Bill · H.R. 9639· House(119-HR-9639)
FAIR Credit Act
- Introduced
- 7/9/2026
- Last activity
- 7/21/2026 — Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4694-4695)
- Sponsored by
- Rashida Tlaib
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
What this bill would do
The "FAIR Credit Act" amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to help victims of predatory practices and unfair reporting. It shortens how long negative credit information stays on reports and prohibits the reporting of medical debt. The bill creates specific credit restoration paths for victims of predatory mortgages, defrauded student loan borrowers, and economic abuse. It also expands identity theft protections by enhancing fraud alerts, security freezes, and access to free credit monitoring for vulnerable groups. Finally, it prohibits credit scoring models from penalizing people who participate in these restoration programs.
Yes· 3 of 33
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?+10
The bill significantly enhances consumer protections against unfair credit reporting and identity theft.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+9
Directly benefits low-income groups through free services and removal of medical debt.
Would students be better off under this?+9
Directly helps students defrauded by proprietary schools restore their credit.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Removal of Medical Debt: Prohibits medical debt from appearing on consumer reports, which prevents these debts from unfairly reducing credit scores (Section 103).
- Shorter Negative Reporting Windows: Reduces the time most adverse credit information stays on reports, such as changing certain 10-year periods to 7 years and several 7-year periods to 4 years (Section 101).
- Faster Debt Clearance: Requires the removal of fully paid or settled debts from reports within 45 calendar days of payment or settlement (Section 102).
- Relief for Predatory Loan Victims: Allows for the removal of adverse information resulting from predatory mortgage lending or fraudulent/misleading education loan programs (Sections 104 and 105).
- Support for Abuse Survivors: Grants victims of economic abuse the right to have adverse information removed from their reports upon providing documentation (Section 106).
- Free Protection Services: Provides free credit monitoring and identity theft protection for specific groups, including unemployed people, public welfare recipients, seniors 65+, and active duty military (Section 210).
- Enhanced Identity Theft Tools: Expands fraud alert durations to 1-year and 7-year options and simplifies the process for security freezes (Section 205 and 206).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Application of Free Services: Consumers who do not fall into the specified "free" categories (such as the unemployed or seniors) may still be charged a fee for credit monitoring and identity theft protection services (Section 210).
- Documentation Requirements: Victims of economic abuse must still provide specific documentation, such as court determinations or verification from qualified third parties, to have adverse information removed (Section 106).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+9Good For Students+9Good For Retirees+8Good For Seniors+8Good For African Americans+7Good For Asian Americans+7Good For Children+7Good For Hispanic Americans+7Good For Native Americans+7Good For Women+7Good For Middle Class Households+6Good For Veterans+6Good For Young Adults+6Good For Men+5Good For Middle Aged+5Good For White Americans+5Good For Billionaires+3Good For High Income Households+3Good For High Net Worth Individuals+3Good For Ultra High Net Worth Individuals+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+6Improves Gender Equality+5Improves Affordable Housing+4Improves Racial Equity+4Reduces Homelessness+3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Student Loan Relief+8Improves Data Privacy+7
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+10Improves Economic Growth+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Privacy Rights+6Increases Federal Power+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+4
- 7/21/2026
- Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4694-4695)
- 7/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico