I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1566 
To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to enhance protections for 
members of the uniformed services relating to mortgages, mortgage fore-
closure, and eviction, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 14, 2011 
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota (for himself, Mr. MICHAUD, and Mr. KISSELL) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to enhance 
protections for members of the uniformed services relat-
ing to mortgages, mortgage foreclosure, and eviction, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting 
Servicemembers from Mortgage Abuses Act of 2011’’. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:41 Apr 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1566.IH
H1566
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. ENHANCED PROTECTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF UNI-
FORMED SERVICES RELATING TO MORT-
GAGES, 
MORTGAGE 
FORECLOSURE, 
AND 
EVICTION. 
(a) EXTENDED PERIOD OF PROTECTIONS.— 
(1) STAY OF PROCEEDINGS AND PERIOD OF AD-
JUSTMENT OF OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO REAL OR 
PERSONAL
PROPERTY.—Section 
303(b) 
of 
the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 
533(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘within 9 months’’ 
and inserting ‘‘within 24 months’’. 
(2) PERIOD
OF
RELIEF
FROM
SALE, FORE-
CLOSURE, OR SEIZURE.—Section 303(c) of such Act 
(50 U.S.C. App. 533(c)) is amended by striking 
‘‘within 9 months’’ and inserting ‘‘within 24 
months’’. 
(3) REPEAL
OF
SUNSET.—Subsection (c) of 
section 2203 of the Housing and Economic Recovery 
Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–289; 50 U.S.C. App. 
533 note) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act.’’. 
(b) INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES.— 
(1) FELONY FOR UNLAWFUL EVICTION OR DIS-
TRESS.— 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:41 Apr 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1566.IH
H1566
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of sec-
tion 301 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 
(50 U.S.C. App. 531(c)) is amended by striking 
‘‘not more than one year’’ and inserting ‘‘not 
more than two years’’. 
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading 
of such subsection is amended by striking 
‘‘MISDEMEANOR’’ and inserting ‘‘FELONY’’. 
(2) FELONY
FOR
UNLAWFUL
SALE, FORE-
CLOSURE, OR SEIZURE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (d) of sec-
tion 303 of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 533(d)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘not more than one 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘not more than two years’’. 
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The heading 
of such subsection is amended by striking 
‘‘MISDEMEANOR’’ and inserting ‘‘FELONY’’. 
(3) REVIEW OF FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDE-
LINES.—Pursuant to the authority under section 
994 of title 28, United States Code, the United 
States Sentencing Commission shall review the Fed-
eral Sentencing Guidelines and policy statements ap-
plicable to offenses under section 301(c) and 303(d) 
of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:41 Apr 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1566.IH
H1566
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS
App. 501 et seq.) to reflect the amendments made 
by paragraphs (1) and (2). 
(c) INCREASED CIVIL PENALTIES GENERALLY.— 
Section 801(b)(3) of such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 597(b)(3)) 
is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘$55,000’’ 
and inserting ‘‘$110,000’’; and 
(2) 
in 
subparagraph 
(B), 
by 
striking 
‘‘$110,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$220,000’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
21:41 Apr 19, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1566.IH
H1566
srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with BILLS