H.R. 5003 — Introduced in House

I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5003 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 8, 2019Ms. Dean introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act. 2. Enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces (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— (A) has the meaning given the term in section 987(i)(1) of title 10, United States Code; and (B) means 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. (2) Prohibitions A debt collector may not, in connection with the collection of any debt of a covered member— (A) communicate with any individual above a covered member in the chain of command, including for the purpose of acquiring location information about the covered member; (B) threaten to have the covered member reduced in rank; or (C) threaten to have the covered member’s security clearance revoked. . (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). .