This bill requires Federal financial regulators to jointly issue guidance to financial institutions, encouraging them to work with consumers and businesses affected by a federal government shutdown. The guidance aims to help individuals, including furloughed federal employees, District of Columbia employees, and federal contractors, as well as businesses experiencing substantial income reductions due to a shutdown. Financial institutions would be encouraged to recognize the temporary hardship faced by these parties and consider prudent efforts to modify existing loans or extend new credit, consistent with safe-and-sound lending practices. Furthermore, the guidance would advise institutions to prevent adverse information from being reported to consumer reporting agencies in a way that harms the creditworthiness of affected consumers. The regulators must issue this initial guidance within 180 days of the bill's enactment and then issue a press release within 24 hours of any future shutdown to alert the public and financial institutions to its existence. Following a shutdown, the regulators are required to submit a report to Congress analyzing the guidance's effectiveness and update it if any shortcomings are identified.
This bill requires Federal financial regulators to jointly issue guidance to financial institutions, encouraging them to work with consumers and businesses affected by a federal government shutdown. The guidance aims to help individuals, including furloughed federal employees, District of Columbia employees, and federal contractors, as well as businesses experiencing substantial income reductions due to a shutdown. Financial institutions would be encouraged to recognize the temporary hardship faced by these parties and consider prudent efforts to modify existing loans or extend new credit, consistent with safe-and-sound lending practices. Furthermore, the guidance would advise institutions to prevent adverse information from being reported to consumer reporting agencies in a way that harms the creditworthiness of affected consumers. The regulators must issue this initial guidance within 180 days of the bill's enactment and then issue a press release within 24 hours of any future shutdown to alert the public and financial institutions to its existence. Following a shutdown, the regulators are required to submit a report to Congress analyzing the guidance's effectiveness and update it if any shortcomings are identified.