CREDIT

Articles and editorials

Credit Card Penalties, Fees Bury Debtors, S2124 [7MR]

Credit Card Penalties, Fees Bury Debtors; Senate Nears Action on Bankruptcy Curbs, S5226-S5228 [16MY]

Crushing Upward Mobility, S6133 [7JN]

SBA Program Looks Sound, H4450 [14JN], H9496 [2NO]

Stable Funding Turns Banks on to SBA Lending, H9496 [2NO]

Bills and resolutions

Agricultural Credit Act: reauthorize State mediation programs (see S. 643), S2846 [16MR] (see H.R. 1930), H2647 [27AP]

Armed Forces: establish requirements on the terms of consumer credit extended to a member or the dependent of a member (see H.R. 97), H74 [4JA]

———extend period after release from active duty during which a member is protected from mortgage foreclosure (see H.R. 2644), H4073 [25MY]

———provide improved interest rate relief for servicemembers during periods of military service (see H.R. 4563), H11879 [15DE]

———require the Dept. of Defense to notify creditors of persons in military service and persons entering military service (see H.R. 3719), H7813 [8SE]

Bankruptcy: exclude medically distressed debtors from means testing and require certain disclosures in connection with credit card applications and solicitations (see H.R. 2201), H3055 [5MY]

———limit claims in bankruptcy by certain unsecured creditors (see S. 1879), S11422 [17OC]

Children and youth: promote financial education (see S. 925), S4398 [27AP]

Colleges and universities: eliminate termination date on authority for schools with low default rates to make single disbursements of student loans (see H.R. 1032), H847 [1MR]

———improve quality, affordability, diversity, and accessibility to qualified students (see S. 371), S1344 [14FE]

———simplify access to financial aid and access to information on college costs (see S. 1261), S6740 [16JN]

Community development: allow community reinvestment credit for investments and other financial support to enable employees to establish employee stock ownership plans or eligible worker owned cooperatives (see H.R. 2457), H3555 [18MY]

Computers: prevent the use of certain bank instruments, credit cards, and fund transfers for unlawful Internet gambling (see H.R. 4411), H11034 [18NO]

Consumers: authorize demonstration project grants to entities to provide low-cost, small loans (see S. 1347), S7820 [30JN]

———ban abusive credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures and protect underage consumers (see S. 499), S1931 [2MR]

———prohibit predatory payday loans (see S. 1878), S11422 [17OC]

———protect from payday lenders demanding exorbitant interest rates and participating in other unfair practices (see H.R. 1660), H2101 [14AP]

———protect from predatory mortgage lending practices (see H.R. 1994), H2736 [28AP]

———protect from predatory mortgage lending practices and provide housing counseling opportunities (see H.R. 4471), H11326 [8DE]

———protect from usury and unreasonable fees (see H.R. 1619), H1969 [13AP]

———protect low and moderate income individuals from certain predatory lending practices (see H.R. 1643), H2100 [14AP]

———require disclosure of terms of rental-purchase agreements (see S. 603), S2517 [11MR] (see H.R. 1651), H2101 [14AP]

———require enhanced disclosure regarding the consequences of making only minimum required payments in the repayment of credit card debt (see S. 393), S1513 [16FE] (see H.R. 3852), H8247 [21SE]

Credit cards: prevent issuers from taking advantage of traditional college students and protect parents of such students (see H.R. 1208), H1264 [9MR]

———protect consumers from unfair practices of issuers (see H.R. 3492), H6934 [27JY]

Credit rating agency industry: improve ratings quality through competition, transparency, and accountability (see H.R. 2990), H4802 [20JN]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (see S. 768), S3481 [12AP]

———provide grants for regional task forces to more effectively investigate and prosecute identity theft and other economic crimes (see H.R. 4244), H9962 [7NO]

Dept. of Education: provide waiver authority for students who are eligible for Federal student grant assistance and are adversely affected by a major disaster (see H.R. 3668), H7741 [7SE]

———provide waiver authority for students who are eligible for Pell Grants and are adversely affected by a natural disaster (see S. 1628), S9727 [7SE] (see H.R. 3169), H5601 [30JN]

———revise regulations for student loan payment deferment for borrowers who are in postgraduate medical or dental internship, residency, or fellowship programs (see S. 1246), S6481 [14JN]

Dept. of HUD: insure zero-downpayment mortgages for one-unit residences (see H.R. 3043), H5100 [23JN]

———provide grants to States, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for education programs on predatory lending and establish a toll-free number for complaints (see H.R. 200), H77 [4JA]

Dept. of Labor: provide temporary mortgage assistance to workers displaced due to international competition (see H.R. 3088), H5361 [28JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: make permanent the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program (see S. 917), S4397 [27AP] (see H.R. 1773), H2470 [21AP]

Disasters: make funds available for community disaster loans to assist local governments in providing essential services following Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 4024), H8807 [7OC]

———modify terms of the community disaster loan program (see H.R. 4012), H8807 [7OC] (see H.R. 4090), H9042 [20OC]

———modify terms of the community disaster loan program and authorize assistance under that program for losses related to terrorist attacks (see H.R. 1795), H2471 [21AP]

———moratorium on payment of principal or interest on certain mortgage loans, small business loans, and consumer loans for residents of a Federal disaster area (see H. Con. Res. 257), H8643 [29SE]

———moratorium on payment of principal or interest on certain mortgage loans secured by residential or commercial real estate located in Hurricanes Katrina or Rita disaster areas (see H.R. 4027), H8807 [7OC]

Education: allow borrowers consolidating student loans to choose a variable or fixed interest rate (see H.R. 1617), H1969 [13AP]

———improve college access and opportunity by reforming Pell Grants and student loan programs (see H.R. 507), H347 [2FE]

———improve recruitment, preparation, distribution, and retention of public elementary and secondary school teachers and principals (see S. 1218), S6299 [9JN] (see H.R. 2835), H4354 [9JN]

———provide loan forgiveness to encourage individuals to become and remain school administrators in low-income areas (see H.R. 4522), H11503 [13DE]

Fair Credit Reporting Act: provide for secure financial data (see S. 2169), S14317 [21DE] (see H.R. 3375), H6326 [21JY] (see H.R. 3997), H8733 [6OC]

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: exempt mortgage servicers from certain requirements relative to Federal mortgage loans secured by a first lien (see H.R. 1025), H846 [1MR]

Federal employees: repeal increased micropurchase threshold (see S. 1871), S11421 [17OC]

———require Government credit card bills to be made available to the public (see H.R. 4089), H8985 [19OC]

FHA: remove limitation on the number of reverse mortgages that may be insured (see S. 1710), S10119 [15SE] (see H.R. 2892), H4485 [14JN]

Financial institutions: notify customers of unauthorized use of personal information (see S. 1216), S6299 [9JN] (see H.R. 3501), H7556 [28JY]

———protect innocent parties from certain fees imposed by depository institutions for dishonored checks (see H.R. 2643), H4073 [25MY]

———require financial services providers to maintain customer information security systems and notify customers of unauthorized use of personal information (see S. 1594), S9468 [29JY]

Government regulations: provide for enhanced disclosure under an open end credit plan (see S. 1040), S5219 [16MY] (see H.R. 4413), H11034 [18NO]

Health: require credit card issuers to apply low interest rates to credit extended to pay certain medical expenses and prohibit hospitals from immediately reporting patients who are delinquent with payment (see H.R. 1238), H1369 [10MR]

Higher Education Act: enhance literacy in finance and economics (see S. 468), S1794 [28FE]

———improve opportunity for Federal student loan borrowers to consolidate their loans at reasonable interest rates (see H.R. 1089), H981 [3MR]

———incorporate results from the Fed Up Initiative which identifies outdated or burdensome regulations (see H.R. 508), H347 [2FE]

———permit refinancing of student consolidation loans and increase Pell Grant maximum awards (see H.R. 1338), H1621 [16MR]

———permit refinancing of student consolidation loans and permit student freedom to select a loan consolidator (see H.R. 1029), H847 [1MR]

Housing: combat unfair and deceptive practices in the high-cost mortgage market, strengthen civil remedies, promote uniform lending and appraisal standards, and establish licensing standards for mortgage brokers (see H.R. 1295), H1506 [15MR]

———enhance regulation of secondary mortgage market enterprises (see S. 190), S574 [26JA]

———establish a program to assist homeowners experiencing temporary difficulty making mortgage payments under the National Housing Act (see H.R. 378), H233 [26JA]

———modernize the manufactured housing loan insurance program (see S. 2123), S13786 [16DE] (see H.R. 2803), H4295 [8JN]

———support goal of increased homeownership in the U.S. and recognize the importance of homeownership programs, fair lending laws, and fair housing laws in achieving that goal (see H. Con. Res. 107), H1695 [17MR]

Hurricanes: encourage lenders holding mortgages in communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to not foreclose on such mortgages until Congress considers relief legislation (see S. Res. 340), S14186 [20DE] (see S. Res. 347), S14317 [21DE]

———provide student loan forgiveness to the surviving spouses and parents of the victims of Hurricane Katrina (see H.R. 3802), H8087 [15SE]

———provide student loan forgiveness to the surviving spouses and parents of the victims who were Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita first responders (see H.R. 4074), H8918 [18OC]

———repeal increase in Federal micropurchase authority for property and services for support of Hurricane Katrina relief and rescue operations (see S. 1805), S10796 [30SE]

IMF: require appropriations to cover the estimated subsidy costs of monetary resources provided by the U.S. (see H.R. 3054), H5100 [23JN]

Immigration: remove discretion of Dept. of Homeland Security relative to expedited removal and prohibit issuance of residential mortgages to illegal aliens (see H.R. 4032), H8808 [7OC]

Mortgages: impose restrictions on high-cost mortgages, revise fees and charges on certain loans, prohibit unfair or deceptive practices by mortgage brokers and creditors, and provide counseling about predatory lenders (see H.R. 1182), H1263 [9MR]

OMB: issue guidance for, and provide oversight of, the management of micropurchases made with Government-wide commercial purchase cards (see S. 457), S1717 [18FE]

Privacy: prevent and mitigate identity theft, ensure privacy, and enhance penalties, law enforcement, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information (see S. 1332), S7614 [29JN] (see S. 1789), S10723 [29SE]

———protect consumers by requiring reasonable security policies and procedures to protect computerized data containing personal information and require data breach notification (see H.R. 4127), H9102 [25OC]

———regulate the transmission of personally identifiable information to foreign affiliates and subcontractors (see S. 810), S3653 [14AP]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (see S. 116), S145 [24JA]

———strengthen data protection and safeguards, require data breach notification, and further prevent identity theft (see S. 1408), S8302 [14JY] (see H.R. 3374), H6326 [21JY]

Public welfare programs: promote financial education under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and allow such education to count as a work activity under that program (see S. 923), S4397 [27AP]

SBA: clarify authority to make economic injury disaster loans in response to disasters caused by drought (see H.R. 1394), H1692 [17MR]

———clarify authority to provide emergency assistance to non-farm related small business concerns that have suffered substantial economic harm from drought (see S. 1463), S8664 [21JY]

———make improvements to microenterprise programs (see S. 138), S145 [24JA] (see H.R. 2640), H4073 [25MY]

———reform the Small Business Investment Companies program relative to companies licensed to issue participating debentures (see S. 1923), S11917 [26OC]

Schools: establish additional safeguards on schools acting as lenders under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (see H.R. 555), H350 [2FE]

Small business: provide low interest loans to nonprofit, community-based lending intermediaries and mid-size loans to small business concerns (see S. 416), S1622 [17FE] (see H.R. 2639), H4073 [25MY]

Small Business Act: provide for increased access to capital for small businesses under the section 7(a) guarantee loan program (see H.R. 1868), H2646 [27AP]

Small Business Investment Act: establish a participating debenture program (see H.R. 3429), H6649 [26JY]

Social Security: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (see H.R. 1745), H2394 [20AP]

———limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (see S. 29), S142 [24JA]

Taxation: allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance (see S. 132), S145 [24JA] (see H.R. 3098), H5361 [28JN]

———allow certain modifications to be made to qualified mortgages held by a real estate mortgage investement company or a grantor trust (see S. 580), S2383 [9MR] (see H.R. 1010), H846 [1MR]

———clarify the mortgage subsidy bond benefits for residences located in disaster areas (see H.R. 3716), H7813 [8SE]

———exclude from gross income discharges of indebtedness attributable to certain forgiven residential mortgage obligations (see H.R. 3458), H6933 [27JY]

———expand and modernize agricultural bond programs to assist young farmers and ranchers (see H.R. 651), H411 [8FE]

———maintain current mortgage interest deduction (see H. Con. Res. 272), H9043 [20OC]

———make credit for adoption expenses permanent and repeal limitation on carryforwards of unused credit (see H.R. 347), H195 [25JA]

———make Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credits refundable and allow taxpayers to obtain short-term student loans by using the future refund of such credits as collateral for the loans (see H.R. 1756), H2469 [21AP]

———permanently extend research credit, adjust the alternative incremental credit rates, and provide an alternative simplified credit for qualified research expenses (see S. 627), S2734 [15MR] (see H.R. 1736), H2393 [20AP]

———provide for Gulf tax credit bonds and advance refundings of certain tax-exempt bonds, and provide a Federal guarantee of certain State bonds (see H.R. 4337), H10501 [16NO]

———provide for the deductibility of higher education expenses (see H.R. 117), H75 [4JA]

———provide for the deductibility of higher education expenses and interest on student loans (see H.R. 401), H234 [26JA]

———repeal limits on the deduction of interest on education loans (see H.R. 1033), H847 [1MR]

Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act: make teacher loan forgiveness provisions permanent (see H.R. 367), H233 [26JA] (see H.R. 670), H412 [8FE]

Truth in Lending Act: require stores offering credit or charge accounts to prominently display certain information (see H.R. 833), H629 [15FE]

Veterans: provide housing loan benefits for the purchase of residential cooperative apartment units (see S. 2121), S13786 [16DE] (see H.R. 4537), H11653 [14DE]

Women: collect data on the availability of credit for women-owned business (see H.R. 2570), H3892 [24MY]

Letters

Credit Card Minimum Payment Warning Act: several consumer organizations, S1518 [16FE]

Gulf Opportunity Zone Public Finance Relief Act: Representative Oxley, Committee on Financial Services (House), E2416 [18NO]

———Representative Thomas, Committee on Ways and Means (House), E2416 [18NO]

Low-Cost Alternatives to Payday Loans Act: Jean Ann Fox, Consumer Federation of American, Edmund Mierzwinski, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and Mark Pearce, Center for Responsible Lending, S7830 [30JN]

Predatory Payday Loan Prohibition Act: several consumer organizations, S11439 [17OC]

Prevent unsecured creditors from attempting to collect accruing interest and additional fees from consumers entering into credit counseling consolidated payment plans: several consumer organizations, S2313 [9MR]

Restrict access to certain personal information in bankruptcy documents: Leonidas R. Mecham, Judicial Conference of the U.S., S1851 [1MR]

SBA loan programs funding: several small business associations, H9495 [2NO]

Lists

Organizations supporting prohibition on Internet gambling, S10059 [15SE]

Remarks in House

Agricultural Credit Act: reauthorize State mediation programs (S. 643), H4361, H4362 [13JN]

Balmert, Stephen C.: Discover Card Tribute Award Scholarship recipient, E1596 [25JY]

Bankruptcy: exempt from means testing debtors whose financial situations were caused by identity theft, H1978, H1990 [14AP]

———prevent creditors from employing involuntary bankruptcy actions relative to certain liability claims, E677 [18AP]

———waive credit counseling fees of servicemembers returning from a combat area, H2060 [14AP]

Budget: allocation of funds, H2641-H2643 [27AP]

Consumers: establish lifeline banking for low-income individuals, H12278 [18DE]

———prevent identity theft and improve resolution of credit disputes, accuracy of consumer records, and the use of, and consumer access to, credit information, H4726 [20JN]

———require underage consumers to demonstrate ability to pay, complete a certified counseling credit course, or submit a cosigned application prior to extension of credit, H2060 [14AP]

Credit cards: prevent issuers from taking advantage of traditional college students and protect parents of such students (H.R. 1208), E397 [9MR]

———prohibit issuers from increasing a consumers interest rate based on credit information unrelated to transactions with the consumer, H5277-H5279 [28JN], H5487, H5488 [30JN]

———prohibit issuers from increasing interest rates of consumers which incur medical expenses and have difficulty repaying in a timely manner, H1975 [14AP]

Credit rating agency industry: improve ratings quality through competition, transparency, and accountability (H.R. 2990), H5255 [28JN]

Crime: prevent identity fraud, H4472 [14JN]

Dept. of Agriculture: reduce interest rate on loans to processors of sugar beets and sugarcane, H4252-H4257 [8JN]

Dept. of Education: provide waiver authority for students who are eligible for Federal student grant assistance and are adversely affected by a major disaster (H.R. 3668), H7763-H7766 [8SE], E1824 [13SE]

———provide waiver authority for students who are eligible for Pell Grants and are adversely affected by a natural disaster (H.R. 3169), H7688, H7692-H7695 [7SE], H8364 [27SE], E1793 [8SE], E1824 [13SE]

Dept. of HUD: prohibit funding for mortgage insurance for mortgages or loans made by a lender engaging in predatory lending, H5526, H5527 [30JN]

Disasters: modify terms of the community disaster loan program and authorize assistance under that program for losses related to terrorist attacks (H.R. 1795), E728 [21AP]

———modify terms of the community disaster loan program (H.R. 4012), H8795 [7OC], E2055 [7OC]

———modify terms of the community disaster loan program (H.R. 4090), E2139 [20OC]

———moratorium on payment of principal or interest on certain mortgage loans secured by residential or commercial real estate located in Hurricanes Katrina or Rita disaster areas (H.R. 4027), E2070 [7OC]

Education: funding, H11513, H11514 [14DE], H12261, H12267 [18DE]

———improve college access and opportunity by reforming Pell Grants and student loan programs (H.R. 507), H4176-H4179 [7JN]

———improve recruitment, preparation, distribution, and retention of public elementary and secondary school teachers and principals (H.R. 2835), E1193 [9JN]

———student financial aid programs, H1631 [17MR]

———student financial aid programs funding, H369 [8FE], H1608 [16MR], H4995, H4997, H5035 [23JN], H9017 [20OC], H9476 [2NO], H9558 [3NO], H10044, H10048 [9NO], H10627, H10630, H10631, H10632, H10641, H10642 [17NO], H11075 [6DE], H12237 [18DE], E2483 [8DE]

———student loan programs, H10631, H10632 [17NO]

———student loan programs funding, H2640 [27AP], H11961 [16DE]

Eximbank: clarify criteria for approving loan applications, H5284 [28JN]

———encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, H5345 [28JN]

———prohibit funding to approve loan guarantees for nuclear powerplant construction in the People's Republic of China, H5336-H5338 [28JN]

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: exempt mortgage servicers from certain requirements relative to Federal mortgage loans secured by a first lien (H.R. 1025), H1791-H1794 [6AP]

Federal employees: repeal increased micropurchase threshold, H9987 [8NO]

———require Government credit card bills to be made available to the public (H.R. 4089), H8989 [20OC], H9347 [27OC]

FHA: remove limitation on the number of reverse mortgages that may be insured (H.R. 2892), H5082 [23JN], H11586-H11588 [14DE], E2636 [22DE]

Financial institutions: notify customers of unauthorized use of personal information (H.R. 3501), E1743 [29JY]

Health: require credit card issuers to apply low interest rates to credit extended to pay certain medical expenses and prohibit hospitals from immediately reporting patients who are delinquent with payment (H.R. 1238), E418 [10MR]

Housing: conforming loan limit levels, H9115, H9138, H9185-H9188 [26OC]

———support goal of increased homeownership in the U.S. and recognize the importance of homeownership programs, fair lending laws, and fair housing laws in achieving that goal (H. Con. Res. 107), E490 [17MR]

Mortgages: impose restrictions on high-cost mortgages, revise fees and charges on certain loans, prohibit unfair or deceptive practices by mortgage brokers and creditors, and provide counseling about predatory lenders (H.R. 1182), H2110 [19AP]

SBA: loan programs funding, H9492-H9496 [2NO]

———make improvements to microenterprise programs (H.R. 2640), E1087 [25MY]

———modernize and streamline eligibility criteria for participation in the minority-owned small business development 8(a) program, H2583 [27AP]

———7(a) guaranteed loan program funding, H4449-H4454 [14JN], H8975 [19OC], E1242 [15JN]

———small business guarantee loan program funding, H2583 [27AP]

Small business: provide low interest loans to nonprofit, community-based lending intermediaries and mid-size loans to small business concerns (H.R. 2639), E1088 [25MY]

Social Security: enhance privacy protections for individuals and prevent fraudulent misuse of account numbers (H.R. 1745), E720 [21AP]

Taxation: allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance (H.R. 3098), E1382 [28JN]

———provide for Gulf tax credit bonds and advance refundings of certain tax-exempt bonds, and provide a Federal guarantee of certain State bonds (H.R. 4337), H10363 [16NO]

———provide for the deductibility of higher education expenses and interest on student loans (H.R. 401), E90 [26JA]

———provide for the deductibility of higher education expenses (H.R. 117), E14, E17 [4JA]

Veterans: provide housing loan benefits for the purchase of residential cooperative apartment units (H.R. 4537), E2528 [14DE]

Remarks in Senate

Agricultural Credit Act: reauthorize State mediation programs (S. 643), S4138 [21AP]

Bankruptcy: disallow claims against certain underage individuals, S2309, S2310, S2312 [9MR]

———discourage predatory mortgage lending practices, S1920-S1922 [2MR]

———exempt from means testing debtors whose financial situations were caused by identity theft, S1918-S1920 [2MR], S1982 [3MR]

———limit claims in bankruptcy by certain unsecured creditors (S. 1879), S11437, S11439 [17OC]

———prevent unsecured creditors from attempting to collect accruing interest and additional fees from consumers entering into credit counseling consolidated payment plans, S2313 [9MR], S2417 [10MR]

———restrict access to certain personal information in bankruptcy documents, S1850-S1852 [1MR], S2139-S2141 [7MR]

Children and youth: promote financial education (S. 925), S4420 [27AP]

Colleges and universities: improve quality, affordability, diversity, and accessibility to qualified students (S. 371), S1346 [14FE]

———simplify access to financial aid and access to information on college costs (S. 1261), S6748-S6751 [16JN]

Computers: prevent the use of certain bank instruments for Internet gambling, S10059, S10060 [15SE]

Consumers: authorize demonstration project grants to entities to provide low-cost, small loans (S. 1347), S7829 [30JN]

———ban abusive credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures and protect underage consumers (S. 499), S1950 [2MR]

———limit amount of interest that can be charged on any credit extension, S1910 [2MR], S1979, S1981, S1982 [3MR], S2210 [8MR]

———prohibit predatory payday loans (S. 1878), S11437, S11438 [17OC]

———require enhanced disclosure regarding the consequences of making only minimum required payments in the repayment of credit card debt, S1834 [1MR], S1894, S1912, S1913, S1915 [2MR], S2210, S2230 [8MR]

———require enhanced disclosure regarding the consequences of making only minimum required payments in the repayment of credit card debt (S. 393), S1518, S1519 [16FE]

———require notice of rate increases and prohibit retroactive increases, S2074 [4MR]

———require underage consumers to demonstrate ability to pay, complete a certified counseling credit course, or submit a cosigned application prior to extension of credit, S2073, S2075 [4MR]

Credit cards: prohibit issuers from increasing a consumers interest rate based on credit information unrelated to transactions with the consumer, S1984 [3MR]

———reform regulations, S2515 [11MR]

Crime: prevent identity fraud (S. 768), S3510 [13AP]

Dept. of Education: provide waiver authority for students who are eligible for Federal student grant assistance and are adversely affected by a major disaster (H.R. 3668), S10149 [15SE]

———provide waiver authority for students who are eligible for Pell Grants and are adversely affected by a natural disaster (H.R. 3169), S10149 [15SE]

———revise regulations for student loan payment deferment for borrowers who are in postgraduate medical or dental internship, residency, or fellowship programs (S. 1246), S6492 [14JN]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: make permanent the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program (S. 917), S4405 [27AP]

Disasters: deferral of mortgage payments for individuals whose homes are destroyed by catastrophic events, S11638, S11639 [20OC]

Education: funding, S14285, S14287 [21DE]

———improve recruitment, preparation, distribution, and retention of public elementary and secondary school teachers and principals (S. 1218), S6294, S6322 [9JN]

———student financial aid programs funding, S14148 [20DE]

———student loan programs, S6133 [7JN], S14119, S14148 [20DE]

Eximbank: prohibit funding to approve loan guarantees for nuclear powerplant construction in the People's Republic of China, S8458-S8464, S8468 [19JY], S8516 [20JY]

Federal employees: repeal increased micropurchase threshold, S11472 [18OC], S11550 [19OC]

FHA: remove limitation on the number of reverse mortgages that may be insured (H.R. 2892), S13687 [15DE], S13943 [16DE]

———remove limitation on the number of reverse mortgages that may be insured (S. 1710), S10122 [15SE]

Financial institutions: notify customers of unauthorized use of personal information (S. 1216), S6318 [9JN]

———require financial services providers to maintain customer information security systems and notify customers of unauthorized use of personal information (S. 1594), S9515 [29JY]

Government regulations: provide for enhanced disclosure under an open end credit plan (S. 1040), S5225 [16MY]

Higher Education Act: enhance literacy in finance and economics (S. 468), S1796 [28FE]

Housing: enhance regulation of secondary mortgage market enterprises (S. 190), S599 [26JA]

Hurricanes: encourage lenders holding mortgages in communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to not foreclose on such mortgages until Congress considers relief legislation (S. Res. 340), S14187 [20DE]

———repeal increase in Federal micropurchase authority for property and services for support of Hurricane Katrina relief and rescue operations (S. 1805), S10797-S10799 [30SE], S11194 [6OC]

IRS: prohibit funding for Debt Indicator Program, S11648 [20OC]

OMB: issue guidance for, and provide oversight of, the management of micropurchases made with Government-wide commercial purchase cards (S. 457), S1718 [18FE]

Privacy: prevent and mitigate identity theft, ensure privacy, and enhance penalties, law enforcement, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information (S. 1332), S7620-S7632, S7644 [29JN], S7871 [30JN]

———prevent and mitigate identity theft, ensure privacy, and enhance penalties, law enforcement, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information (S. 1789), S10734 [29SE]

———require consent of an individual prior to the sale and marketing of personally identifiable information (S. 116), S289-S291 [24JA]

———strengthen data protection and safeguards, require data breach notification, and further prevent identity theft (S. 1408), S8322-S8326 [14JY]

Public welfare programs: promote financial education under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and allow such education to count as a work activity under that program (S. 923), S4418 [27AP]

SBA: clarify authority to provide emergency assistance to non-farm related small business concerns that have suffered substantial economic harm from drought, S12942 [16NO]

———clarify authority to provide emergency assistance to non-farm related small business concerns that have suffered substantial economic harm from drought (S. 1463), S8682 [21JY]

———loan programs funding, S2947 [17MR]

———make improvements to microenterprise programs (S. 138), S351-S353 [24JA]

———reform the Small Business Investment Companies program relative to companies licensed to issue participating debentures (S. 1923), S11919-S11921 [26OC]

Social Security: limit the misuse of Social Security numbers and establish criminal penalties for such misuse (S. 29), S216 [24JA]

Taxation: allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance (S. 132), S348 [24JA]

———allow certain modifications to be made to qualified mortgages held by a real estate mortgage investement company or a grantor trust (S. 580), S2397 [9MR]

———permanently extend research credit, adjust the alternative incremental credit rates, and provide an alternative simplified credit for qualified research expenses (S. 627), S2740-S2743 [15MR], S11414 [17OC]

———provide tax-exempt financing for nonresidential real property within the Gulf Opportunity Zone, S13704 [16DE]

———repeal State and local exemptions applicable to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, S13116, S13127 [17NO]

Reports

Corporate Welfare for the RAL Industry—The Debt Indicator, IRS Subsidy, and Tax Fraud: Chi Chi Wu, National Consumer Law Center, Inc., S11649 [20OC]

Reports filed

Federal Employee Micropurchase Threshold Increase Repeal: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1871), S11421 [17OC]

Identity Theft Protection Act: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Senate) (S. 1408) (S. Rept. 109-203), S13450 [12DE]

Personal Data Privacy and Security Act: Committee on the Judiciary (Senate) (S. 1789), S13160 [17NO]

Profiteering in a Non-Profit Industry—Abusive Practices in Credit Counseling: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. Rept. 109-55), S3555 [13AP]

Summaries

Higher Education Simplification and Deregulation Act (S. 1261), S6751 [16JN]

Texts of

H.R. 1025, Mortgage Servicing Clarification Act, H1791 [6AP]

H.R. 2892, Reverse Mortgages To Help America's Seniors Act, H11586 [14DE]

H.R. 3169, Pell Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act, H7692 [7SE]

H.R. 3668, Student Grant Hurricane and Disaster Relief Act, H7763 [8SE]

H.R. 4337, Gulf Opportunity Zone Public Finance Relief Act, H10363-H10365 [16NO]

S. 29, Social Security Number Misuse Prevention Act, S217-S221 [24JA]

S. 116, Privacy Act, S291-S300 [24JA]

S. 132, Mortgage Insurance Fairness Act, S348 [24JA]

S. 138, SBA Microenterprise Improvements Act, S355 [24JA]

S. 393, Credit Card Minimum Payment Warning Act, S1519 [16FE]

S. 499, Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (Credit CARD) Act, S1950-S1952 [2MR]

S. 580, allow certain modifications to be made to qualified mortgages held by a real estate mortgage investement company or a grantor trust, S2397 [9MR]

S. 603, Consumer Rental-Purchase Agreement Act, S2517-S2521 [11MR]

S. 627, Investment in America Act, S2741 [15MR]

S. 643, Agricultural Credit Act State mediation programs reauthorization, S4138 [21AP], H4361 [13JN]

S. 917, make the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program permanent, S4405 [27AP]

S. 923, TANF Financial Education Promotion Act, S4418 [27AP]

S. 925, promote youth financial education, S4420 [27AP]

S. 1216, Financial Privacy Breach Notification Act, S6319 [9JN]

S. 1218, Teacher Excellence for All Children Act, S6323-S6331 [9JN]

S. 1246, Medical Education Affordability Act, S6492 [14JN]

S. 1332, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act, S7622-S7631 [29JN]

S. 1347, Low-Cost Alternatives to Payday Loans Act, S7830 [30JN]

S. 1408, Identity Theft Protection Act, S8323-S8325 [14JY]

S. 1463, Small Business Drought Relief Act, S8682 [21JY]

S. 1594, Financial Privacy Protection Act, S9515-S9517 [29JY]

S. 1710, Reverse Mortgages to Help America's Seniors Act, S10122 [15SE]

S. 1789, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act, S10725-S10734 [29SE]

S. 1878, Predatory Payday Loan Prohibition Act, S11438 [17OC]

S. 1879, Bankruptcy Prevention Credit Counseling Act, S11439 [17OC]

S. Res. 340, encourage lenders holding mortgages in communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to not foreclose on such mortgages until Congress considers relief legislation, S14187 [20DE]

S. Res. 347, encourage lenders holding mortgages in communities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to not foreclose on such mortgages until Congress considers relief legislation, S14337 [21DE]