Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act, which includes my bill-- and I thank the chairwoman for that--the Ending Debt Collection Harassment Act. Like many, my mother took pride in paying her bills and paying them on time. But after several life-disruptive events--the death of an immediate family member, a layoff, and a mandatory surgery--there came a point where she could no longer afford it. No matter how hard she worked, we owed everyone--the utility company, the landlord, the bank-- and we were frequently harassed by debt collectors. Our story is the story of millions of families. Due to poverty wages, a lack of affordable healthcare, the absence of paid leave, and other policy failures which push working people to the margins, millions of people in America are forced to take on significant debt to survive. This is especially true during times of crisis, and debt collectors prey on that reality. They are making record profits during a pandemic, using aggressive tactics to scare and to exploit people. Consumer complaints of shaming tactics, of intimidation, of harassment, especially from our elders, continue to rise year after year. This bill provides the needed protection from mistreatment and harassment. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Steil).”