{"format":1,"id":"117-hr-2547","congress":117,"number":"H.R. 2547","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To expand and enhance consumer, student, servicemember, and small business protections with respect to debt collection practices, and for other purposes.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To expand and enhance consumer, student, servicemember, and small business protections with respect to debt collection practices, and for other purposes."},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Small Business Lending Fairness Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Private Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"SCAM Debt Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Securing Consumers Against Misrepresented Debt Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) for portions of this bill from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Ryan Frascone Memorial Student Loan Relief Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Ryan Frascone Memorial Student Loan Relief Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"SCAM Debt Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Securing Consumers Against Misrepresented Debt Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Private Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Small Business Lending Fairness Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Small Business Lending Fairness Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Private Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill","title":"Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Private Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Consumer Protection for Medical Debt Collections Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2021"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Non-Judicial Foreclosure Debt Collection Clarification Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House for portions of this bill","title":"Small Business Lending Fairness Act"},{"type":"Short Titles as Passed House for portions of this bill","title":"Fair Debt Collection Improvement Act"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2021-04-15","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2021-05-13","vote":{"id":"117-2021-h141","question":"On Passage","title":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act","result":"Passed","yea":215,"nay":207,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll141.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.","date":"2021-05-17"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[{"number":"H.Amdt. 46","sponsor":"Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]","purpose":"Amendments en bloc No. 1 comprised of amendments numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14, printed in Part B of House Report 117-29.","result":"Agreed to","date":"2021-05-13","yea":210,"nay":202,"present":0,"not_voting":18,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll138.xml"},{"number":"H.Amdt. 47","sponsor":"Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]","purpose":"Amendments en bloc No. 2 comprised of amendments numbered 4 and 8, printed in Part B of House Report 117-29.","result":"Failed","date":"2021-05-13","yea":208,"nay":214,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll139.xml"},{"number":"H.Amdt. 48","sponsor":"Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]","purpose":"Amendment sought to replace the underlying bill with targeted approaches to improve the debt collection and credit reporting framework which would ensure the financial system remains safe and sound while protecting and introducing options for consumers.","result":"Failed","date":"2021-05-13","yea":199,"nay":224,"present":0,"not_voting":7,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll140.xml"}],"other_votes":[{"chamber":"house","date":"2021-05-13","question":"On Agreeing to the Amendment","title":"","result":"Agreed to","yea":210,"nay":202,"present":0,"not_voting":18,"kind":"amendment","source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll138.xml"},{"chamber":"house","date":"2021-05-13","question":"On Agreeing to the Amendment","title":"","result":"Failed","yea":208,"nay":214,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"kind":"amendment","source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll139.xml"},{"chamber":"house","date":"2021-05-13","question":"On Agreeing to the Amendment","title":"","result":"Failed","yea":199,"nay":224,"present":0,"not_voting":7,"kind":"amendment","source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll140.xml"}],"crs_summary":{"date":"2021-05-13","stage":"Passed House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill generally provides additional financial protections for consumers and places restrictions on debt collection activities."},{"k":"p","t":"Regarding additional consumer protections, the bill"},{"k":"li","t":"expands certain protections currently applicable to federally backed student loans to private student loans, including by requiring the discharge of a private student loan in the event of the borrower's death or total and permanent disability;","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"prohibits a consumer reporting agency from adding any information related to a debt arising from a medically necessary procedure to a consumer credit report and places restrictions on the reporting of other types of medical debt; and","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"applies certain consumer protections regarding debt collection to debt owed to a federal agency, states, debt buyers, and businesses engaged in nonjudicial foreclosures.","d":1},{"k":"p","t":"It also prohibits certain loan conditions that limit a borrower's opportunity to be heard in court in the event of default."},{"k":"p","t":"Additionally, the bill restricts debt collectors and debt collection practices by"},{"k":"li","t":"prohibiting a debt collector from representing to a service member that failure to cooperate with a debt collector will result in a reduction of rank or similar action,","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"limiting a debt collector's electronic communications with a debtor without the debtor's permission, and","d":1},{"k":"li","t":"requiring a debt collector to provide advance notice to a consumer of the intent to take legal action to collect a debt.","d":1},{"k":"p","t":"The Government Accountability Office must report on the impact of debt collection on service members and on the use of debt collectors by federal and state agencies."}],"words":246},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Truth in Lending Act to change rules for debt collectors and for the reporting and discharge of medical and private student loan debt, and requires several studies and reports.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 202","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H2D895EB0F5ED48ADAAD0587ABB1F921C"},{"label":"Sec. 302","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-HFC3FF602BC7740A59D9072C72B97FA60"},{"label":"Sec. 403","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H8E700FFDEDE64DD0AA9FE1530CB5E2C0"},{"label":"Sec. 502","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H5FD1E24F65DC4AF78ADCEC63CBD7D90C"},{"label":"Sec. 602","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-HA117E31A84394BF688AFBE06FCECABF6"},{"label":"Sec. 902","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H0329D625408944B5BC2F924041F3921E"}]},"core_areas":["Debt collector conduct and definitions under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act","Debt collection involving servicemembers","Private student loan discharge and credit reporting","Medical debt collection and credit reporting","Electronic communications by debt collectors","Debt collection by or for Federal and State agencies","Legal actions to collect debts","Studies and reports on debt collection"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Bars a debt collector from threatening a covered servicemember with reduction in rank, loss of a security clearance, or prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice in connection with collecting a debt.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 202","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H2D895EB0F5ED48ADAAD0587ABB1F921C"}},{"text":"Requires the holder of a private education loan, when notified of a student borrower's death or total and permanent disability, to discharge the borrower's liability and stop trying to collect it.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 302","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-HFC3FF602BC7740A59D9072C72B97FA60"}},{"text":"Adds to the Fair Credit Reporting Act's list of information left off consumer reports any information on a debt from a medically necessary procedure, and medical debt placed for collection or similarly treated less than 365 calendar days before the report.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 403","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H8E700FFDEDE64DD0AA9FE1530CB5E2C0"}},{"text":"Bars a debt collector from contacting a person by email, text message or social media direct message in listed cases, including when consent was not given directly to the collector, was withdrawn, or the contact exceeds the frequency consented to.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 502","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H5FD1E24F65DC4AF78ADCEC63CBD7D90C"}},{"text":"Requires a debt collector that takes legal action to send written notice 30 to 60 days beforehand and to include specified documents and a sworn affidavit in its initial court filing.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 902","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H0329D625408944B5BC2F924041F3921E"}},{"text":"Bars a debt collector from collecting or attempting to collect a consumer's debt for which the statute of limitations has expired.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 1202","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H3D1EDAAD93F94C818705E128E5002D05"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"off_subject","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 1701","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-HA60E86E75C854CDCBB74973BCCC6C710"},"heading":"Discretionary surplus funds","effect":"Reduces the dollar amount specified in section 7(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act by $2,900,000,000, effective September 30, 2031.","amount":"$2,900,000,000","quote":"The dollar amount specified under section 7(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 289(a)(3)(A)) is reduced by $2,900,000,000."}]},{"category":"narrow_beneficiary","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 1802","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-HB82333523A724A6C88485F8830CFDF3B"},"heading":"Applicability of certain amendments to the Truth in Lending Act","effect":"Directs the Treasury Secretary to set up a program to purchase and retire certain private education loans, on application from loan holders showing financial injury, and authorizes $5,000,000 for it.","amount":"$5,000,000","quote":"only upon an application from a holder of such loan pursuant to paragraph (2) that demonstrates the holder has suffered financial injury as a result of the amendment made by subsection (a)"}]},{"category":"selective_carve_out","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 102","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-H5EB145D22B2042199A463EB20BBC61F6"},"heading":"Obligor transactions","effect":"Adds a Truth in Lending Act section barring cognovit, confession of judgment, warrant of attorney and similar waivers of notice and hearing in credit transactions, with an exception for executory process in the State of Louisiana.","amount":null,"quote":"for purposes other than executory process in the State of Louisiana"},{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 802","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh#toc-HD22B84A1F3D6458591E3BAF7ED3C0A30"},"heading":"Enforcement of security interests","effect":"Strikes the sentence that included persons whose principal business is enforcing security interests within the term 'debt collector' for purposes of section 808(6) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.","amount":null,"quote":"such term also includes any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the enforcement of security interests"}]}],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2021-05-13","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-15","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2547/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/117-hr-2547.png","v":"e9d8fb8ba93d","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 2547, 117th Congress: Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act. House: 215 Yea, 207 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 13 May 2021."}}