts are another example of 
how American homeowners continue to be plagued from fallout from the 
2008 mortgage meltdown.
  It doesn't have to be this way. In 2022, CFPB issued guidance to set 
out clear rules for how to rein in foreclosures on stale mortgage 
debts. The Trump administration, though, withdrew this commonsense 
rule, leaving homeowners at risk.
  With this vote, we can restore this guidance; we can protect 
homeowners from zombie debt; we can restore accountability and make 
sure debt collectors compensate consumers for the harm inflicted by 
their unfair, deceptive collections; and we can stand up for millions 
of Americans that need us to have their backs.
  I yield back.


                       Vote on Motion to Proceed

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

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