← Back to Bills
H.R. 6018House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to collect overpayments of specially adapted housing assistance.

Sponsored by J. Luis CorreaRep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA)
Introduced February 28, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:13 AM UTC

The bill gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs new authority to collect overpayments made under the specially adapted housing assistance program. It defines who can be held responsible for those overpayments, sets out how the money can be recovered, and includes safeguards such as notice, an opportunity to contest, and limited waivers. The changes affect veterans and other parties involved in the housing assistance process, such as contractors, sellers, and financial institutions.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary can determine the amount of any overpayment and identify who is liable, including the veteran, owners, sellers, builders, contractors, suppliers, attorneys, escrow agents, financial institutions, and their heirs or successors.
  • Overpayments may be collected like any other federal debt, and the Secretary may add administrative costs, fees, and interest.
  • The Secretary may waive recovery for veterans (or their dependents) when the overpayment results from an administrative error, but waivers do not release other liable parties.
  • Regulations must be issued to define what constitutes an overpayment, covering errors, failure to perform required actions, and misuse of funds.
  • Before collecting, the Secretary must give notice, a reasonable chance to fix the issue, and an opportunity to present evidence that no overpayment occurred.
  • Collecting an overpayment from parties other than the veteran or their dependents does not affect the veteran’s eligibility for benefits.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

5 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 12, 2020

View full timeline
HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 28, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E234)

February 28, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

February 28, 2020

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

March 9, 2020

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 12, 2020

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 12, 2020

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode
Latest
Raw Text PDF XML
Introduced in HouseIssued February 28, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6018

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 28, 2020

Mr. Correa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to collect overpayments of specially adapted housing assistance.

1.

Collection of overpayments of specially adapted housing assistance

Section 2102 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(f)
(1)

Whenever the Secretary finds that an overpayment has been made to, or on behalf of, a person described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall determine—

(A)

the amounts to recover, if any; and

(B)

who is liable to the United States for such overpayment.

(2)

A person described in this paragraph is any of the following:

(A)

An individual who—

(i)

applied for assistance under this chapter; or

(ii)

under chapter 31 of this title who is pursuing a rehabilitation program under such chapter in acquiring adaptations to a residence.

(B)

An owner or seller of real estate related to assistance under this chapter.

(C)

A builder, contractor, supplier, tradesperson, corporation, trust, partnership, or other person, related to assistance under this chapter.

(D)

An attorney, escrow agent, or financial institution, that receives, or holds in escrow, funds relating to assistance under this chapter.

(E)

A surviving spouse, heir, assignee, or successor in interest of or to, any person described in this paragraph.

(3)

Any overpayment referred to in this subsection may be recovered in the same manner as any other debt due the United States. In recovering the overpayment, the Secretary may charge administrative costs, fees, and interest, as appropriate, in a manner similar to the authority under section 5315 of this title.

(4)

The recovery of any overpayment referred to in this subsection may be waived by the Secretary. Waiver of any such overpayment as to a person described in paragraph (2) shall in no way release any other person described in such paragraph from liability.

(5)

The Secretary shall waive recovery under this subsection of any overpayment—

(A)

to a person described in paragraph (2)(A), or a dependent or survivor of such person; and

(B)

that arises from administrative error described in paragraph (7)(A).

(6)

Nothing in this section shall be construed as precluding the imposition of any civil or criminal liability under this title or any other law.

(7)

The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations what constitutes an overpayment for the purposes of this subsection, which, at a minimum, shall include—

(A)

administrative error that results in an individual receiving assistance to which that individual is not entitled;

(B)

the failure of any person described in paragraph (2) to—

(i)

perform or allow to be performed any act relating to assistance under this chapter; or

(ii)

compensate any party performing services or supplying goods relating to assistance under this chapter; and

(C)

any disbursement of funds relating to assistance under this chapter, that, in the sole discretion of the Secretary, constitutes a misuse of such assistance.

(8)

Prior to collecting an overpayment under this subsection, the Secretary shall provide to the person whom the Secretary has determined liable for such overpayment—

(A)

notice of the finding by the Secretary of such overpayment;

(B)

a reasonable opportunity for such person to remedy the circumstances that effectuated the overpayment; and

(C)

a reasonable opportunity for such person to present evidence to the Secretary that an overpayment was not made.

(9)

For the purposes of section 511 of this title, a decision to collect an overpayment from a person other than a person described in paragraph (2)(A), or a dependent or survivor of such person, may not be treated as a decision that affects the provision of benefits.

.