Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act, bipartisan legislation to help protect service members and their families from unfair telecommunication contracts, allowing them to cancel TV, phone, or internet service providers without penalty if a global emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, prevents them from moving and using their planned service provider.

"Our military members and their families are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and for freedom across the world, so the least we could do is make their relocation moves easier. If a service member receives an order to relocate, obviously they should be able to terminate a telephone, television, or internet contract if the company does not service their new address or if their move is suddenly halted because of an emergency situation," said Senator Cramer. "Our bill would ensure our service members are not financially burdened by unnecessary contracts or fees while answering the call to serve our great country and stand in the gap for freedom."

"Through no fault of their own, members of our military are being forced to pay for telecommunication contracts that they no longer need after their Permanent Change of Station order was put on hold because of the pandemic," said Senator Hassan. "Many of us have had the experience of waiting on hold with a service provider, trying to navigate the fine print of our telecom contract only to be told there is no flexibility. For our service members and military families, that's inexcusable. I am glad to team up with Senator Cramer to push for this bill to be included in the NDAA, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this important measure."

The Emergency Relief for Servicemembers Act will help ensure that service members who are ordered to move due to their military service and enter into a telecommunications contract are able to terminate that contact without penalty after receiving a stop movement order in response to an emergency. The bill would be retroactive to March 1, 2020.

A companion bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Levin (D-CA) and Mike Garcia (R-CA) and was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has not yet brought to the Senate floor.

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