VA Heeds Pappas’s Call to Extend Debt Relief to Veterans Impacted by COVID

July 10, 2020

Manchester, NH- Following Congressman Chris Pappas's (NH-01) fight to temporarily suspend VA debt collection efforts during this unprecedented public health crisis, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it will extend debt relief to veterans adversely impacted by COVID-19 by suspending debt collections under the jurisdiction of the Treasury Department through 2020.

Pappas introduced legislation in April that aimed to temporarily halt the collection of outstanding debts by the VA. The language he proposed went further than the VA's policy announced yesterday, and would prevent the VA from demanding repayment until the current federal emergency declaration is lifted due the enduring financial and health implications of COVID-19. Furthermore, his legislation would suspend debt under the VA's jurisdiction in addition to debts being collected by the Treasury.

"Veterans across the country have been suffering from the severe economic consequences of this pandemic, and I am glad the VA is finally taking steps to provide some much needed relief," said Congressman Pappas "Too many veterans face unexpected debt collection from VA, some due to overpayments that were through no fault of their own. I hope the VA continues to listen to our veterans and ensure they can get debt relief for the duration of this pandemic. I will continue working with VA and my colleagues to ensure that our veterans can focus on their physical and financial health during these trying times."

Pappas has been leading the fight to overhaul the VA's debt collection process since he was elected to serve as the Chair of Oversight and Investigations for the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Pappas led an investigative hearing, a bipartisan letter calling on the VA to change the VA overpayment system, and introduced the SHIELD for Veterans Act to address overpayment and debt collection issues. The VA generated and then collected $1.6 billion of debt for our veterans in the last fiscal year.