S. 2454

II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 2454
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  July 24, 2025
  Mr. Warnock  (for himself,  Mr. Budd , and  Mr.
  Cornyn ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
  referred to the  Committee on Banking, Housing,
  and Urban Affairs
  A BILL
To amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide enhanced
  protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces, and for
  other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
  Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers
  Act  .
2.
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 ).
  .
3.
GAO study
(a)
Definition
In this section, 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 Act.
(b)
Requirement
The Comptroller General of the United
  States shall conduct a study and submit a report to Congress on the impact of
  this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, on—
(1)
the timely delivery of information to a covered individual;
(2)
military readiness; and
(3)
national security, including the extent to which covered individuals with
  security clearances would be impacted by uncollected debt.