To defer action regarding certain debts arising from benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a period of time including the COVID-19 emergency period.

Bill: 116-hr-6590
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
Introduced: 2020-04-21
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Consumer credit

Debt collection

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Interest, dividends, interest rates

User charges and fees

Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs

Veterans' medical care

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-30
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-04-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill defers certain debts arising from benefits under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during the covered period, which is the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period plus the 60 days following the end of such period.</p> <p>Specifically, the bill prohibits the VA from doing the following during the covered period:</p> <ul> <li>collecting or recording certain debts,</li> <li>issuing notice of certain debts to a person or consumer reporting agency,</li> <li>allowing any interest to accrue on certain debts, or</li> <li>applying any administrative fee to certain debts.</li> </ul> <p>The VA may collect a payment from a person who elects to make such payment during the covered period.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6590 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 21, 2020 Mr. Pappas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To defer action regarding certain debts arising from benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a period of time including the COVID-19 emergency period.

1. Deferral of certain debts arising from benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (a) In general During the covered period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not— (1) take any action to collect a covered debt (including the offset of any payment by the Secretary); (2) record a covered debt; (3) issue notice of a covered debt to a person or a consumer reporting agency; (4) allow any interest to accrue on a covered debt; or (5) apply any administrative fee to a covered debt. (b) Exception Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary may collect a payment regarding a covered debt (including interest or any administrative fee) from a person (or the fiduciary of that person) who elects to make such a payment during the covered period. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term consumer reporting agency has the meaning given that term in section 5701 of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term covered debt means a debt— (A) owed by a person (including a fiduciary) to the United States; (B) arising from a benefit under a covered law; and (C) that is not subject to recovery under— (i) section 3729 of title 31, United States Code; (ii) section 1729 of title 38, United States Code; or (iii) Public Law 87–693 ( 42 U.S.C. 2651 ). (3) The term covered law means any law administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs through— (A) the Under Secretary for Health; or (B) the Under Secretary for Benefits. (4) The term covered period means— (A) the COVID-19 emergency period; and (B) the 60 days immediately following the date of the end of the COVID-19 emergency period. (5) The term COVID-19 emergency period means the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B) ).