| Topics and Issues |
U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) issued a press release noting that “in response to a letter from U.S. Senators Carper and Coons…in August 2019, three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) have committed to providing free credit monitoring to all active duty service members. This week, the Senators sent a letter to the credit agencies commending them for their attention to this important matter.” (Sept. 12, 2019)
The press release noted a new law, “authored by Senators Carper and Coons and enacted in May 2018, was intended to require the CRAs to provide free credit monitoring for all active duty service members.” That new law is found in Section 302(d) of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law No. 115-174), enacted in May 2018, adding a new provision to the FCRA, 15 U.S. Code § 1681c–1(k) (Sec. 605A(k)).
The release adds that the “final rules released in July by the [FTC at 16 CFR Part 609] only require the service to be provided to service members while they are assigned to a mission away from their duty station. This limited definition could have resulted in service members receiving limited and unequal consumer protection.”
Sens. Carper and Coons said that they are “grateful” for the nationwide credit bureaus for expanding the application of the service beyond what the law requires. Sens. Carper and Coons also shared their Aug. 1, 2019, letter to the nationwide credit bureaus.