[House Report 117-29]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress  }                                              {   Report
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session    }                                              {   117-29

======================================================================

 
   PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF 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; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 1065) TO 
   ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AND PROMOTE WOMEN'S HEALTH AND ECONOMIC 
 SECURITY BY ENSURING REASONABLE WORKPLACE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR WORKERS 
    WHOSE ABILITY TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS OF A JOB ARE LIMITED BY 
 PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, OR A RELATED MEDICAL CONDITION; AND FOR OTHER 
                                PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

May 11, 2021.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

             Mr. Perlmutter, from the Committee on Rules, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 380]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 380, by a record vote of 8 to 4, report the 
same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution 
be adopted.

                SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

    The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2547, the 
Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, under a 
structured rule. The resolution provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Financial Services or their 
designees. The resolution waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The resolution provides that the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill, 
modified by the amendment printed in part A of this report, 
shall be considered as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall 
be considered as read. The resolution waives all points of 
order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The 
resolution provides that following debate, each further 
amendment printed in part B of this report not earlier 
considered as part of amendments en bloc pursuant to section 3 
shall be considered only in the order printed in this report, 
may be offered only by a Member designated in this report, 
shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time 
specified in this 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. The resolution provides that at any 
time after debate the chair of the Committee on Financial 
Services or her designee may offer amendments en bloc 
consisting of further amendments printed in part B of this 
report 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 designees, 
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to 
a demand for division of the question. The resolution waives 
all points of order against the amendments printed in part B of 
this report or amendments en bloc described in section 3 of the 
resolution. The resolution provides one motion to recommit. The 
resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1065, the 
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, under a closed rule. The 
resolution provides one hour of general debate equally divided 
and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Education and Labor or their designees. The 
resolution waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill. The resolution provides that the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
Education and Labor now printed in the bill shall be considered 
as adopted and the bill, as amended, shall be considered as 
read. The resolution waives all points of order against 
provisions in the bill, as amended. The resolution provides one 
motion to recommit. The resolution provides that at any time 
through the legislative day of Friday, May 14, 2021, the 
Speaker may entertain motions offered by the Majority Leader or 
a designee that the House suspend the rules with respect to 
multiple measures that were the object of motions to suspend 
the rules on the legislative days of May 11 or 12, 2021, and on 
which the yeas and nays were ordered and further proceedings 
postponed. The Chair shall put the question on any such motion 
without debate or intervening motion, and the ordering of the 
yeas and nays on postponed motions to suspend the rules with 
respect to such measures is vacated. The resolution provides 
that House Resolution 379 is hereby adopted.

                         EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

    The waiver of all points of order against consideration of 
H.R. 2547 includes waivers of the following:
    --Clause 10 of rule XXI, which prohibits consideration of a 
measure that has a net effect of increasing the deficit or 
reducing the surplus over the five- or 10-year period; however, 
the budgetary effects of the bill are fully offset over the 10-
year period.
    --Section 302(f)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act, which 
prohibits consideration of legislation providing new budget 
authority in excess of a 302(a) or 302(b) allocation of such 
authority.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
provisions in H.R. 2547, as amended, the Committee is not aware 
of any points of order. The waiver of all points of order 
prophylactic in nature.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
the amendments printed in part B of this report or against 
amendments en bloc described in section 3 of the resolution, 
the Committee is not aware of any points of order. The waiver 
is prophylactic in nature.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
consideration of H.R. 1065, the Committee is not aware of any 
points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
provisions in H.R. 1065, as amended, the Committee is not aware 
of any points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion 
to report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, are printed below:

Rules Committee record vote No. 74

    Motion by Mr. Cole to add language to the rule that would 
eliminate the tolling of days for Resolutions of Inquiry. 
Defeated: 4-8

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. Torres.....................................          Nay   Mr. Cole..........................          Yea
Mr. Perlmutter..................................          Nay   Mr. Burgess.......................          Yea
Mr. Raskin......................................          Nay   Mr. Reschenthaler.................          Yea
Ms. Scanlon.....................................          Nay   Mrs. Fischbach....................          Yea
Mr. Morelle.....................................          Nay
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Nay
Ms. Ross........................................          Nay
Mr. McGovern, Chairman..........................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules Committee record vote No. 75

    Motion by Mr. Cole to report an open rule for H.R. 2547 and 
H.R. 1065. Defeated: 4-8

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. Torres.....................................          Nay   Mr. Cole..........................          Yea
Mr. Perlmutter..................................          Nay   Mr. Burgess.......................          Yea
Mr. Raskin......................................          Nay   Mr. Reschenthaler.................          Yea
Ms. Scanlon.....................................          Nay   Mrs. Fischbach....................          Yea
Mr. Morelle.....................................          Nay
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Nay
Ms. Ross........................................          Nay
Mr. McGovern, Chairman..........................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules Committee record vote No. 76

    Motion by Mrs. Fischbach to amend the rule to H.R. 1065 to 
make in order amendment #1, offered by Rep. Foxx (NC), which 
includes the text of H.R. 1065 and adds Section 702(a) of Title 
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to ensure religious 
organizations can make religiously based employment decisions. 
Defeated: 4-8

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. Torres.....................................          Nay   Mr. Cole..........................          Yea
Mr. Perlmutter..................................          Nay   Mr. Burgess.......................          Yea
Mr. Raskin......................................          Nay   Mr. Reschenthaler.................          Yea
Ms. Scanlon.....................................          Nay   Mrs. Fischbach....................          Yea
Mr. Morelle.....................................          Nay
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Nay
Ms. Ross........................................          Nay
Mr. McGovern, Chairman..........................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules Committee record vote No. 77

    Motion by Mr. Perlmutter to report the rule. Adopted: 8-4

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mrs. Torres.....................................          Yea   Mr. Cole..........................          Nay
Mr. Perlmutter..................................          Yea   Mr. Burgess.......................          Nay
Mr. Raskin......................................          Yea   Mr. Reschenthaler.................          Nay
Ms. Scanlon.....................................          Yea   Mrs. Fischbach....................          Nay
Mr. Morelle.....................................          Yea
Mr. DeSaulnier..................................          Yea
Ms. Ross........................................          Yea
Mr. McGovern, Chairman..........................          Yea
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2547 IN PART A CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED

    1. Waters (CA): Adds and refines certain definitions, makes 
a number of other minor changes and technical corrections, and 
includes additional revenue measures.

     SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2547 IN PART B MADE IN ORDER

    1. Bonamici (OR), Cohen (TN): Expands requirements debt 
collectors must meet to take legal action on a debt, including 
providing advanced notice of commencing legal action and 
updates FDCPA to require proof that a debt is legally owed and 
due. (10 minutes)
    2. Adams (NC), Williams (GA): Provides private student loan 
borrowers the same protections as federal borrowers, with 
regards to prohibiting servicers and credit reporting agencies 
from reporting adverse information and directs the credit 
reporting agencies to remove any adverse information. (10 
minutes)
    3. Bowman (NY): Ensure that debt collectors would not be 
allowed to contact consumers via social media unless explicitly 
provided written consent. (10 minutes)
    4. Burgess (TX): Prior to enacting this legislation, the 
Treasury Secretary shall certify that this legislation will not 
limit the availability of debt products or increase their cost 
for Americans without a credit history, Americans with poor 
credit history, or Americans from lower socio-economic 
backgrounds. (10 minutes)
    5. Bush, Cori (MO): Requires the CFPB report to Congress in 
6 months analyzing consumer complaint data relating to debt 
collection practices (including debt collection practices as it 
relates to medical debt and debts owed by servicemembers) 
during the pandemic, as well as a list of enforcement actions 
taken by CFPB relating to debt collection during the pandemic. 
The report must also outline a strategy on how the CFPB will 
utilize regulatory, supervisory and enforcement tools to combat 
predatory debt collection practices identified during the 
pandemic and the CFPB would be required to request debt 
collectors covered by their larger participant rule provide to 
the Bureau information about their default judgements pursued 
through litigation during the pandemic. (10 minutes)
    6. Cohen (TN), Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Bonamici (OR): Adds 
language that would explicitly prohibit debt collectors from 
collecting or attempting to collect debt from consumers which 
the statute of limitations has expired and would also prohibit 
a debt collector from bringing, or threatening to bring, legal 
action against any consumer on a debt in which the statute of 
limitations has expired. (10 minutes)
    7. Craig (MN): Adds a new section entitled the ``Ryan 
Frascone Memorial Student Loan Relief Act of 2021'' to release 
cosigners of private student loan agreements in the event of 
the death of the borrower, which will align current law with 
loans made prior to enactment of the Economic, Growth, 
Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 115-174). 
The amendment also creates the Treasury Loan Purchase Program 
administered by the Dept. of Treasury that would allow private 
student loan providers who sustain significant financial injury 
from releasing cosigners retroactively as provided in the 
amendment to apply to the Secretary of the Treasury to have the 
Secretary purchase and retire such loan. (10 minutes)
    8. Luetkemeyer (MO): Directs the GAO to study and report to 
Congress within 1-year about how restricting debt collection 
will impact low- to moderate-income and minority borrowers with 
the bill becoming effective upon date of the report's release. 
(10 minutes)
    9. McHenry (NC): Replaces the underlying bill with targeted 
approaches to improve the debt collection and credit reporting 
framework which will ensure the financial system remains safe 
and sound while protecting and introducing options for 
consumers. (10 minutes)
    10. Newman (IL): Requires the CFPB to create a page on 
their website with a consumer bill of rights for abusive debt 
collectors and resources, as well as directing it to be offered 
in different languages. (10 minutes)
    11. Omar (MN): Directs the CFPB to study and report to 
Congress within 18 months about the consumer experiences and 
financial impacts of debt collection practices on student loan 
borrowers with private education loans, and requires an 
analysis on the practices of private student lenders 
challenging undue hardship petitions. (10 minutes)
    12. Payne, Jr. (NJ): Requires the CFPB to report to 
Congress on the number of people unable to pay a debt because a 
debt collector is unable to accept a cash payment. (10 minutes)
    13. Ross, Deborah (NC): Directs the GAO to (1) analyze the 
trends and impacts associated with the use of electronic and 
telephone communications in the debt collection industry, and 
(2) recommend regulatory and legislative proposals to reduce 
the annoyance, abuse, and harassment of consumers by debt 
collectors, including the frequency of electronic and telephone 
communications by debt collectors to consumers. (10 minutes)
    14. Williams (GA): Commissions a report that identifies and 
analyzes racial disparities relating to debt collection 
practices and provides administrative and legislative 
recommendations to address such disparities. (10 minutes)

      PART A--TEXT OF AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2547 CONSIDERED AS ADOPTED

  Strike page 5, line 19 through page 6, line 7.
  On page 6, after line 7 insert 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''.
  On page 10, line 12, insert ``(and any cosigner)'' after 
``student obligor''.
  On page 12, starting on line 20, strike ``owed or due or 
asserted to be owed or due by a consumer,''.
  On page 18, line 18, strike ``that allows'' and insert ``that 
does not prohibit''.
  On page 20, line 4, strike ``phone'' and insert 
``telephone''.
  On page 21, strike line 19 and insert the following: 
``alleged obligation.''.
  On page 21, after line 19, insert the following:
        ``The enforcement of a debt described in subparagraph 
        (C) is deemed to be a collection of a debt.''; and
  On page 24, line 5, insert ``not'' after ``may''.
  On page 24, line 6, strike ``not'' after ``debt collector''.
  On page 25, line 24, strike ``Federal, State, and local'' and 
insert ``Federal and State''.
  On page 26, line 2, strike ``Federal, State, and local'' and 
insert ``Federal and State''.
  On page 26, lines 3 through 4, strike ``Federal, State, or 
local'' and insert ``Federal or State''.
  On page 26, line 11, insert ``Federal and'' before ``State''.
  On page 26, line 15, strike ``Federal, State, and local'' and 
insert ``Federal and State''.
  On page 26, lines 17 through 18, strike ``Federal, State, and 
local'' and insert ``Federal and State''.
  On page 26, line 24, strike ``Federal, State, and local'' and 
insert ``Federal and State''.
  On page 27, line 12, strike `` Federal, State, and local'' 
and insert ``Federal and State''.
  On page 28, after line 4, insert the following:
  (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.
  On page 32, line 9, insert ``further'' before ``amended''.
  On page 32, line 14, strike ``EFFECTIVE DATE'' and insert 
``MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS''.
  On page 32, after line 14, insert the following:

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.

         PART B--TEXT OF AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2547 MADE IN ORDER

 1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Bonamici of Oregon or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.''.
                              ----------                              


2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Adams of North Carolina 
               or Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  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 ``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).
                              ----------                              


 3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Bowman of New York or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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)''.
                              ----------                              


4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Burgess of Texas or His 
                   Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.
                              ----------                              


5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Bush of Missouri or Her 
                   Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.
                              ----------                              


 6. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Cohen of Tennessee or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.''.
                              ----------                              


 7. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Craig of Minnesota or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.
                              ----------                              


8. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Luetkemeyer of Missouri 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.
                              ----------                              


   9. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative McHenry of North 
           Carolina or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  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.

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.
                              ----------                              


10. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Newman of Illinois or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.
                              ----------                              


 11. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Omar of Minnesota or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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--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.
                              ----------                              


   12. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Payne, Jr of New 
            Jersey or his Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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)''.
                              ----------                              


13. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Ross of North Carolina 
               or Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.
                              ----------                              


14. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Williams of Georgia or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

    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.