Bill Summary
This bill, which has not yet become law, is designed to provide relief to individuals who owe debts to the United States in the form of benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. During the COVID-19 emergency period, the Secretary is prohibited from taking any action to collect these debts, including recording them, issuing notices, or charging interest or administrative fees. However, individuals may still make payments towards these debts if they choose to do so. The bill defines key terms such as "covered debt" and "covered period" and references other laws and government agencies.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect veterans who are unable to pay their debts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They would be protected from actions such as collections and recording of their debt for a certain period of time.
2. The legislation could also affect individuals who are responsible for paying a veteran's debt, such as a fiduciary. They may choose to make a payment during the covered period to avoid penalties.
3. This legislation could also affect consumer reporting agencies, as they would not be allowed to report a veteran's debt during the covered period.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6590 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6590
To defer action regarding certain debts arising from benefits under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a period of
time including the COVID-19 emergency period.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 21, 2020
Mr. Pappas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To defer action regarding certain debts arising from benefits under
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a period of
time including the COVID-19 emergency period.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFERRAL OF CERTAIN DEBTS ARISING FROM BENEFITS UNDER LAWS
ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--During the covered period, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may not--
(1) take any action to collect a covered debt (including
the offset of any payment by the Secretary);
(2) record a covered debt;
(3) issue notice of a covered debt to a person or a
consumer reporting agency;
(4) allow any interest to accrue on a covered debt; or
(5) apply any administrative fee to a covered debt.
(b) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary may
collect a payment regarding a covered debt (including interest or any
administrative fee) from a person (or the fiduciary of that person) who
elects to make such a payment during the covered period.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``consumer reporting agency'' has the meaning
given that term in section 5701 of title 38, United States
Code.
(2) The term ``covered debt'' means a debt--
(A) owed by a person (including a fiduciary) to the
United States;
(B) arising from a benefit under a covered law; and
(C) that is not subject to recovery under--
(i) section 3729 of title 31, United States
Code;
(ii) section 1729 of title 38, United
States Code; or
(iii) Public Law 87-693 (42 U.S.C. 2651).
(3) The term ``covered law'' means any law administered by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs through--
(A) the Under Secretary for Health; or
(B) the Under Secretary for Benefits.
(4) The term ``covered period'' means--
(A) the COVID-19 emergency period; and
(B) the 60 days immediately following the date of
the end of the COVID-19 emergency period.
(5) The term ``COVID-19 emergency period'' means the
emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B)).
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