[House Report 112-234]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress } { Report
1st Session } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES { 112-234
=======================================================================
AMENDING THE SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT TO PROVIDE SURVIVING
SPOUSES WITH CERTAIN PROTECTIONS RELATING TO MORTGAGES AND MORTGAGE
FORECLOSURES
_______
October 5, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Miller of Florida, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1263]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 1263) to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief
Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections
relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Amendment........................................................ 2
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 3
Hearings......................................................... 5
Subcommittee Consideration....................................... 5
Committee Consideration.......................................... 5
Committee Votes.................................................. 5
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 6
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 6
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 6
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits............................. 6
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 6
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 6
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 8
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 8
Statement of Constitutional Authority............................ 8
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 8
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 8
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported............. 9
The amendments are as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF PROTECTIONS RELATING TO MORTGAGES AND MORTGAGE
FORECLOSURES FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES.
(a) Protection for Surviving Spouse.--Section 303 of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Protection for Surviving Spouse.--During the five-year period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, with respect
to a servicemember who dies while in military service and whose death
is service-connected, this section shall apply to the surviving spouse
of the servicemember if such spouse is the successor in interest to
property covered under subsection (a).''.
(b) Effective Date.--Subsection (e) of section 303 of such Act, as
added by subsection (a), shall apply to a surviving spouse of a
servicemember whose death is on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR LENDING INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE CREDITORS FOR
OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITIES COVERED BY THE
SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT.
Section 207 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new
subsection (d):
``(d) Lending Institution Requirements.--
``(1) Compliance officers.--Each lending institution subject
to the requirements of this section shall designate an employee
of the institution as a compliance officer who is responsible
for ensuring the institution's compliance with this section and
for distributing information to servicemembers whose
obligations and liabilities are covered by this section.
``(2) Toll-free telephone number.--During any fiscal year, a
lending institution subject to the requirements of this section
that had annual assets for the preceding fiscal year of
$10,000,000,000 or more shall maintain a toll-free telephone
number and shall make such telephone number available on the
primary Internet Web site of the institution.''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AGAINST
MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES.
(a) Extended Period of Protections.--
(1) Stay of proceedings and period of adjustment of
obligations relating to real or personal property.--Section
303(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App.
533(b)) is amended by striking ``within 9 months'' and
inserting ``within 12 months''.
(2) Period of relief from sale, foreclosure, or seizure.--
Section 303(c) of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(c)) is amended
by striking ``within 9 months'' and inserting ``within 12
months''.
(3) Sunset.-- The amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2)
shall expire on December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2018,
the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 303 of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, as in effect on the day before
the date of the enactment of the Housing and Economic Recovery
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289), are hereby revived.
(b) Repeal of Superceded Provision.--Subsection (c) of section 2203
of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289;
50 U.S.C. App. 533 note) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
Amend the title so as to read:
A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to
provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to
mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, and for other purposes.
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 1263, a bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief
Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections
relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, was introduced
on March 30, 2011, by Ranking Member Bob Filner of California.
H.R. 1263, as amended, includes provisions of three bills
introduced in the 112th Congress. These bills are: H.R. 1263 as
introduced; H.R. 2329, a bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act to provide for certain requirements for financial
institutions that are creditors for obligations and liabilities
covered by that Act, introduced by Representative Bill Johnson
of Ohio; and H.R. 1911, a bill to amend the Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act to permanently extend the period of
protections for servicemembers against mortgage foreclosures,
and for other purposes, introduced by Representative Bruce
Braley of Iowa.
Background and Need for Legislation
On December 19, 2003, President Bush signed into law the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), Public Law (P.L.) 108-
189, 117 Stat. 2835, which was a significant amendment to the
Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (54 Stat.
1178). SCRA was designed to help ease the economic and legal
burdens on military personnel who are on active-duty status.
The SCRA is intended to postpone, suspend, or relieve certain
civil obligations during a servicemember's period of active
duty and accomplishes this in part by regulating certain legal
actions against military personnel. A key protection for
servicemembers was on the stay of a sale or foreclosure of
their home. The law states that ``a sale, foreclosure, or
seizure of property for a breach of an obligation described in
subsection (a) shall not be valid if made during, or within 9
months after, the period of the servicemember's military
service[.]'' The nine month time-frame was changed from 90 days
to 9 months in section 2203 of the Housing and Economic
Recovery Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-289). This temporary extension
is set to expire on December 31, 2012, when the original 90-day
period will go back into effect.
The Washington Post notes that since U.S. forces began
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom combat
operations in 2001, 6,026 servicemembers have died in service
as of June 5, 2011. This means that thousands of families have
lost a spouse, a wage earner and servicemember mortgage
protections under the SCRA. While a family grieves the loss of
a servicemember, the resulting change in income will force a
surviving spouse to make important financial decisions
including whether they will keep or sell their home. The
surviving family should be given sufficient time to refinance,
make arrangements with the lender to restructure the loan, or
sell the house.
In January 17, 2011, a JPMorgan Chase official told NBC
News that over 4,000 servicemembers had been illegally
overcharged and that many military families had been improperly
foreclosed. These improper foreclosures that came to light
involve only servicemembers that had the protection. Surviving
spouses did not have this protection and we can only surmise
how many lost their homes when the military family needed it
most.
This change in law will recognize that military families
serve with the spouse and sacrifice just as much for their
country.
In February 2011, allegations surfaced of mortgage-related
violations of the SCRA by JPMorgan Chase Bank and other lending
institutions. These allegations alleged that these institutions
were unlawfully foreclosing on servicemembers' homes and
charging interest rates above the six-percent cap required by
SCRA. On February 9, 2011, the Committee held an oversight
hearing to review these allegations and received testimony from
Captain Jonathon Rowles (USMC), and Mrs. Julia Rowles, about
the trouble they had with JPMorgan Chase when they tried to
assert their rights under SCRA. They commented that when they
called the toll-free number provided by the bank, their
employees were woefully inadequate in their knowledge of SCRA
and there didn't seem to be in anyone in charge to ensure that
the bank was complying with SCRA.
In response to this hearing and Committee's continued
oversight of SCRA abuses, this section clarifies requirements
for banks to comply with SCRA. The section requires all lending
institutions affected by SCRA to employ and/or designate an
SCRA compliance officer. This will make it clear that all banks
and other lending institutions must take SCRA seriously and
have at least one person responsible to ensure their
institution's compliance. The section further requires banks
that have annual assets of $10 billion to have a toll-free
hotline for servicemembers to call and ask questions about
their mortgage and SCRA.
On February 4, 2011, USA Today noted in an article that
20,000 military members and Reservists faced foreclosure in
2010. The foreclosure filings increased in 2010 in 163 zip
codes located near military bases. About 12,000 military
families have applied for the Homeowners Assistance Program run
by the Pentagon and about 9,000 were deemed eligible. USA
Cares, a charity providing assistance to troops, notes that
demand for help has increased 19 percent. While JPMorgan Chase
admitted to improperly foreclosing on servicemembers, this was
only one bank that publicly came forth with its admission.
Therefore, the Committee remains concerned with the true number
of families affected.
A home is often a veteran's largest financial asset and
they should have an opportunity to avoid a negative mark on
their credit history by working with the lender to minimize the
chance of foreclosure or other less advantageous options such
as a short sale. When a servicemember separates from the armed
services, they need sufficient time to establish good economic
footing to be successful. Some military families experience
difficulties--often related to owning a home where the
servicemember is stationed--in the transition from the military
to the civilian world.
Section 1--Expansion of protections relating to mortgage foreclosures
for surviving spouses
Section 1 would extend foreclosure-related protections to
12 months for surviving spouses of servicemembers who die on
active duty or whose death is service-connected.
Section 2--To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for
certain requirements for financial institutions that are
creditors for obligations and liabilities covered by that Act
Section 2 clarifies requirements for banks to comply with
SCRA by requiring certain large lending institutions to
designate an SCRA compliance officer and to maintain a toll-
free number on its Web site for SCRA issues.
Section 3--Extension of period of protections for servicemembers
against mortgage foreclosures
Section 3 would extend the current 9-month period during
which servicemembers are protected from foreclosure-related
proceedings to 12 months and revert such protections to 9
months after 5 years from enactment.
Hearings
On July 7, 2011, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
conducted a legislative hearing on various bills introduced
during the 112th Congress, including: H.R. 1911, H.R. 240, H.R.
1263, H.R. 120, H.R. 2274, H.R. 2301, H.R. 2302, H.R. 2345, and
H.R. 2329. The following witnesses testified: Mr. Tom
Tarantino, Senior Legislative Associate of Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America; Mr. Shane Barker, Senior Legislative
Associate, National Legislative Service of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States; Mr. Jeff Steele, Assistant
Director, National Legislative Commission of The American
Legion; MG David Bockel, USA (Ret.), Executive Director of the
Reserve Officers Association of the United States also on
behalf of Reserve Enlisted Association of the United States;
Mr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., President, Saint Leo University, Saint
Leo, FL, on behalf of National Association of Independent
Colleges and Universities; Ms. Susan C. Aldridge, Ph.D.,
President, University of Maryland University College, Adelphia,
MD, on behalf of the American Association of State Colleges and
Universities; and Mr. Curtis L. Coy, Deputy Under Secretary for
Economic Opportunity Veterans Benefits Administration of the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who was accompanied by Mr.
John Brizzi, Deputy Assistant General Counsel, Office of
General Counsel of
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ms. Vivianne Cisneros
Wersel, Au.D., Chair, Government Relations Committee of Gold
Star Wives of America, Inc., and the Paralyzed Veterans of
America submitted statements for the record.
Subcommittee Consideration
On July 21, 2011, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
met in an open markup session, a quorum being present, and
approved H.R. 1263, by voice vote. Ranking Member Braley
offered a motion to forward H.R. 1263 to the full Committee.
His motion was approved by voice vote.
Committee Consideration
On September 8, 2011, the full Committee met in an open
markup session, a quorum being present, to consider H.R. 1263.
Ranking Member Filner offered an amendment in the nature of a
substitute to include H.R. 2329 and H.R. 1911. The amendment in
the nature of a substitute was agreed to by voice vote.
Following this vote, the full Committee ordered favorably
reported H.R. 1627, to the House of Representatives, by voice
vote.
Committee Votes
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes
on the motion to report the legislation and amendments thereto.
There were no record votes taken on amendments or in connection
with ordering reported H.R. 1263, as amended, to the House. A
motion by Ranking Member Bob Filner of California to order
favorably reported H.R. 1263, as amended, to the House of
Representatives was agreed to by voice vote.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives,
the Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in the descriptive portions of this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives are reflected in the descriptive portions
of this report.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and
Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its
own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the
cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits
H.R. 1263, as amended, does not contain any Congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R.
1263, as amended, prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate
for H.R. 1263, as amended, provided by the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 23, 2011.
Hon. Jeff Miller,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1263, a bill to
amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide surviving
spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and
mortgage foreclosures.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is David Newman.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1263--A bill to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to
provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to
mortgages and mortgage foreclosures
H.R. 1263 would extend protections related to mortgage
foreclosure under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
Military personnel are shielded from foreclosure on a
residential mortgage for up to nine months after they leave
active duty. However, after January 1, 2013, the period during
which foreclosures are deferred declines to 90 days. The bill
would increase that protection to a 12-month period, until
December 31, 2017, after which the forbearance period would
decline to 90 days. The bill also would grant that same
foreclosure protection to the surviving spouses of
servicemembers who die on active duty. The enhanced protections
for surviving spouses would expire five years after enactment.
Enacting H.R. 1263 would affect direct spending; therefore,
pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Federal agencies such as the
Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing
Administration, which currently guarantee the mortgages of some
servicemembers, are responsible for the payment of any interest
that accrues on such a mortgage during the period between the
stoppage of payments on the mortgage and the time the agency
finally settles the loan with the originator. Therefore,
delaying certain foreclosures could result in additional costs
to the federal government. Because of the low number of
affected mortgages, CBO estimates that such costs would be
insignificant.
The bill would impose intergovernmental and private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
by adding and expanding protections for servicemembers as
authorized under SCRA. CBO estimates that the costs to public
and private entities of complying with the mandates would be
small and would not exceed the thresholds established in UMRA
for intergovernmental and private-sector mandates ($71 million
and $142 million, respectively, in 2011, adjusted annually for
inflation).
The bill would require public and private lending
institutions that are subject to SCRA to designate an employee
who would ensure compliance with the act. In addition, lending
institutions with over $10 billion in annual assets in the
preceding fiscal year would be required to maintain a toll-free
telephone number to provide assistance to servicemembers.
Lending institutions currently employ compliance officers, and
all large institutions maintain toll-free numbers. For that
reason, CBO estimates that the extra training for employees and
the maintenance of toll-free numbers would not impose
significant costs on private entities. Because few lending
institutions are public entities, CBO estimates that the
intergovernmental costs of the mandate also would be small.
Current law grants temporary stays of civil proceedings
related to real or personal property, mortgages, evictions, and
foreclosures to servicemembers whose military service has
ended. As described above, the bill would extend the length of
such stays to 12 months after a servicemember's military
service ends and expand eligibility to certain surviving
spouses. The number of servicemembers who face foreclosure
within 12 months of separation is small. The current number of
servicemembers killed on active duty since March 2003 is less
than 6,500. Thus, CBO expects the cost of the mandate to be
minimal.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are David Newman
(for federal costs), Lisa Ramirez-Branum (for state and local
costs), and Elizabeth Bass (for the impact on the private
sector). The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates regarding H.R. 1263, as amended, prepared by the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section
423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R.
1263, as amended.
Statement of Constitutional Authority
Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the United States
Constitution, the reported bill is authorized by Congress'
power to ``provide for the common Defense and general Welfare
of the United States.''
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1--Expansion of protections relating to mortgage foreclosures
for surviving spouses
This section would amend section 303 of the Servicemembers
Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 533) to extend mortgage related
protections for surviving spouses of servicemembers who die on
active duty or whose death is service-connected. This
protection states that a lending institution is not allowed to
foreclose on property owned by the surviving spouse until at
least 12 months following the servicemember's death. This
provision would be effective with the enactment of this bill
and would sunset five years from the date of enactment.
Section 2--Requirements for lending institutions that are creditors for
obligations and liabilities covered by the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act
This section amends section 207 of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 526) would extend protections for
servicemembers under SCRA.
Subsection (d)(1) would require all lending institutions
covered by SCRA to designate an employee who is responsible for
their institution's compliance with SCRA and for providing
information to their customers who are covered by SCRA.
Subsection (d)(2) would require that any institution with
annual assets of $10 billion in the previous fiscal year
maintain a toll-free telephone number for their customers. It
would also require these institutions to publish this toll-free
number on their Web site.
Section 3--Extension of period of protections for servicemembers
against mortgage foreclosures
This section amends section 303(b) and 303(c) of the
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 533) to extend
mortgage-related provisions for servicemembers.
Subsection (a)(1) would extend the disallowance on stay
proceedings and adjustment of obligations related to real or
personal property for SCRA covered property from 9 months after
the servicemembers returns from active duty to 12 months.
Subsection (a)(2) would extend the disallowance on
foreclosure or seizure for SCRA covered property from 9 months
after the servicemembers returns from active duty to 12 months.
Subsection (a)(3) would require that the protections in
paragraphs (1) and (2) be reduced to nine months after active
duty service, 5 years following the enactment of this bill.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT
* * * * * * *
TITLE II--GENERAL RELIEF
* * * * * * *
SEC. 207. MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST ON DEBTS INCURRED BEFORE MILITARY
SERVICE.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(d) Lending Institution Requirements.--
(1) Compliance officers.--Each lending institution
subject to the requirements of this section shall
designate an employee of the institution as a
compliance officer who is responsible for ensuring the
institution's compliance with this section and for
distributing information to servicemembers whose
obligations and liabilities are covered by this
section.
(2) Toll-free telephone number.--During any fiscal
year, a lending institution subject to the requirements
of this section that had annual assets for the
preceding fiscal year of $10,000,000,000 or more shall
maintain a toll-free telephone number and shall make
such telephone number available on the primary Internet
Web site of the institution.
[(d)] (e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
[(e)] (f) Penalty.--Whoever knowingly violates subsection (a)
shall be fined as provided in title 18, United States Code,
imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
TITLE III--RENT, INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS, MORTGAGES, LIENS, ASSIGNMENT,
LEASES, TELEPHONE SERVICE CONTRACTS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 303. MORTGAGES AND TRUST DEEDS.
(a) * * *
(b) Stay of Proceedings and Adjustment of Obligation.--In an
action filed during, or [within 9 months] within 12 months
after, a servicemember's period of military service to enforce
an obligation described in subsection (a), the court may after
a hearing and on its own motion and shall upon application by a
servicemember when the servicemember's ability to comply with
the obligation is materially affected by military service--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Sale or Foreclosure.--A sale, foreclosure, or seizure of
property for a breach of an obligation described in subsection
(a) shall not be valid if made during, or [within 9 months]
within 12 months after, the period of the servicemember's
military service except--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(e) Protection for Surviving Spouse.--During the five-year
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this
subsection, with respect to a servicemember who dies while in
military service and whose death is service-connected, this
section shall apply to the surviving spouse of the
servicemember if such spouse is the successor in interest to
property covered under subsection (a).
* * * * * * *
----------
HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT OF 2008
* * * * * * *
DIVISION B--FORECLOSURE PREVENTION
* * * * * * *
TITLE II--MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
* * * * * * *
SEC. 2203. ENHANCEMENT OF PROTECTIONS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS RELATING TO
MORTGAGES AND MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
[(c) Effective Date; Sunset.--
[(1) Effective date.--The amendment made by
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of
enactment of this Act.
[(2) Sunset.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall expire on December 31, 2010. Effective January 1,
2011, the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of
section 303 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, as
in effect on the day before the date of the enactment
of this Act, are hereby revived.]
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
* * * * * * *