News · Press Release

Congressman MacArthur Abandons NJ Military Families to Financial Predators

One-Term Wonder Congressman Tom MacArthur just failed service members and families at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst by abandoning them to predatory lenders. This morning, in the Armed Services Committee, MacArthur voted against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to protect military members and their families from predatory loans without delay. The amendment, which was offered by Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), passed in a bipartisan vote without MacArthur’s support.

“Congressman MacArthur promised to defend the men and women at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a promise he clearly broke today,” said DCCC spokesperson Matt Thornton. “Instead of doing his job and protecting service members and their families from predatory lenders, MacArthur sold them out to predatory lenders. Congressman MacArthur owes an explanation to every service member and military family in his district for abandoning them to financial predators.”

Background:

Headline: Bloomberg: “Defense Bill Could Halt Plan To Shield Troops From Abusive Loans.”  [Bloomberg, 4/28/15]

Headline: Army Times: “Lawmakers seek to delay credit protection for troops.” [Army Times, 4/28/15]

Headline: Huffington Post: “House Republicans Want To Block Predatory Lending Protections For American Troops.” [Huffington Post, 4/29/15]

Headline: Consumerist: “Congress May Delay Predatory Lending Protection For Military Personnel.” [Consumerist, 4/29/15]

Headline: ThinkProgress: “House GOP Wants To Stop The Pentagon From Protecting Military Families From Financial Predators.” [ThinkProgress, 4/29/15]

National Defense Authorization Act Legislation Debated In Committee Mark-Up Included Language To Postpone Department Of Defense Actions To Improve Protections For Service Members From Predatory Lenders. Section 594 of the National Defense Authorization Act would delay the Department of Defense’s regulations improving the Military Lending Act. The rule could be delayed by up to a year or more. “This section would require the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by March 1, 2016, describing any rulemaking undertaken by the Department of Defense concerning section 987 of title 10, United States Code, and part 232 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations. Additionally, the Secretary of Defense may not implement any final regulation concerning section 987 of title 10, United States Code, or part 232 of title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, until the end of a 60 day period beginning when the required report is submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.” [uspirg.org, 4/28/15; FY16 National Defense Authorization Bill Chairman’s Mark, 4/29/15]

MacArthur Voted Against An Amendment To Strike Section Of Bill To Postpone Provisions Protecting Service Members From Predatory Lenders. On April 30, 2015 Rep. Duckworth offered an amendment to H.R.1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 to strike section 594 of the bill that delayed rules to protect service members from payday lenders. The amendment required “the Department of Defense to report on rulemaking under the Military Lending Act and delays implementing new lending rules under the Act pending submission of such report.” [Amendment to H.R. 1735, Log 143, 4/30/15; H.R. 1735 Full Committee Markup – Part 5, 4:36:35, 4/29/15]





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