WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today announced the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing on Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. on aggressive business practices that some soldiers and their families face, as well as ways to protect service members from abusive behavior.

In particular, the hearing will focus on disturbing predatory lending practices that target or affect military service members, and the aggressive debt collection practices service members may face when loans come due. The hearing builds on a forum that Chairman Rockefeller co-led in July 2011 to discuss illegal foreclosure notices that soldiers were receiving. Since the forum, service members and their families have continued to face abusive business practices, sometimes while they are fighting for the nation in war zones.

Rockefeller recently wrote about protecting service members and veterans as consumers in a special report prepared by The Washington Times.

Please note the hearing will be webcast live via the Senate Commerce Committee website. Refresh the Commerce Committee homepage 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to automatically begin streaming the webcast.

Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for webcast hearings, should contact Stephanie Gamache at 202-224-5511 at least three business days in advance of the hearing date.

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