Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act

The Fair Debt Collection Practices for Servicemembers Act (H.R. 10018) amends federal debt collection laws to protect military servicemembers and their families from specific types of threats made by debt collectors. It also requires a government study to evaluate how debt collection practices and uncollected military debt impact national security and military readiness.

This bill affects: * **Debt collectors** who collect debts from military personnel or eligible family members. * **Active duty military personnel** and their dependents. * **Recently separated military personnel** within 365 days of being discharged, released, or separated from service. * **Eligible family members** of recently separated personnel during that same 365-day post-separation period, including spouses, unremarried former spouses, children, and dependent parents. * **The Government Accountability Office (GAO)**, specifically the Comptroller General of the United States, who must complete a required report.

* **Debt Collection Restrictions:** Debt collectors are legally prohibited from threatening covered individuals with: * A reduction in military rank. * The loss or revocation of a security clearance. * Prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). * Any claim or implication that failing to cooperate with the debt collector will result in rank reduction, clearance revocation, or military prosecution. * **GAO Study and Report:** The Comptroller General is required to conduct a study and submit a report to Congress detailing the bill's impacts on: * How quickly and effectively information is delivered to covered members. * Military readiness. * National security, focusing specifically on how uncollected debt affects service members with security clearances.

The provided summary does not outline any specific appropriations, government funding allocations, taxes, or user fees. It also does not specify financial penalties for collectors who violate the law.

* **Time limit for former military members:** The bill’s protections apply to separated, discharged, or released military personnel and their dependents for up to 365 days after leaving duty. After 365 days, these specific post-separation protections end.

This bill prevents debt collectors from threatening military members, recent veterans (up to one year post-service), and their families with rank reduction, security clearance loss, or military prosecution. It also requires the federal government to study how military debt affects national security.