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H.R. 3948: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

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H.R. 3948: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-07-24 · Finance and Financial Sector · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-07-24 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Plain summary

Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act This bill applies certain consumer protections regarding debt collection to debt owed to a state. It also specifies that existing limits on civil damages awarded for abusive practices by a debt collector must be adjusted for inflation. A court may award injunctive relief for certain debt collection violations. The Department of the Treasury may not contract with any debt collector or other private party to recoup overpayments of certain disaster assistance made to an individual or household by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), except in cases of fraud or deceit.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] reported raising $2.3 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr3948 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116