,h4 ,,res4 #gg  ,in the ,house of       
,representatives1 ,u4 ,s41  ,january    
#bi1 #bjai  ,,resolution  ,that it is   
the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7      
financial institutions and other        
entities1 such as landlords1 consumer   
reporting agencies and companies engaged
 in the production of consumer scores1  
should help consumers affected by any   
shutdown of the ,federal ,government1   
including the shutdown that began on    
,december #bb1 #bjah2  7#b7 even with   
the recent conclusion of the shutdown1  
the period of recovery has just begun   
and the negative impact the shutdown is 
having on millions of consumers and the 
,u4,s4 economy is significant2 for      
example1 analysis from ,s,p ,global     
,ratings estimates that the ,u4,s4      
economy has already lost more than #f   
billion as of ,january #be1 #bjai1 and  
if the shutdown were to resume in a few 
weeks1 the analysis suggests there would
 be a further reduction of real ,gross  
,domestic ,product by #a4b billion each 

week the government is shutdown2  7#c7  
financial institutions and other        
companies1 such as consumer reporting   
agencies and companies engaged in the   
production of consumer scores1 should   
provide opportunities for consumers     
affected by any shutdown--including     
,federal employees1 government          
contractors1 small businesses1 and other
 individuals--who are or will be facing 
financial distress to easily contact and
 alert them of their situation          
immediately2  7#d7 affected consumers   
may face financial hardship and         
emotional distress in making timely     
payments on their debts1 such as        
mortgages1 student loans1 car loans1    
credit cards1 and other debt1 as well as
 paying for rent1 food1 transportation1 
school and other basic necessities1 due 
to the temporary delay or permanent loss
 of their income2  7#e7 to provide quick
 relief to their affected customers or  
tenants1 financial institutions and     
other entities1 such as landlords1      

respectively1 should for the duration of
 any shutdown1 as well as for a         
reasonable period of time following a   
shutdown1 consider waiving or reducing  
penalty1 late payment1 and similar fees2
 ceasing evictions and foreclosures2 and
 providing forbearance2  7#f7 consumers 
affected by the shutdown1 whose income  
are directly or indirectly dependent on 
the full operation of the ,federal      
,government1 may be experiencing        
financial and emotional stress through  
no fault of their own and their         
creditworthiness should not be impaired 
because of the shutdown2  7#g7 financial
 institutions and other companies1 such 
as consumer reporting agencies and      
companies engaged in the production of  
consumer scores1 should take steps to   
prevent adverse information being       
reported and utilized in any manner that
 harms affected consumers1 including by 
preventing modified credit arrangements 
intended to help consumers fulfill their
 financial obligations from being       

reported to1 and coded by1 consumer     
reporting agencies on a person's credit 
report in a manner that hurts the       
creditworthiness of the affected        
consumers2  7#h7 new products1 services1
 or prudent workout arrangements        
designed to help affected consumers that
 are consistent with safe and sound     
lending practices are generally in the  
long-term best interest of the financial
 institution1 the consumer1 and the     
economy2  7#i7 financial institutions   
should work proactively to identify     
their customers who have been affected  
by any shutdown and adopt flexible1     
prudent arrangements to help such       
customers meet their debt and other     
obligations2 and  7#aj7 prudent efforts 
to adopt flexible workout arrangements  
for affected consumers should not be    
subject to examiner criticism or        
negative examinations4  ,clerk4