David Scott (D-GA)
To amend the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to provide reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy programs.
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill seeks to amend the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to reform housing counseling and financial literacy programs. It changes how assistance is distributed to ensure organizations serve diverse geographic areas, including urban and rural locations. The bill establishes new performance review requirements for participating agencies and creates a process for evaluating individual counselor competence. This includes potential actions such as required continued education, retesting, or permanent suspension of certification. Additionally, the bill provides a mechanism for the Secretary to deny the renewal of assistance to non-compliant organizations. Finally, it offers delinquent borrowers opportunities to participate in foreclosure mitigation counseling.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +6
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill improves affordable housing outcomes by increasing counseling access for delinquent borrowers and ensuring geographic diversity of services.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill increases access to financial literacy and foreclosure mitigation counseling.
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill enhances consumer protection by establishing higher standards for housing counselor competence and accountability.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Geographic Diversity: The bill amends requirements to ensure that recipients of assistance are geographically diverse and include organizations serving both urban and rural areas (Section 1, subsection (a)(1)).
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Improved Counselor Competence: The Secretary can review counselor performance by comparing it to the default rates of borrowers in comparable markets, which allows for corrective actions like continued education, retesting, or suspension of certification for those lacking competence (Section 1, subsection (a)(2)).
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Increased Accountability: The bill mandates performance reviews for all participating agencies to ensure compliance with program requirements (Section 1, subsection (a)(2)).
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Help for Delinquent Borrowers: Borrowers with covered mortgage loans who are 30 days or more delinquent on payments are given an opportunity to participate in available housing counseling (Section 1, subsection (a)(4)(2)).
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Financial Support for Counseling: For certain delinquent borrowers, the cost of counseling may be paid for by the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (Section 1, subsection (a)(4)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Counseling Capacity: When the Secretary takes action against a counselor for lack of competence, the bill notes this should only happen if it will not create a significant loss of capacity for housing counseling services in the service area (Section 1, subsection (a)(2)(8)).
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Risk of Assistance Termination: An organization or entity may have its assistance renewal denied if it or its individual counselors are found to be out of compliance with program requirements (Section 1, subsection (a)(3)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill increases access to financial literacy and foreclosure mitigation counseling. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill includes VA-guaranteed loans in the scope of improved counseling and mitigation opportunities. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides resources to help borrowers manage mortgage delinquency. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill ensures that housing counseling assistance includes organizations serving rural areas. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill ensures that housing counseling assistance includes organizations serving urban areas.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands the Secretary's authority to review, certify, and discipline housing counseling agencies. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill provides an informal conference process for organizations facing termination of assistance. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill introduces mandatory performance reviews and notice requirements for terminating assistance.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill improves affordable housing outcomes by increasing counseling access for delinquent borrowers and ensuring geographic diversity of services.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill enhances consumer protection by establishing higher standards for housing counselor competence and accountability.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill requires that housing counseling services include organizations that serve rural areas.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill specifically includes provisions for VA-guaranteed loans within the scope of mortgage counseling opportunities.
- 12/15/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Cleo FieldsDemocrat · Louisiana