H.R. 5003House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 9:25 AM UTC

The Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act amends the existing Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to give extra protection to active‑duty service members, their dependents, and recently separated personnel. It bars debt collectors from using military‑related threats—such as rank reduction, loss of security clearance, or prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice—to collect debts. The bill also requires a GAO study on how these new rules affect service members and military readiness.

Key Provisions

Defines a “covered member” as an active‑duty service member or dependent, plus anyone who has been separated, discharged, or released within the past year and certain related persons.
Prohibits debt collectors from threatening a covered member with rank reduction, revocation of security clearance, or military prosecution when trying to collect a debt.
Makes it an unfair practice for a collector to tell a covered member that failure to cooperate will lead to those same military‑related threats.
Orders the Comptroller General to study the law’s impact on information delivery to covered members, military readiness, and national security.

Legislative Activity

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13 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

March 3, 2020

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Financial Services Committee

November 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Financial Services Committee

November 13, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Financial Services Committee

November 14, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 54 - 0.

Financial Services Committee

November 14, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. San Nicolas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

March 2, 2020 • 5:10 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1428-1429)

March 2, 2020 • 5:10 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5003.

March 2, 2020 • 5:10 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

March 2, 2020 • 5:19 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1433)

March 2, 2020 • 6:32 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 355 - 0 (Roll no. 79).

View vote Passed

March 2, 2020 • 6:59 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 355 - 0 (Roll no. 79). (text: CR H1428)

View vote Passed

March 2, 2020 • 6:59 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 2, 2020 • 6:59 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

March 3, 2020

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

March 2, 2020 at 6:58 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

355 - 0

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued March 3, 2020

IIB

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5003

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 3, 2020

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

AN ACT

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.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act.

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).

GAO study

The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on the impact of this Act on—

(1)

the timely delivery of information to a covered member (as defined in section 805(e) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, as added by this Act);

(2)

military readiness; and

(3)

national security, including the extent to which covered members with security clearances would be impacted by uncollected debt.

Determination of budgetary effects

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee,

provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Passed the House of Representatives March 2, 2020.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk.