Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
Introduced
Summary
suspend administrative wage garnishment under the Higher Education Act and require concrete borrower protections, employer verifications, and reporting before garnishments can resume. The pause stays in place until the Education Department certifies reforms, not earlier than 1 year after enactment, and the Secretary could instead determine garnishment will not apply to certain individuals.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Pause and new limits on student loan garnishment
This bill would pause federal student loan wage garnishment starting on enactment. The pause would last until the Secretary sends a certification, which cannot happen earlier than 1 year after enactment. To restart, the Secretary would need to certify new safeguards: refunds for improper garnishment within one week, power to stop garnishment at any time (for anyone or any group), and quarterly employer checks of all garnishment details. Or, if those safeguards cannot be built, the Secretary could certify that garnishment would not apply to individuals. It would also block garnishment for loans outstanding more than 10 years. If the safeguards are certified, the Department would create a database of affected workers and report to Congress within 90 days and at least once a year.
Double refunds and employer penalties for wrongful garnishment
If your wages are wrongly taken, the Department would have to pay you twice the amount within 10 days after it receives the money. A court could order the Department to comply. Employers who keep withholding after a suspension or revocation notice could be sued in State or Federal court. They could owe the withheld wages, actual damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and possibly punitive damages.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov