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H.R. 3159

U.S. HouseIn House Committee

Summary

H.R. 3159, the Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act, was introduced in the House on May 1, 2025 by Rep. April McClain-Delaney (D) with 18 co-sponsors. It last saw action on May 14, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.


Record

Text

H.R. 3159 has 18 co-sponsors.

hb3159/introduced-in-house.txt
119 HR 3159 IH: Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2025-05-01
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3159 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 1, 2025 Mrs. McClain Delaney (for herself, Mr. Bishop , Ms.
Brownley , Mr. Carson , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Ms. DelBene , Mr. Deluzio , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mr.
Gottheimer , Mr. Moulton , Mr. Moylan , Ms.
Strickland , and Ms. Titus ) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services , 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 committee concerned A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to include training regarding financial protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act in certain financial literacy training programs for members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act .
2.
Financial literacy training regarding the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Section 992 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(1)—
(A)
by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
(B)
by inserting, after subparagraph (C), the following new subparagraph (D):
(D)
consumer financial protections afforded to members and their dependents under the law, including protections regarding interest rate limits under section 207 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3937 );
; and
(2)
in subsection (d)(1), by inserting (including with regards to knowledge and use of protections regarding interest rates under section 207 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3937 )) after preparedness .
3.
Notification of benefits under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to servicemembers called or ordered to active duty or to active service
Section 105 of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3915 ) is amended—
(1)
by striking the period at the end and inserting , including— ; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
(1)
at the time a person first enters military service; and
(2)
in the case of a person who is a member of a reserve component—
(A)
at the time the person first enters service in the reserve component; and
(B)
at any time when the person is mobilized or otherwise individually called or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 30 days.
.
4.
Financial institution obligation to apply maximum rate of interest on all servicemember debts incurred before military service
Section 207(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act ( 50 U.S.C. 3937 ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2)—
(A)
by striking the creditor shall treat the debt in accordance with subsection (a), effective as of the date on which the servicemember is called to military service. and inserting the creditor shall— ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
(A)
treat the debt in accordance with subsection (a), effective as of the date on which the servicemember is called to military service; and
(B)
treat any other obligation or liability of the servicemember to the creditor in accordance with subsection (a), whether or not such obligation or liability was specifically mentioned in a notice provided by the servicemember under paragraph (1)(A).
; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(3)
Submission of documents
A creditor shall provide all necessary mechanisms to ensure that a servicemember is able to submit any documents required in order for an obligation or liability of the servicemember to be subject to the interest rate limitation in subsection (a) either online, by mail, or by fax, at the election of the servicemember.
.

Tracker

The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.

  1. Introduced2025-05-01
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Conference
  5. To President
  6. Became Law

CRS Summary

The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.

Introduced in House May 1, 2025

hb3159/introduced-in-house.md

Shown Here:
Introduced in House (05/01/2025)

Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act

This bill expands interest rate protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and requires expanded training for and outreach to servicemembers regarding financial literacy and SCRA protections.

The SCRA caps the maximum interest charged on any debt incurred by a servicemember prior to entering active duty at 6% annually if the servicemember's ability to pay is materially affected by active-duty status; servicemembers must provide notice and other documentation to creditors to receive this cap.

The bill requires creditors to apply this cap to all of a servicemember’s obligations or liabilities with that creditor, regardless of whether a certain obligation or liability was specifically mentioned in the required notice provided by the member to invoke SCRA rights. Further, the bill requires creditors to provide all necessary mechanisms to ensure a servicemember is able to submit any required documentation.

The bill also requires that the financial literacy training program provided to servicemembers include information about consumer financial protections afforded to such members and their dependents, including protections regarding interest rate limits under the SCRA.

Additionally, the bill requires the military department concerned to provide written notice of benefits under the SCRA to servicemembers at the time they first enter military service and, for members of the reserve components, at the time they first enter service in the reserves and at any time when they are mobilized or ordered to active duty for more than 30 days.

Sponsors

Rep. April McClain-Delaney (D) sponsors H.R. 3159, and 18 members have co-sponsored it, 12 of them from the day it was introduced.

Committees

H.R. 3159 went before 3 committees: Veterans' Affairs, Economic Opportunity Subcommittee and Armed Services.

Veterans' Affairs
Veterans' Affairs
Markup By · May 14, 2026 · 285 Bills
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee
Reported by · Feb 24, 2026 · 65 Bills
Armed Services
Armed Services
Referred To · May 1, 2025 · 581 Bills

Actions

H.R. 3159 has taken 8 actions since May 1, 2025, the latest on May 14, 2026.

ChamberAction
May 14, 2026
House
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldVeterans' Affairs Committee
May 14, 2026
House
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.Veterans' Affairs Committee
Feb 24, 2026
House
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldEconomic Opportunity Subcommittee
Feb 24, 2026
House
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.Economic Opportunity Subcommittee
Jan 21, 2026
House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

Votes

H.R. 3159 has not gone to a roll call.

1 bill is related to H.R. 3159.

Titles

H.R. 3159 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.

  • Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act — Display Title
  • Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
  • To amend title 10, United States Code, to include training regarding financial protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act in certain financial literacy training programs for members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. — Official Title as Introduced

Cost estimate

The Congressional Budget Office has filed 1 estimate for H.R. 3159, the latest on Jun 11, 2026.


Lobbying

1 client hired 1 firm and 1 registered lobbyist who named H.R. 3159 in 2 quarterly filings, 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.

Filed under Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans.

Clients

Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.

ClientBusinessStateFirmsFilingsReported
FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATIONVirginia12

Firms

Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.

RegistrantClientsFilingsReported
FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION12

Lobbyists

Named on the filings that cite the bill.

LobbyistFirmsClientsFilings
THEODOSIUS LAWSON112

Filings

The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.

ClientRegistrantPeriodReportedDocument
FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATIONFLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION2026 second_quarter$120K2nd Quarter - Report
FLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATIONFLEET RESERVE ASSOCIATION2026 first_quarter$120K1st Quarter - Report

Classification

The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 3159 under Armed Forces and National Security, one of its 31 policy areas, and gives it 5 legislative subjects.

CRS Subjects

CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 3159’s is Armed Forces and National Security.

hr3159/policy-areas.txt
Armed Forces and National SecurityAgriculture and FoodAnimalsArts, Culture, ReligionCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommerceCongressCrime and Law EnforcementEconomics and Public FinanceEducationEmergency ManagementEnergyEnvironmental ProtectionFamiliesFinance and Financial SectorForeign Trade and International FinanceGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthHousing and Community DevelopmentImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentLawNative AmericansPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesScience, Technology, CommunicationsSocial WelfareSports and RecreationTaxationTransportation and Public WorksWater Resources Development

Legislative Subjects

H.R. 3159 carries 5 of CRS’s legislative subjects, from Credit and credit markets to Military personnel and dependents.

hr3159/subjects.txt
Credit and credit marketsFinancial literacyInterest, dividends, interest ratesMilitary education and trainingMilitary personnel and dependents

Constitutional authority

The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 3159, as entered in the Congressional Record.

[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 73 (Thursday, May 1, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mrs. McCLAIN DELANEY:H.R. 3159.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 (relating to the power ofCongress to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and amongthe several States, and with the Indian Tribes.)[Page H1811]

Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com