Military Family Protection from Debt Act

The Military Family Protection from Debt Act (H.R. 5190) would expand financial safeguards for the families of active-duty military personnel by extending certain protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to their dependents. Specifically, the bill would apply the 6% interest rate cap on pre-service debts to the spouse and children of a servicemember, regardless of whether the debt is held jointly or individually.

If enacted, this legislation would require dependents to provide proof of their status and the servicemember’s military orders to qualify for the lower interest rate. The bill aims to reduce the financial burden on military families by ensuring that the same legal protections against high interest rates and certain debt collection practices apply to the entire household during a period of active service.