# 116-hr-3948: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

116-hr-3948, Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY); status Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-3948
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-3948
- Congress: 116
- Title: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act
- Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 542.
- Introduced: 2019-07-24
- Sponsor: Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## 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).

## Cosponsors (4)

- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2019-09-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7] (D-MA), 2019-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2019-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2019-09-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act
- 116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020
- 116-hr-7092: Great American Outdoors Act
- 116-hr-6902: Black History is American History Act
- 116-hr-6820: Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020
- 116-hr-6425: Protect Our Post Offices Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-3948 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3948)

## Related
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7120)
- [116-hr-7092: Great American Outdoors Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7092)
- [116-hr-6902: Black History is American History Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6902)
- [116-hr-6820: Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6820)
- [116-hr-6425: Protect Our Post Offices Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-6425)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-3948 (as of 2025-11-18).