HEROES Act Provides Broad Consumer Protections to Servicemembers Affected by Pandemic

May 12, 2020

Provisions in The HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) offers servicemembers the ability to terminate home and vehicle leases who are affected by the Department of Defense’s Stop Movement Order.

The legislation also allows servicemembers to cancel cable, internet, and phone contracts without penalty. These provisions extend to military families of which a servicemember has been killed or catastrophically injured.

The $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill was unveiled by House Democrats on Wednesday.

In addition to currently active military members, The HEROES Act also provides security and assistance to veterans. This includes expanding healthcare to all veterans who lost coverage due to the pandemic, support for homeless veterans, and debt collection relief.

Veteran unemployment is currently at 12 percent.

“The Heroes Act is critical,” said House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano in a press release. “By supporting homeless veterans, suspending debt collection, expanding health coverage, and caring for our most vulnerable, we can help ensure that those who have served our country have an opportunity to succeed.”

The HEROES Act provides close to $1 trillion to state, local, territorial and tribal government to pay essential workers, $175 billion in housing assistance, as well as another round of $1,200 direct payments to individuals.

Read a full summary of the legislation here.

Photo by Graeme Jennings/ Getty Images

May 12, 2020

Recent News

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

New JROTC Program in Hawaii The Coast Guard has established a JROTC program at Kalani High School in Honolulu, the first such program in Hawaii, according to a press release. “We’re exceedingly grateful to be working with the state of Hawaii Department of Education,...

Army to Establish Regional Recruiting Commands in L.A., Atlanta

Army to Establish Regional Recruiting Commands in L.A., Atlanta

The Army will establish new regional recruiting centers in Los Angeles and work closely with leaders in those communities, according to a recent Army story. “We’re going to improve the relationships with local leaders in these locations, which will open doors for our...

The New Funding Countdown

The New Funding Countdown

The federal government is set to shut down on Dec. 20 if Congress doesn’t reach an agreement on fiscal year 2025 spending by then. Following the elections, House Republicans decided not to try to finish work on all 12 appropriations bills and instead work on a...

PAST STORIES