Summary

Prevents consumer reporting agencies from listing negative credit items that happened while a U.S. national was unlawfully detained or held hostage abroad, as long as the consumer provides authenticated documentation of that detention. The documentation must certify the person is a covered U.S. national, identify the detention period, and be authenticated by the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs or the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell. The change is added to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

• Adds a new FCRA provision preventing reporting of negative credit items that occurred while a covered U.S. national was unlawfully detained or held hostage abroad.
• Relief applies only when the consumer provides detention/hostage documentation that is authenticated by specified federal hostage authorities.
• Defines covered consumers based on determinations by existing hostage-recovery authorities (Special Presidential Envoy or Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell).
• Requires documentation to certify covered status and identify the exact detention period to be excluded from credit reporting.
• Does not provide new funding or create direct new federal spending; it modifies consumer reporting obligations under FCRA.
• Limits scope to U.S. nationals as identified by the statutory hostage-determination processes.
• Reduces credit-reporting harms (like lowered credit scores) for people detained or held hostage abroad during the documented period.
• Imposes operational responsibilities on consumer reporting agencies to authenticate documentation and suppress qualifying negative items.