On Thursday, U.S. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions, will hold a hearing to discuss much-debated legislation that would restrict unscrupulous payday lending practices.

The Payday Loan Reform Act (H.R. 1214) outlines solid consumer protections for 23 states that have weak or even nonexistent consumer protections from abusive lenders. The bill focuses on the two major concerns with regard to payday loans:  the fees charged and the “cycle of debt” that occurs when consumers are not able to immediately repay their loans.