What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
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 serv
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.3159 pass?
HR.3159 is still alive. Current stage: REPORTED. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.3159 do?
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 …
Who sponsored HR.3159?
HR.3159 was sponsored by April McClain Delaney (D-Maryland).
Full Bill Text
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. .
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