115 HR 3705 IH: Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017 U.S. House of Representatives 2017-09-07 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.

I115th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3705IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESSeptember 7, 2017Ms. Pingree introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to require the use of certified mail and plain language in certain debt collection activities.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act of 2017.

2.

Use of certified mail and plain language required in certain debt collection activities

(a)

In general

Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall amend section 1.911 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, to require that certified mail be used to send any of the following: (1)A written demand from the Secretary to a debtor under subsection (b) of such section. (2)A request for a waiver from a debtor to the Secretary under subsection (c)(2) of such section. (3)A notification from the Secretary to a debtor under subsection (d) or (e) of such section. (b)

Plain language required

The Secretary shall write the following in plain language: (1)Any demand described in subsection (a)(1), which shall include an explanation of why the debtor owes money to the Department of Veterans Affairs. (2)Any notification described in subsection (a)(3), which shall include options available to the debtor.