Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 7, 2016

Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

This bill amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to:

cover debt owed to a state, and

require the Consumer Financial Protection Board to prescribe a percentage increase based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in order to index annually for inflation civil damages awarded for abusive practices by a debt collector.

The bill also empowers the court to award injunctive relief for violations of the Act.

The Department of the Treasury may not contract with any debt collector or other private party to recoup overpayments of disaster assistance to an individual or household by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] · D–NY

Committees

Financial Services Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jan 7, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Jan 7, 2016
Introduced in House
Jan 7, 2016
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 7, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 1521 · Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4347 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.4347, 114th Congress: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4347

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4347/BILLS-114hr4347ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4347 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4347 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.4347, 114th Congress: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4347

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4347/BILLS-114hr4347ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4347 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4347 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4347, 114th Congress: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4347

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4347/BILLS-114hr4347ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4347 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4347 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4347, 114th Congress: Debt Collection Practices Harmonization Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4347

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-01-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4347/BILLS-114hr4347ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:29Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4347 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.