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HR 3948 116th Congress House Finance and Financial Sector Civil actions and liability Debt collection Disaster relief and insurance Inflation and prices Public contracts and procurement

Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Introduced: July 24, 2019 Introduced by: Meeks, Gregory W. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 16, 2020
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.
Dec 16, 2020
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 116-658.
Nov 14, 2019
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 31 - 23.
Nov 14, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Nov 13, 2019
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 24, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Jul 24, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

This bill applies certain consumer protections regarding debt collection to debt owed to a state. It also specifies that existing limits on civil damages awarded for abusive practices by a debt collector must be adjusted for inflation.

A court may award injunctive relief for certain debt collection violations.

The Department of the Treasury may not contract with any debt collector or other private party to recoup overpayments of certain disaster assistance made to an individual or household by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), except in cases of fraud or deceit.

What's happening now December 16, 2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.

 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3
D
Cleaver, Emanuel
Missouri · Sep 26, 2019
 D
Pressley, Ayanna
Massachusetts · Sep 26, 2019
 D
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria
New York · Sep 25, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3948: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3948/
MLA
"H.R. 3948: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3948/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3948, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3948/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3948: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3948/)
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