A bill to amend section 3718 of title 31, United States Code, to authorize contracts retaining private counsel to furnish legal services in the case of indebtedness owed the United States.

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

6 February 1985

Last action

18 September 1986 · Committee

Status

Clean Bill H.R.5541 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu.

Sponsors

Rep. Moody, Jim [D-WI-5], Rep. Roe, Robert A. [D-NJ-8], Rep. Smith, Lawrence [D-FL-16], Rep. Levin, Sander M. [D-MI-12], Rep. Hamilton, Lee H. [D-IN-9], Rep. Slattery, Jim [D-KS-2], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Bliley, Tom [R-VA-7], Rep. DioGuardi, Joseph J. [R-NY-20], Rep. Ortiz, Solomon P. [D-TX-27], Rep. Eckart, Dennis E. [D-OH-11], Rep. Hughes, William J. [D-NJ-2], Rep. Whitley, Charles O., Sr. [D-NC-3], Rep. Martinez, Matthew G. [D-CA-31], Rep. Whitehurst, G. William [R-VA-2], Rep. Chandler, Rod D. [R-WA-8], Rep. Fazio, Vic [D-CA-3], Rep. Tauke, Thomas Joseph [R-IA-2], Rep. Bateman, Herbert H. [R-VA-1], Rep. Darden, George (Buddy) [D-GA-7], Rep. Edwards, Mickey [R-OK-5], Rep. Kasich, John R. [R-OH-12], Rep. Guarini, Frank J. [D-NJ-14], Rep. Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [R-FL-22], Rep. Bustamante, Albert G. [D-TX-23], Rep. Ridge, Thomas J. [R-PA-21], Rep. Spratt, John M., Jr. [D-SC-5], Rep. Atkins, Chester G. [D-MA-5], Rep. Lightfoot, Jim [R-IA-3], Rep. Henry, Paul B. [R-MI-5], Rep. McKinney, Stewart B. [R-CT-4], Rep. Rose, Charlie [D-NC-7], Rep. Goodling, William F. [R-PA-19], Rep. McGrath, Raymond J. [R-NY-5], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Martin, Lynn M. [R-IL-16], Rep. Towns, Edolphus [D-NY-10], Rep. Lloyd, Marilyn [D-TN-3], Rep. Rinaldo, Matthew J. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Pursell, Carl D. [R-MI-2], Rep. Daniel, W. C. (Dan) [D-VA-5], Rep. Barnard, Doug, Jr. [D-GA-10], Rep. Fish, Hamilton, Jr. [R-NY-19], Rep. Fawell, Harris W. [R-IL-13], Rep. Daub, Hal [R-NE-2], Rep. Wolpe, Howard E. [D-MI-3], Rep. Boulter, Beau [R-TX-13]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

30 June 2021

Official source View documents Share

Summary

Authorizes the Attorney General to make contracts retaining private counsel to furnish legal services in the case of any claim of indebtedness owed the United States. Requires the Attorney General, in making such a contract in any judicial district, to use his best efforts to obtain at least four contracts for legal services with private individuals or firms in such district. Prohibits the fee payable for such legal services from exceeding the fee typically charged in the area for the collection of claims of indebtedness. Permits the head of an executive or legislative agency to refer to a private counsel so retained any claims of indebtedness owed the United States arising out of such agency's activities. Declares that for the purposes of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a private counsel performing collection services under this Act shall be considered a debt collector. Sets forth the procedure for filing counterclaims. Requires the Attorney General to transmit to the Congress an annual report on the activities of the Department of Justice to recover such indebtedness. Requires the Comptroller General to carry out an annual audit of the actions taken by the Attorney General pursuant to this Act during the preceding two years. Requires the Comptroller General to determine the extent to which there is competition among private counsel to obtain contracts pursuant to this Act, the reasonableness of the fees provided in such contracts, and the results of the debt collection efforts. Requires a report to the Congress on the findings and conclusions resulting from such audit. Requires the Attorney General to transmit to the Congress a report on the actions taken under this Act within 180 days after the date of enactment.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

6 February 1985
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
6 February 1985
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
6 February 1985
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
6 March 1985
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations.
Source: Committee
20 March 1985
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from GAO.
Source: Committee
26 November 1985
Committee
Executive Comment Requested from Treasury.
Source: Committee
8 May 1986
Committee
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Source: Committee
14 August 1986
Committee
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
18 September 1986
Committee
Clean Bill H.R.5541 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in Lieu.
Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Vertaal naar

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Introduced in House
summary · EN · 6 February 1985
Open at official source

Related records

related to ← A bill to amend section 3718 of title 31, United States Code, to authorized contracts retaining private counsel to furnish legal services in the case of indebtedness owed the United States.

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/house-bill/979
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/99/hr/979
us · 99-hr-979 · source updated 30 June 2021