Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to the withdrawal of the rule relating to "Bulletin 2023-01: Unfair Billing and Collection Practices After Bankruptcy Discharges of Certain Student Loan Debts".

Overview

• This is a joint resolution introduced in the 119th Congress (2nd Session) on May 12, 2026 by Representative Bynum.
• Purpose: Under the Congressional disapproval process in Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to disapprove a specific rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) withdraw­ing a prior rule related to unfair billing and collection practices after bankruptcy discharges of certain student loan debts.
• If enacted, the resolution would nullify the CFPB’s withdrawal rule and restore the prior rule’s status, effectively leaving the withdrawal rule without force.

Main Purpose and Intent

• To use Congress’s disapproval authority to block the CFPB’s administrative action to withdraw a previously issued rule.
• The targeted rule concerns the withdrawal of “Bulletin 2023–01: Unfair Billing and Collection Practices After Bankruptcy Discharges of Certain Student Loan Debts.”
• The legislative text references the withdrawal as published in the Federal Register (May 12, 2025, 90 Fed. Reg. 20084) and cites the original rulemaking context (Bulletin 2023–01, 88 Fed. Reg. 17366, March 23, 2023).

Key Provisions and Changes

• Provisions:
  • The joint resolution disapproves the CFPB’s rule withdrawing Bulletin 2023–01.
  • The disapproval is enacted under the congressional disapproval process provided by 5 U.S.C. chapter 8 (the Joint Resolution procedure commonly used to block agency deregulatory actions).
  • Upon enactment, the disapproved rule “shall have no force or effect.”
• There are no alternative regulatory changes proposed within the text; the mechanism is to nullify the CFPB’s withdrawal action and maintain the status of Bulletin 2023–01 as unaffected by the withdrawal.

Affected Parties and Impacts

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): The agency’s authority to withdraw Bulletin 2023–01 would be nullified if the joint resolution becomes law.
• Students with discharged student loan debt: The substance of Bulletin 2023–01 addresses unfair billing and collection practices after bankruptcy discharges, so affected individuals could experience ongoing regulatory expectations and protections as outlined in Bulletin 2023–01, rather than the withdrawal.
• Financial service providers and debt collectors: They would still be bound by the standards and guidance originally set forth in Bulletin 2023–01.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Procedure: The bill uses the congressional disapproval process under 5 U.S.C. chapter 8 to veto an agency rulemaking action (withdrawal).
• Timeline:
  • CFPB withdrawal rule published in the Federal Register on May 12, 2025 (90 Fed. Reg. 20084).
  • Bulletin 2023–01 originally published March 23, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 17366).
  • The joint resolution, if enacted, would apply retroactively to nullify the withdrawal and reinstate the prior regulatory framework described in Bulletin 2023–01.

Summary

HJRES 182 seeks to block the CFPB’s withdrawal of Bulletin 2023–01 on unfair billing and collection practices after bankruptcy discharges of certain student loan debts. By disapproving the withdrawal under the congressional disapproval process, the bill would render the withdrawal rule inoperative and restore the effect of Bulletin 2023–01 as it stood prior to the withdrawal. The resolution was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services for consideration.