Raphael Warnock: “servicemembers report being harassed by predatory debt collectors at a higher rate than the civilian population.…”

“servicemembers report being harassed by predatory debt collectors at a higher rate than the civilian population. Predatory and unscrupulous debt collectors send messages to commanding officers with their private financial information, all in an effort to harass our men and women in uniform--the best among us standing up for us. They harass servicemembers by threatening rank reduction--the debt collectors--revocation of security clearance, or punishment under the military justice code. These threats cannot be carried out by the debt collectors, and these practices are manipulative, and they undermine our national security by distracting our servicemembers from focusing on their mission and caring for their families. In fact, a 2014 Army Reserve review found that the second leading contributing factor to servicemember suicide was financial stress. This amendment reinforces the existing protections provided to all Americans but especially those who are putting their lives on the line to protect all of our families and our communities by restricting predatory debt collection practices aimed specifically at our servicemembers. This bipartisan amendment costs nothing. It has broad support among the Nation's military and veteran community. They believe, as I do, that debt collectors should not be able to weaponize servicemembers' services.…”