A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F); Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt".
- Bill Number
- S.J.Res. 141
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Finance and Financial Sector
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-13: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 122. (consideration: CR S2265)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-15T17:08:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This joint resolution (S.J. Res. 141) uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA, a law allowing Congress to quickly overturn certain federal agency rules) to block the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) from withdrawing a prior rule. The prior rule aimed to protect consumers from deceptive and unfair practices in collecting medical debt under "Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F)."
Key Provisions
- Disapproval of CFPB Rule: Congress explicitly disapproves the CFPB's May 12, 2025, rule (90 Fed. Reg. 20084) that withdrew the October 4, 2024, medical debt rule (89 Fed. Reg. 80715).
- No Force or Effect: The withdrawal rule is nullified and cannot take effect.
- CRA Restrictions: CFPB is barred from issuing a "substantially similar" rule without new congressional authorization.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Reverses the CFPB's attempt to eliminate protections against unfair medical debt collection practices.
- Reinforces the original Regulation F amendments, which targeted deceptive tactics like misleading consumers about medical debt validity or amounts.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Maintains consumer protections for the roughly 100 million Americans with medical debt, reducing harassment or errors in collections.
- On Government Agencies: Limits CFPB's rulemaking flexibility, subjecting future similar actions to heightened congressional scrutiny.
- No International Relations Impact: Purely domestic consumer finance issue.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Consumers: Especially those with medical debt, gaining continued safeguards.
- Debt Collectors: Face ongoing restrictions on practices like contacting consumers excessively or misrepresenting debts.
- Healthcare Providers: Indirectly affected as they often sell unpaid medical bills to collectors.
- CFPB: Agency authority checked by Congress.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Invokes CRA's fast-track process (no amendments allowed; simple majority vote possible), bypassing standard committee review (committee discharged by petition).
- Constitutional: Upholds Congress's oversight of executive agencies under Article I, reinforcing separation of powers.
- Political: Introduced by Sen. Warnock (D-GA) in March 2026; placed on Senate calendar in April 2026, signaling bipartisan potential for consumer protection amid debt collection debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-13: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 50. Record Vote Number: 122. (consideration: CR S2265) (Roll call 122)
- 2026-04-27: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 393.
- 2026-04-27: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c).
- 2026-04-27: Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c).
- 2026-03-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2026-03-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F); Deceptive and Unfair Collection of Medical Debt. — issued 2026-04-27 — PDF (4 pages)