Bill · S. 1764· Senate(119-S-1764)
Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 5/14/2025
- Last activity
- 5/14/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Cory Booker
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025 seeks to suspend and reform the Secretary of Education's authority to carry out an administrative wage garnishment program. Upon enactment, the authority to garnish an individual's disposable pay is suspended until the Secretary submits a specific certification to Congressional committees. This certification must prove that a new process has been implemented or that the Secretary has decided not to apply garnishment to individuals. The bill also establishes requirements for data collection and reporting regarding those subject to garnishment. Additionally, it sets limits on when the Secretary can garnish pay and provides legal remedies for improper garnishments.
Yes· 3 of 7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+7
The bill provides clear legal remedies, faster refunds, and limits on the government's ability to garnish wages.
Would students be better off under this?+6
Student borrowers receive significant protections against wage garnishment and improved legal recourse for errors.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The bill mandates new data collection, reporting to Congress, and oversight of the garnishment process.
The opposite
Does this give the federal government more power?-3
The bill restricts and suspends existing federal authority held by the Secretary of Education.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection against improper garnishment: The bill requires a process where individuals who have had their pay improperly garnished can have their refund processed and returned within one calendar week (Section 2, paragraph 2, subparagraph A, clause i).
-
Refund of over-garnished wages: If the Secretary receives disposable pay that was improperly garnished, they are required to pay the borrower twice the actual amount of wages garnished within 10 days (Section 2, subsection h).
-
Legal recourse against employers: Employers can be held liable and may be sued in State or Federal court to recover amounts improperly withheld after receiving notice of suspension or revocation, including actual damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and potentially punitive damages (Section 2, subsection g).
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Limits on long-term debt: The Secretary is prohibited from garnishing the disposable pay of an individual for a loan that has been outstanding for more than 10 years (Section 2, subsection i).
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Increased oversight: The Secretary must establish a centralized database of demographic data for individuals subject to garnishment and submit reports to Congressional committees to evaluate the exercise of their authority (Section 2, paragraph 3, subparagraph A and B).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Suspension of wage garnishment authority: The authority to garnish disposable pay is suspended immediately upon the enactment of the act until a certification process is completed (Section 2, paragraph 1).
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 Students+6Good For Low Income Households+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+7Improves Government Transparency+6Increases Federal Power-3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Student Loan Relief+5Improves College Affordability+4
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Consumer Protection+5
- 5/14/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts