National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008
Public Law 110-438 · S. 3197 · 110th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Oct 20, 2008 · Finance and Financial Sector
Sponsor: Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Cosponsors (2): Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Orrin Hatch
Passage votesYeaNay
- HouseRecorded vote: 411 yea, 0 nay411–0
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 - (Sec. 2) Amends federal bankruptcy law to prohibit the bankruptcy court from dismissing or converting a chapter 7 liquidation case based upon means testing if the debtor, after September 11, 2001, was called to active duty or homeland defense activity while a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or a member of the National Guard, and such debtor is: (1) on active duty for a specified period; or (2) performing a homeland defense activity for a specified period.
(Sec. 3) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to Congress on whether and to what degree members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and the National Guard: (1) avail themselves of the benefits of this Act; (2) are debtors in federal bankruptcy cases substantially related to service that qualifies them for such benefits ; and (3) are debtors in federal bankruptcy cases materially related to such service.
Requires such study to include the effects that the use of this Act by such members has upon: (1) the bankruptcy system; (2) creditors; and (3) the debt-incurrence practices of such members.
Prescribes mandatory factors for consideration in such report.
Who voted for it
Every House member of the 110th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 411 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.
411 yea0 nay22 present or did not vote
Democrats who voted yea(227)
Rep. Dennis KucinichD-OH-10
Rep. Barbara LeeD-CA-9
Rep. Jim McDermottD-WA-7
Rep. Lynn WoolseyD-CA-6
Rep. Yvette ClarkeD-NY-11
Rep. Keith EllisonD-MN-5
Rep. Maurice HincheyD-NY-22
Rep. John OlverD-MA-1
Rep. Mike HondaD-CA-15
Rep. Raúl GrijalvaD-AZ-7
Rep. Maxine WatersD-CA-35
Rep. Tammy BaldwinD-WI-2
Rep. Donald PayneD-NJ-10
Rep. Gwen MooreD-WI-4
Rep. Barney FrankD-MA-4
Rep. Nydia VelázquezD-NY-12
Rep. Bob FilnerD-CA-51
Rep. John LewisD-GA-5
Rep. Louise SlaughterD-NY-28
Rep. John ConyersD-MI-14
Rep. Linda SánchezD-CA-39
Rep. Jan SchakowskyD-IL-9
Rep. Wm. ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Danny DavisD-IL-7
Rep. Diane WatsonD-CA-33
Rep. Luis GutiérrezD-IL-4
Rep. Sheila Jackson LeeD-TX-18
Rep. Jesse JacksonD-IL-2
Rep. José SerranoD-NY-16
Rep. Donna EdwardsD-MD-4
Rep. Eddie JohnsonD-TX-30
Rep. Mel WattD-NC-12
Rep. Jim McGovernD-MA-3
Rep. Ed MarkeyD-MA-7
Rep. Mazie HironoD-HI-2
Rep. Carolyn KilpatrickD-MI-13
Rep. Michael CapuanoD-MA-8
Rep. Neil AbercrombieD-HI-1
Rep. Bennie ThompsonD-MS-2
Rep. Hilda SolisD-CA-32
Rep. Ed TownsD-NY-10
Rep. Bill DelahuntD-MA-10
Rep. Niki TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Emanuel CleaverD-MO-5
Rep. Lois CappsD-CA-23
Rep. Sam FarrD-CA-17
Rep. Grace NapolitanoD-CA-38
Rep. Hank JohnsonD-GA-4
Rep. Ed PastorD-AZ-4
Rep. Earl BlumenauerD-OR-3
Rep. Xavier BecerraD-CA-31
Rep. Jackie SpeierD-CA-12
Rep. John DingellD-MI-15
Rep. Rush HoltD-NJ-12
Rep. Betty McCollumD-MN-4
Rep. John TierneyD-MA-6
Rep. Jim ClyburnD-SC-6
Rep. Robert WexlerD-FL-19
Rep. Frank PalloneD-NJ-6
Rep. David PriceD-NC-4
Rep. G.K. ButterfieldD-NC-1
Rep. Jerrold NadlerD-NY-8
Rep. Doris MatsuiD-CA-5
Rep. Joe CrowleyD-NY-7
Rep. Richard NealD-MA-2
Rep. Peter WelchD-VT
Rep. Debbie Wasserman SchultzD-FL-20
Rep. Bobby ScottD-VA-3
Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34
Rep. John LarsonD-CT-1
Rep. William JeffersonD-LA-2
Rep. Kathy CastorD-FL-11
Rep. Robert BradyD-PA-1
Rep. Gregory MeeksD-NY-6
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-15
Rep. Zoe LofgrenD-CA-16
Rep. Chaka FattahD-PA-2
Rep. Steny HoyerD-MD-5
Rep. Al GreenD-TX-9
Rep. Charlie GonzalezD-TX-20
Rep. Michael DoyleD-PA-14
Rep. Bill PascrellD-NJ-8
Rep. Henry WaxmanD-CA-30
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Laura RichardsonD-CA-37
Rep. Alan MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Rosa DeLauroD-CT-3
Rep. Elijah CummingsD-MD-7
Rep. Bobby RushD-IL-1
Rep. John SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Peter ViscloskyD-IN-1
Rep. Jay InsleeD-WA-1
Rep. Jim MoranD-VA-8
Rep. Nick RahallD-WV-3
Rep. Diana DeGetteD-CO-1
Rep. Tim RyanD-OH-17
Rep. Corrine BrownD-FL-3
Rep. Gary AckermanD-NY-5
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Patrick KennedyD-RI-1
Rep. Rick LarsenD-WA-2
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Michael McNultyD-NY-21
Rep. Brad ShermanD-CA-27
Rep. Kendrick MeekD-FL-17
Rep. Steven RothmanD-NJ-9
Rep. Lloyd DoggettD-TX-25
Rep. Carolyn MaloneyD-NY-14
Rep. André CarsonD-IN-7
Rep. Nita LoweyD-NY-18
Rep. Anna EshooD-CA-14
Rep. Eliot EngelD-NY-17
Rep. Howard BermanD-CA-28
Rep. Steve CohenD-TN-9
Rep. Anthony WeinerD-NY-9
Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8
Rep. Joe BacaD-CA-43
Rep. Marion BerryD-AR-1
Rep. Rubén HinojosaD-TX-15
Rep. Timothy BishopD-NY-1
Rep. Sander LevinD-MI-12
Rep. Dale KildeeD-MI-5
Rep. Brian HigginsD-NY-27
Rep. Jim LangevinD-RI-2
Rep. Tom AllenD-ME-1
Rep. Paul KanjorskiD-PA-11
Rep. Rahm EmanuelD-IL-5
Rep. Stephen LynchD-MA-9
Rep. Ellen TauscherD-CA-10
Rep. Brad MillerD-NC-13
Rep. David ScottD-GA-13
Rep. Jerry CostelloD-IL-12
Rep. Rob AndrewsD-NJ-1
Rep. Sanford BishopD-GA-2
Rep. David WuD-OR-1
Rep. Marcy KapturD-OH-9
Rep. Susan DavisD-CA-53
Rep. Steve IsraelD-NY-2
Rep. Carolyn McCarthyD-NY-4
Rep. Phil HareD-IL-17
Rep. Silvestre ReyesD-TX-16
Rep. John YarmuthD-KY-3
Rep. Solomon OrtizD-TX-27
Rep. David LoebsackD-IA-2
Rep. Paul HodesD-NH-2
Rep. Carol Shea-PorterD-NH-1
Rep. Tom UdallD-NM-3
Rep. Adam SchiffD-CA-29
Rep. Gene GreenD-TX-29
Rep. Joe CourtneyD-CT-2
Rep. Russ CarnahanD-MO-3
Rep. A. Dutch RuppersbergerD-MD-2
Rep. Christopher MurphyD-CT-5
Rep. Norm DicksD-WA-6
Rep. Dennis CardozaD-CA-18
Rep. John HallD-NY-19
Rep. Rick BoucherD-VA-9
Rep. Allyson SchwartzD-PA-13
Rep. Mike ThompsonD-CA-1
Rep. Ciro RodriguezD-TX-23
Rep. Bruce BraleyD-IA-1
Rep. Michael ArcuriD-NY-24
Rep. Michael MichaudD-ME-2
Rep. Darlene HooleyD-OR-5
Rep. Vic SnyderD-AR-2
Rep. Adam SmithD-WA-9
Rep. Bob EtheridgeD-NC-2
Rep. Timothy WalzD-MN-1
Rep. Artur DavisD-AL-7
Rep. John SprattD-SC-5
Rep. Ike SkeltonD-MO-4
Rep. Leonard BoswellD-IA-3
Rep. Ron KindD-WI-3
Rep. Steve KagenD-WI-8
Rep. Bart StupakD-MI-1
Rep. Peter DeFazioD-OR-4
Rep. Shelley BerkleyD-NV-1
Rep. Charles WilsonD-OH-6
Rep. Daniel LipinskiD-IL-3
Rep. John SalazarD-CO-3
Rep. Dennis MooreD-KS-3
Rep. Chet EdwardsD-TX-17
Rep. Ed PerlmutterD-CO-7
Rep. Joe SestakD-PA-7
Rep. Earl PomeroyD-ND
Rep. Ron KleinD-FL-22
Rep. Jim CostaD-CA-20
Rep. Tim HoldenD-PA-17
Rep. Brian BairdD-WA-3
Rep. Mark UdallD-CO-2
Rep. Mike RossD-AR-4
Rep. Ben ChandlerD-KY-6
Rep. Charles MelanconD-LA-3
Rep. Collin PetersonD-MN-7
Rep. Henry CuellarD-TX-28
Rep. Allen BoydD-FL-2
Rep. Bud CramerD-AL-5
Rep. Stephanie Herseth SandlinD-SD
Rep. Jim CooperD-TN-5
Rep. Lincoln DavisD-TN-4
Rep. John TannerD-TN-8
Rep. Nancy BoydaD-KS-2
Rep. Kirsten GillibrandD-NY-20
Rep. Jerry McNerneyD-CA-11
Rep. Bart GordonD-TN-6
Rep. Bill FosterD-IL-14
Rep. Patrick MurphyD-PA-8
Rep. Zack SpaceD-OH-18
Rep. Tim MahoneyD-FL-16
Rep. Mike McIntyreD-NC-7
Rep. Dan BorenD-OK-2
Rep. Gabrielle GiffordsD-AZ-8
Rep. Melissa BeanD-IL-8
Rep. Jim MathesonD-UT-2
Rep. Gene TaylorD-MS-4
Rep. Brad EllsworthD-IN-8
Rep. Christopher CarneyD-PA-10
Rep. Harry MitchellD-AZ-5
Rep. Jason AltmireD-PA-4
Rep. Jim MarshallD-GA-8
Rep. Heath ShulerD-NC-11
Rep. Joe DonnellyD-IN-2
Rep. Baron HillD-IN-9
Rep. John BarrowD-GA-12
Rep. Donald CazayouxD-LA-6
Rep. Nick LampsonD-TX-22
Rep. Travis ChildersD-MS-1
Republicans who voted yea(184)
Rep. Chris SmithR-NJ-4
Rep. Frank LoBiondoR-NJ-2
Rep. Christopher ShaysR-CT-4
Rep. Tim MurphyR-PA-18
Rep. John McHughR-NY-23
Rep. Timothy JohnsonR-IL-15
Rep. Mike FergusonR-NJ-7
Rep. Jim WalshR-NY-25
Rep. Steven LaTouretteR-OH-14
Rep. Walter JonesR-NC-3
Rep. Ileana Ros-LehtinenR-FL-18
Rep. David ReichertR-WA-8
Rep. Jim GerlachR-PA-6
Rep. Jon PorterR-NV-3
Rep. Jim SaxtonR-NJ-3
Rep. Mark KirkR-IL-10
Rep. Michael CastleR-DE
Rep. Charles DentR-PA-15
Rep. Jo Ann EmersonR-MO-8
Rep. Shelley CapitoR-WV-2
Rep. Rick RenziR-AZ-1
Rep. Phil EnglishR-PA-3
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. Michael TurnerR-OH-3
Rep. Randy KuhlR-NY-29
Rep. Mike SimpsonR-ID-2
Rep. Jerry WellerR-IL-11
Rep. Lincoln Diaz-BalartR-FL-21
Rep. Todd PlattsR-PA-19
Rep. Heather WilsonR-NM-1
Rep. Frank WolfR-VA-10
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Pete KingR-NY-3
Rep. Candice MillerR-MI-10
Rep. Jeff FortenberryR-NE-1
Rep. Mario Diaz-BalartR-FL-25
Rep. Ed WhitfieldR-KY-1
Rep. Deborah PryceR-OH-15
Rep. Jim RamstadR-MN-3
Rep. Rodney FrelinghuysenR-NJ-11
Rep. Greg WaldenR-OR-2
Rep. Thad McCotterR-MI-11
Rep. Tom LathamR-IA-4
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-10
Rep. Robin HayesR-NC-8
Rep. Tom DavisR-VA-11
Rep. Denny RehbergR-MT
Rep. Charles BoustanyR-LA-7
Rep. John PetersonR-PA-5
Rep. Rodney AlexanderR-LA-5
Rep. Fred UptonR-MI-6
Rep. Joe KnollenbergR-MI-9
Rep. Mike RogersR-AL-3
Rep. Vernon EhlersR-MI-3
Rep. Thomas ReynoldsR-NY-26
Rep. Vern BuchananR-FL-13
Rep. Jerry LewisR-CA-41
Rep. Mary Bono MackR-CA-45
Rep. Jerry MoranR-KS-1
Rep. Gus BilirakisR-FL-9
Rep. Robert AderholtR-AL-4
Rep. Kenny HulshofR-MO-9
Rep. John BoozmanR-AR-3
Rep. Frank LucasR-OK-3
Rep. Henry BrownR-SC-1
Rep. Todd TiahrtR-KS-4
Rep. Ginny Brown-WaiteR-FL-5
Rep. Robert WittmanR-VA-1
Rep. Hal RogersR-KY-5
Rep. Ander CrenshawR-FL-4
Rep. Ken CalvertR-CA-44
Rep. Tom ColeR-OK-4
Rep. Judy BiggertR-IL-13
Rep. Cathy McMorris RodgersR-WA-5
Rep. Jo BonnerR-AL-1
Rep. Pat TiberiR-OH-12
Rep. Sam GravesR-MO-6
Rep. Mike RogersR-MI-8
Rep. Bill ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Randy ForbesR-VA-4
Rep. Thelma DrakeR-VA-2
Rep. John ShimkusR-IL-19
Rep. Mary FallinR-OK-5
Rep. Mark SouderR-IN-3
Rep. Duncan HunterR-CA-52
Rep. Ralph HallR-TX-4
Rep. Spencer BachusR-AL-6
Rep. Ron LewisR-KY-2
Rep. Geoff DavisR-KY-4
Rep. Dave CampR-MI-4
Rep. Lamar SmithR-TX-21
Rep. Kay GrangerR-TX-12
Rep. John DoolittleR-CA-4
Rep. Lee TerryR-NE-2
Rep. Roscoe BartlettR-MD-6
Rep. Michael McCaulR-TX-10
Rep. Vito FossellaR-NY-13
Rep. Doc HastingsR-WA-4
Rep. Ric KellerR-FL-8
Rep. Buck McKeonR-CA-25
Rep. Bob GoodlatteR-VA-6
Rep. Virgil GoodeR-VA-5
Rep. Jean SchmidtR-OH-2
Rep. Kevin McCarthyR-CA-22
Rep. Peter RoskamR-IL-6
Rep. Steve PearceR-NM-2
Rep. David DreierR-CA-26
Rep. Donald ManzulloR-IL-16
Rep. Steve BuyerR-IN-4
Rep. John MicaR-FL-7
Rep. Adam PutnamR-FL-12
Rep. Gary MillerR-CA-42
Rep. Roy BluntR-MO-7
Rep. Dave WeldonR-FL-15
Rep. Kevin BradyR-TX-8
Rep. Pete HoekstraR-MI-2
Rep. Michael BurgessR-TX-26
Rep. Dean HellerR-NV-2
Rep. Robert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Tom PetriR-WI-6
Rep. Devin NunesR-CA-21
Rep. George RadanovichR-CA-19
Rep. Rob BishopR-UT-1
Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7
Rep. Wally HergerR-CA-2
Rep. Adrian SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Joe BartonR-TX-6
Rep. John CulbersonR-TX-7
Rep. Daniel LungrenR-CA-3
Rep. Howard CobleR-NC-6
Rep. Marilyn MusgraveR-CO-4
Rep. John KlineR-MN-2
Rep. John SullivanR-OK-1
Rep. Steve ChabotR-OH-1
Rep. Steve ScaliseR-LA-1
Rep. David DavisR-TN-1
Rep. Cliff StearnsR-FL-6
Rep. Darrell IssaR-CA-49
Rep. Mac ThornberryR-TX-13
Rep. John BoehnerR-OH-8
Rep. Ted PoeR-TX-2
Rep. Michele BachmannR-MN-6
Rep. Joseph PittsR-PA-16
Rep. Dan BurtonR-IN-5
Rep. Joe WilsonR-SC-2
Rep. Bob InglisR-SC-4
Rep. Sue MyrickR-NC-9
Rep. Michael ConawayR-TX-11
Rep. Paul RyanR-WI-1
Rep. Pete SessionsR-TX-32
Rep. Eric CantorR-VA-7
Rep. Connie MackR-FL-14
Rep. Patrick McHenryR-NC-10
Rep. Dana RohrabacherR-CA-46
Rep. Randy NeugebauerR-TX-19
Rep. John LinderR-GA-7
Rep. Todd AkinR-MO-2
Rep. Tom FeeneyR-FL-24
Rep. Marsha BlackburnR-TN-7
Rep. Tom PriceR-GA-6
Rep. Virginia FoxxR-NC-5
Rep. Steve KingR-IA-5
Rep. Chris CannonR-UT-3
Rep. Sam JohnsonR-TX-3
Rep. Bill SaliR-ID-1
Rep. Jeff MillerR-FL-1
Rep. Jim JordanR-OH-4
Rep. Scott GarrettR-NJ-5
Rep. Nathan DealR-GA-9
Rep. Lynn WestmorelandR-GA-3
Rep. J. Gresham BarrettR-SC-3
Rep. Ed RoyceR-CA-40
Rep. Jimmy DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Mike PenceR-IN-6
Rep. James SensenbrennerR-WI-5
Rep. Tom TancredoR-CO-6
Rep. Doug LambornR-CO-5
Rep. Ron PaulR-TX-14
Rep. John ShadeggR-AZ-3
Rep. Jeb HensarlingR-TX-5
Rep. John CampbellR-CA-48
Rep. Trent FranksR-AZ-2
Rep. Paul BrounR-GA-10
Rep. Jeff FlakeR-AZ-6
Data notes
The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1857 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Related bills
2 bills the Library of Congress relates to this one.
H.R. 3972Related bill
To amend the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 to exempt from the means test in bankruptcy cases, for a limited period, qualifying reserve-component members who, after September 11, 2001, a…
H.R. 4044Related bill
National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008
Data notes
Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- Oct 20, 2008Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 110-438.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 9, 2008FloorFloor · Presented to President.
- Oct 3, 2008FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 411 - 0 (Roll no. 682).House roll call 682
- FloorFloor · Considered as unfinished business.
- OtherOther · Cleared for White House.
- Oct 2, 2008FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3197.
- FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- FloorFloor · Held at the desk.
- FloorFloor · Received in the House.
- Oct 1, 2008FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Sep 30, 2008FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 15, 2008CalendarCalendar · Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 963.
- CommitteeCommittee · Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment. Without written report.
- Sep 11, 2008CommitteeCommittee · Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
- Jun 25, 2008CommitteeCommittee · Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- CommitteeCommittee · Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6166)
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in Senate
Data notes
Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.
Amendments
No amendments to this bill are on record.
Data notes
Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.
Official record
The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.