Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-3705
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Introduced: 2017-09-07
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Debt collection

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Postal service

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' organizations and recognition
Latest action: action_date: 2017-11-09
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-09-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to require that certified mail be used: (1) to send a veteran any debt demand or debt information notification concerning collection of debts resulting from the veteran's participation in a VA benefit or home loan program, and (2) by a veteran to request a collection waiver from the VA. </p> <p>A VA debt demand shall explain in plain language why the debtor owes money to the VA, and a VA debt notification shall include in plain language options available to the debtor.</p>

action_date: 2017-11-07
action_desc: Reported to House with amendment(s)
text: <p><b>Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to collaborate with veterans service organizations to write a standard letter to be provided to individuals who owe debts to the VA. Such letter shall be written in plain language and shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation of: (1) why the individual owes such money, and (2) available options.</p> <p>The VA shall develop a method by which individuals may elect to receive debt notification letters by electronic means and shall ensure that the letter is delivered: (1) by both standard mail and electronic means to individuals who have made such election, and (2) only by standard mail to individuals who have not made such election.</p> <p>The VA shall: (1) notify Congress regarding the completion of such letter, and (2) study and report to Congress on the process by which it notifies veterans of debt collection efforts. </p> </p>

action_date: 2017-11-08
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on November 7, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)</p> <p><b>Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017</b></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to collaborate with veterans service organizations to write a standard letter to be provided to individuals who owe debts to the VA. Such letter shall be written in plain language and shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation of: (1) why the individual owes such money, and (2) available options.</p> <p>The VA shall develop a method by which individuals may elect to receive debt notification letters by electronic means and shall ensure that the letter is delivered: (1) by both standard mail and electronic means to individuals who have made such election, and (2) only by standard mail to individuals who have not made such election.</p> <p>The VA shall: (1) notify Congress regarding the completion of such letter, and (2) study and report to Congress on the process by which it notifies veterans of debt collection efforts. </p> </p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3705 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 7, 2017 Ms. Pingree introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the use of certified mail and plain language in certain debt collection activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017 . 2. Use of certified mail and plain language required in certain debt collection activities (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall amend section 1.911 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, to require that certified mail be used to send any of the following: (1) A written demand from the Secretary to a debtor under subsection (b) of such section. (2) A request for a waiver from a debtor to the Secretary under subsection (c)(2) of such section. (3) A notification from the Secretary to a debtor under subsection (d) or (e) of such section. (b) Plain language required The Secretary shall write the following in plain language: (1) Any demand described in subsection (a)(1), which shall include an explanation of why the debtor owes money to the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2) Any notification described in subsection (a)(3), which shall include options available to the debtor.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3705 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the use of certified mail and plain language in certain debt collection activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017 . 2. Department of Veterans Affairs notice relating to debt collection activities (a) Debt notification letters The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall collaborate with veterans service organizations to write a standard letter to be provided to individuals who the Secretary determines owe debts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such letter shall be written in plain language and shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation of— (1) why the individual owes money to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (2) the options available to the individual. (b) Delivery of letters The Secretary shall develop a method by which individuals may elect to receive debt notification letters by electronic means and shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the letter developed under subsection (a) is delivered to intended recipients who have made such an election by both standard mail and by electronic means and to intended recipients who have not made such an election only by standard mail. (c) Notice to Congress (1) Notice of completion Upon completion of the letter required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress notice of the completion of the letter. (2) Progress reports If the Secretary has not submitted the notice required by paragraph (1) by the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) submit to Congress a report describing the progress of the Secretary toward implementing subsection (a) and an explanation for why the letter has not been completed; and (B) every 30 days thereafter until the submittal of the notice required by paragraph (1), submit to Congress an update to the report under subparagraph (A) that includes an additional explanation for the failure to complete the letter. (d) Study; report (1) Study The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs notifies veterans of debt collection efforts. Such study shall include— (A) an analysis of the scope of the problem of veterans not receiving debt collection notices; (B) a description of any non-legislative actions the Secretary could take to reduce the number of incorrect or unknown addresses of veterans in the databases of the Department and a timeline for adopting such actions; and (C) an estimate of the costs associated with sending debt collection notices by certified mail. (2) Report Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1).

Passed the House of Representatives November 8, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3705 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 9, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the use of certified mail and plain language in certain debt collection activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017 . 2. Department of Veterans Affairs notice relating to debt collection activities (a) Debt notification letters The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall collaborate with veterans service organizations to write a standard letter to be provided to individuals who the Secretary determines owe debts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such letter shall be written in plain language and shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation of— (1) why the individual owes money to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (2) the options available to the individual. (b) Delivery of letters The Secretary shall develop a method by which individuals may elect to receive debt notification letters by electronic means and shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the letter developed under subsection (a) is delivered to intended recipients who have made such an election by both standard mail and by electronic means and to intended recipients who have not made such an election only by standard mail. (c) Notice to Congress (1) Notice of completion Upon completion of the letter required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress notice of the completion of the letter. (2) Progress reports If the Secretary has not submitted the notice required by paragraph (1) by the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) submit to Congress a report describing the progress of the Secretary toward implementing subsection (a) and an explanation for why the letter has not been completed; and (B) every 30 days thereafter until the submittal of the notice required by paragraph (1), submit to Congress an update to the report under subparagraph (A) that includes an additional explanation for the failure to complete the letter. (d) Study; report (1) Study The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs notifies veterans of debt collection efforts. Such study shall include— (A) an analysis of the scope of the problem of veterans not receiving debt collection notices; (B) a description of any non-legislative actions the Secretary could take to reduce the number of incorrect or unknown addresses of veterans in the databases of the Department and a timeline for adopting such actions; and (C) an estimate of the costs associated with sending debt collection notices by certified mail. (2) Report Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1).

Passed the House of Representatives November 8, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 293 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3705 [Report No. 115–397] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 7, 2017 Ms. Pingree introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs November 7, 2017 Additional sponsors: Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire and Mr. Young of Iowa November 7, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 7, 2017 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the use of certified mail and plain language in certain debt collection activities.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017 . 2. Department of Veterans Affairs notice relating to debt collection activities (a) Debt notification letters The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall collaborate with veterans service organizations to write a standard letter to be provided to individuals who the Secretary determines owe debts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Such letter shall be written in plain language and shall include a notice of the debt and a clear explanation of— (1) why the individual owes money to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (2) the options available to the individual. (b) Delivery of letters The Secretary shall develop a method by which individuals may elect to receive debt notification letters by electronic means and shall ensure, to the extent practicable, that the letter developed under subsection (a) is delivered to intended recipients who have made such an election by both standard mail and by electronic means and to intended recipients who have not made such an election only by standard mail. (c) Notice to Congress (1) Notice of completion Upon completion of the letter required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress notice of the completion of the letter. (2) Progress reports If the Secretary has not submitted the notice required by paragraph (1) by the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) submit to Congress a report describing the progress of the Secretary toward implementing subsection (a) and an explanation for why the letter has not been completed; and (B) every 30 days thereafter until the submittal of the notice required by paragraph (1), submit to Congress an update to the report under subparagraph (A) that includes an additional explanation for the failure to complete the letter. (d) Study; report (1) Study The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall conduct a study on the process by which the Department of Veterans Affairs notifies veterans of debt collection efforts. Such study shall include— (A) an analysis of the scope of the problem of veterans not receiving debt collection notices; (B) a description of any non-legislative actions the Secretary could take to reduce the number of incorrect or unknown addresses of veterans in the databases of the Department and a timeline for adopting such actions; and (C) an estimate of the costs associated with sending debt collection notices by certified mail. (2) Report Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under paragraph (1).

November 7, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed