A new House bill would expand existing free credit-monitoring services beyond those on active duty, making all in uniform eligible for the benefit.

The Servicemembers’ Credit Monitoring Enhancement Act (H.R. 7526) would support the Guard and Reserve members who “make enormous sacrifices to keep this country safe,” said Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), a co-sponsor of the legislation alongside Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). “To lift their economic burdens and increase the financial readiness of our forces, we should do everything we can to provide them with the information and resources they need to live financially secure lives outside the military.”

The bill also expands the benefit to include those in the commissioned corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA – another reason it has garnered support from MOAA.

“Ensuring all uniformed servicemembers have equal access to financial resources as the active component is vital for our national defense,” said Cory Titus, MOAA’s director of government relations for veteran benefits and Guard and Reserve affairs. “We thank Reps. Stefanik and Ryan for supporting the reserve component, Public Health Service, and NOAA Officer Corps with their bill to expand access to credit monitoring – we urge Congress to pass this bill.”

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Active duty servicemembers, including those in the National Guard and Reserve on active status, already qualify for free electronic credit monitoring from the three nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – under a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule stemming from a 2018 law. Details on using the benefit are available at the credit bureau websites.

The rule also requires crediting reporting agencies to notify servicemembers within 48 hours of any “material additions or modifications” to their credit file, and to ensure the members receive free access to the file to review the change. More details are available from the FTC at this link.

“Our servicemembers have all taken an oath to protect our nation, and it is critical we make sure they are protected,” Stefanik said. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to extend these credit monitoring services to all our men and women in uniform. As they answer the call to duty, they deserve to do so with the peace of mind that their finances will be securely monitored.”

For updates on this and other MOAA legislative priorities, visit MOAA’s Advocacy News page. For more financial resources, including fraud avoidance and other guidance for past and present servicemembers and their families, visit MOAA.org/finance.