Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5003.

I thank the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean) for introducing this legislation.

Our servicemembers put their lives on the line for us every day. The last thing we want is that, when they are serving, they are to be distracted.

H.R. 5003 prohibits debt collectors from using threats against the servicemember's rank or security clearance or threats of prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Not only are such practices unfair, they increase the risk of harm to the servicemember's military readiness.

During the committee markup of H.R. 5003, Republicans expressed concerns that there were too many unanswered questions about how this bill could impact military readiness.

The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers) offered an amendment to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on the impact of this bill and what its impact is on the timeliness with which servicemembers are informed about debts and collection, as well as on military readiness and national security.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bill's sponsor and Chair Waters in accepting Mr. Stivers' constructive addition.

This bill is a commonsense approach to ensure that Congress considers the connection between national security and the protection of servicemembers from unfair practices.

Mr. Speaker, it is very important today that we thank the Department of Defense and the House Armed Services Committee for their support and analysis in making this a quality measure for us to consider.

All Americans deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when faced with repaying a debt. This is especially true for our servicemembers who fight for our freedoms every day.

This bill will provide important safeguards, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS. Dean), the sponsor of this important legislation.

I think that was an excellent description of why this bill is needed. We honor the 1 percent of Americans that go out, put on the uniform, and serve the other 99 percent of Americans, those who work for our freedoms every day around the world, 24/7. This is one of the least things we can do to make servicemembers' lives and the lives of those military families at the margin better.

I thank my friends for bringing this bill. I appreciate its sponsor.

Mr. SAN NICOLAS.

I thank Representative Dean, Chairwoman Waters, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their good work and collaboration on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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