Legis Daily

SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-805| Senate 
| Updated: 9/15/2020
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (10)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Stopping Harm and Implementing Enhanced Lead-time for Debts for Veterans Act of 2020 or the SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020 This bill updates debt collection and overpayment processes related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits or programs. Specifically, the bill prohibits the incursion of debt arising from programs or benefits administered by the VA if the amount is owed for any overpayment that was caused by the amount of time taken by the VA to process information provided by or on behalf of an individual. If the VA makes an overpayment to an individual, it must provide such individual with notice of the overpayment and an explanation of the individual's right to (1) dispute the overpayment, and (2) request a waiver of indebtedness. In addition, the VA may not take any collection action regarding an overpayment until 90 days after it issues such notice. The VA must report on its plan for the improvement of the notification and communication processes for individuals who receive overpayments from the VA. The bill prohibits interest and administrative cost charges on delinquent payments of debt resulting from a person's participation in a VA disability compensation program, pension program, or an educational assistance program. The VA must establish a minimum debt threshold for when it will report to a consumer reporting agency in relation to a claim or debt arising from receipt of a VA benefit. The bill extends the window to request relief from the recovery of debt arising from a person's participation in a VA benefit or program from 180 days to 1 year. The bill requires the VA to prescribe an administrative process for the dispute of the existence or amount of debt. The VA is prohibited from deducting any amount of an individual's debt if the cost of recovery would exceed the amount to be recovered. The VA must ensure its website and written notices contain all information veterans need regarding how to dispute an indebtedness. Finally, the VA must ensure that a veteran may remove any dependent from an award of compensation or pension using the VA's system.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline
Mar 14, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 14, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 22, 2019
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-179.
Aug 5, 2020
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 15, 2020
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 15, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 539.
Sep 24, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-5245
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 555.
  • March 14, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 14, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • May 22, 2019
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-179.


  • August 5, 2020
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 15, 2020
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • September 15, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 539.


  • September 24, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-5245
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 555.

Armed Forces and National Security

Accounting and auditingAdministrative remediesCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightConsumer creditCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentDebt collectionDepartment of Veterans AffairsExecutive agency funding and structureFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsMarriage and family statusNational Guard and reservesPerformance measurementUser charges and feesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' pensions and compensation

SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-805| Senate 
| Updated: 9/15/2020
Stopping Harm and Implementing Enhanced Lead-time for Debts for Veterans Act of 2020 or the SHIELD for Veterans Act of 2020 This bill updates debt collection and overpayment processes related to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits or programs. Specifically, the bill prohibits the incursion of debt arising from programs or benefits administered by the VA if the amount is owed for any overpayment that was caused by the amount of time taken by the VA to process information provided by or on behalf of an individual. If the VA makes an overpayment to an individual, it must provide such individual with notice of the overpayment and an explanation of the individual's right to (1) dispute the overpayment, and (2) request a waiver of indebtedness. In addition, the VA may not take any collection action regarding an overpayment until 90 days after it issues such notice. The VA must report on its plan for the improvement of the notification and communication processes for individuals who receive overpayments from the VA. The bill prohibits interest and administrative cost charges on delinquent payments of debt resulting from a person's participation in a VA disability compensation program, pension program, or an educational assistance program. The VA must establish a minimum debt threshold for when it will report to a consumer reporting agency in relation to a claim or debt arising from receipt of a VA benefit. The bill extends the window to request relief from the recovery of debt arising from a person's participation in a VA benefit or program from 180 days to 1 year. The bill requires the VA to prescribe an administrative process for the dispute of the existence or amount of debt. The VA is prohibited from deducting any amount of an individual's debt if the cost of recovery would exceed the amount to be recovered. The VA must ensure its website and written notices contain all information veterans need regarding how to dispute an indebtedness. Finally, the VA must ensure that a veteran may remove any dependent from an award of compensation or pension using the VA's system.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 14, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Mar 14, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
May 22, 2019
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-179.
Aug 5, 2020
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 15, 2020
Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 15, 2020
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 539.
Sep 24, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-5245
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 555.
  • March 14, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 14, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.


  • May 22, 2019
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 116-179.


  • August 5, 2020
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 15, 2020
    Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • September 15, 2020
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 539.


  • September 24, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-5245
    Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 555.
Jon Tester

Jon Tester

Democratic Senator

Montana

Cosponsors (10)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Veterans' Affairs Committee

Armed Forces and National Security

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingAdministrative remediesCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyCongressional oversightConsumer creditCorrectional facilities and imprisonmentDebt collectionDepartment of Veterans AffairsExecutive agency funding and structureFraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsMarriage and family statusNational Guard and reservesPerformance measurementUser charges and feesVeterans' education, employment, rehabilitationVeterans' pensions and compensation