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S 3197 110th Congress Senate Finance and Financial Sector Armed Forces and National Security Armed forces reserves Bankruptcy Bankruptcy courts Civil procedure Congress Congressional investigations Congressional reporting requirements Debtor and creditor Emergency Management Law National Guard

National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008

Introduced: June 25, 2008 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 22 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 20, 2008
Became Public Law No: 110-438.
Oct 20, 2008
Signed by President.
Oct 9, 2008
Presented to President.
Oct 3, 2008
Cleared for White House.
Oct 3, 2008
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Oct 3, 2008
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 0 (Roll no. 682). (text: CR 10/2/2008 H10648-10649)
Oct 3, 2008
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H10806-10807)
Oct 2, 2008
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.
Oct 2, 2008
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3197.
Oct 2, 2008
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10648-10653; text of measure as introduced: CR H10648-10649)
Oct 2, 2008
Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Oct 2, 2008
Held at the desk.
Oct 2, 2008
Received in the House.
Oct 1, 2008
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sep 30, 2008
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10186-10187; text as passed in Senate: CR S10186-10187)
Sep 30, 2008
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S10186-10187; text as passed in Senate: CR S10186-10187)
Sep 15, 2008
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 963.
Sep 15, 2008
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
Sep 11, 2008
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Jun 25, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6166-6167)
Jun 25, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6166)
Jun 25, 2008
Introduced in Senate
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Oct 3, 2008 House · vote #682 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 411–0 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on September 15, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends federal bankruptcy law to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a chapter 7 liquidation case based upon means testing if the debtor, after September 11, 2001, was called to active duty or homeland defense activity while a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or a member of the National Guard, and such debtor is: (1) on active duty for a specified period; or (2) performing a homeland defense activity for a specified period.

(Sec. 3) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on whether and to what degree members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard: (1) avail themselves of the benefits of this Act; (2) are debtors in federal bankruptcy cases substantially related to service that qualifies them for such benefits ; and (3) are debtors in federal bankruptcy cases materially related to such service.

Requires such study to include the effects that the use of this Act by such members has upon: (1) the bankruptcy system; (2) creditors; and (3) the debt-incurrence practices of such members.

Prescribes mandatory factors for consideration in such report.

What's happening now October 20, 2008

Became Public Law No: 110-438.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 3972 Related bill To amend the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 to exempt from the means test in bankruptc…
  • HR 4044 Related bill To amend title 11 of the United States Code to exempt for a limited period, from the application of the means-test pres…
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3197: National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008. 110th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-3197/
MLA
"S. 3197: National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008." 110th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-3197/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3197, 110th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-3197/.
Markdown link
[S. 3197: National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008](https://openamerica.io/bill/110-S-3197/)
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