Congressmen Urge Feds to Keep SCRA out of Foreclosure Settlement

WASHINGTON - Democratic Rep. Brad Miller and Republican Rep. Walter Jones are sending a message to federal officials who will need to sign off on any settlement agreement reached between state attorneys general and mortgage servicers: do not release the servicers from any violations of a federal law that protects members of the military.

In a letter Tuesday, the two North Carolina congressmen urged Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate and prosecute violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, rather than providing legal releases as part of a larger settlement over foreclosure violations.

"A sweeping settlement that forgives illegal foreclosures on military personnel will almost certainly result in continued disrespect of the legal rights of military personnel," the letter says.

The letter comes amid signs that federal and state officials are attempting to bring settlement talks, which have stalled several times over the last year, to a close.

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