Rep. McBride’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Delaware Consumers From Credit Repair Scammers Introduced in the U.S. Senate
Washington, DC — Last week, the Ending Scam Credit Repair Act (ESCRA) — bipartisan legislation originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Sarah McBride (DE-AL) and Young Kim (CA-40) — was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The bipartisan, bicameral legislation aims to protect consumers in Delaware and across the country by cracking down on fraudulent practices in the credit repair industry.
“The credit repair industry is full of many bad actors who prey on Delawareans with low credit scores, offering quick fixes and delivering nothing but empty promises,” said Rep. McBride. “Our bipartisan, now bicameral, Ending Scam Credit Repair Act would stop these scammers from taking advantage of consumers when they are most vulnerable while increasing transparency and accountability. I’m grateful to Senators Coons and Murkowski for introducing the Senate companion bill, and I look forward to working across our respective chambers to get this commonsense solution over the finish line and protect consumers from these harmful practices.”
The Senate introduction of ESCRA comes as the Federal Trade Commission began issuing more than $10.9 million in refunds last week to Americans who were scammed by a deceptive credit repair operation — underscoring the urgent need for stronger consumer protections.
The Ending Scam Credit Repair Act would prohibit Credit Repair Organizations (CRO) from charging consumers until six months after they’ve provided proof that their credit score has improved while also increasing civil penalties for violations. The bill prohibits CROs from “jamming” financial institutions with duplicative requests, which has prevented consumer reporting agencies and data furnishers from addressing legitimate credit report issues. The legislation has earned broad support from consumer advocates, industry leaders, and elected officials in Delaware and across the country.
ESCRA was the first piece of legislation introduced by Rep. McBride in 2025 — and the first bill introduced by any freshman House Democrat in the 119th Congress. Last July, Rep. McBride testified before the Committee on Financial Services in support of ESCRA.
Full text of the House bill can be found here.
Full text of the Senate bill can be found here.
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