April 27, 2017

Senator Warren Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Protecting Veterans Credit Act

Fact Sheet (PDF)
Bill Text (PDF)

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has co-sponsored the Protecting Veterans Credit Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). This legislation would prohibit medical debt for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Choice Program and other VA community care programs from being reported to credit reporting agencies for one year, in order to prevent veterans for being wrongfully penalized for delays in payment by the VA. In addition, the bill creates a process to remove adverse actions on veterans' credit reports resulting from such medical debt. Senator David Perdue (R-Ga.) also has cosponsored the legislation.

"All three of my brothers served in the military, and I deeply appreciate the sacrifices veterans have made for our country. We owe them the very best," Senator Warren said. "No veteran should worry about getting hit with a negative mark on their credit report for health care payments that the VA is supposed to cover. I'm glad to cosponsor this bipartisan bill to strengthen consumer protections for veterans."

The bill is supported by veterans service organizations including the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as the Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients).

The bill text is available here. A fact sheet about the bill is available here.