Text of Senate Amendment 5944

On 2026-06-23, Senator Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5944" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5944

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3089] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5944. Mr. WARNOCK submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. _____. 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 individual' means-- ``(A) a covered member or a dependent, as those terms are defined in section 987(i) of title 10, United States Code; ``(B) an individual who was separated, discharged, or released from duty described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 987(i)(1) of title 10, United States Code, but only during the 365-day period beginning on the date of separation, discharge, or release; ``(C) a dependent described in subparagraph (A), (D), (E), or (I) of section 1072(2) of title 10, United States Code, of an individual described in subparagraph (B); or ``(D) a member of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, as defined in section 10143 of title 10, United States Code. ``(2) Prohibitions.--A debt collector may not, in connection with the collection of any debt of a covered individual-- ``(A) threaten to have the covered individual reduced in rank; ``(B) threaten to have the covered individual's security clearance revoked; or ``(C) threaten to have the covered individual prosecuted under chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (commonly known as the `Uniform Code of Military Justice'). ``(3) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to restrict the ability of a debt collector to provide a covered individual with accurate and lawful information regarding any debt owed by the covered individual (including the amount of such a debt, the status of such a debt, or the consequences of nonpayment with respect to such a debt), if providing that information does not violate paragraph (2) or any other provision of this title.''. (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 individual (as defined in section 805(e)(1)) that failure to cooperate with a debt collector will result in-- ``(A) a reduction in rank of the covered individual; ``(B) a revocation of the covered individual's security clearance; or ``(C) prosecution under chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (commonly known as the `Uniform Code of Military Justice').''. (c) GAO Study.-- (1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``covered individual'' has the meaning given the term in subsection (e) of section 805 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692c), as added by this section. (2) Requirement.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on the impact of this section, and the amendments made by this section, on-- (A) the timely delivery of information to a covered individual; (B) military readiness; and (C) national security, including the extent to which covered individuals with security clearances would be impacted by uncollected debt. ______