Sens. Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell BrownBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election MORE (D-Ohio) and Josh Hawley Joshua (Josh) David HawleyRenewed focus on Trump's Supreme Court list after Ginsburg's death What Facebook's planned change to its terms of service means for the Section 230 debate Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal MORE (R-Mo.) are asking the Treasury Department to ensure that the coronavirus recovery checks are protected from private debt collectors.

"To carry out Congress’s intent and ensure that American families receive the help they need, we ask that you immediately exercise your authority to protect these payments from private debt collectors," the senators wrote in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinLawmakers fear voter backlash over failure to reach COVID-19 relief deal United Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid House Democrats plan to unveil bill next week to avert shutdown MORE on Thursday.

President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE late last month signed a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package, known as the CARES Act, under which most Americans will receive one-time direct payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child. People who have already provided the IRS with their direct-deposit information could start to receive their payments as soon as next week.

ADVERTISEMENT

The payments cannot be reduced if people owe back taxes or are behind on making other payments to federal or state agencies. They can only be reduced in cases where people are behind on child-support payments, according to a frequently asked questions document from the office of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE (R-Iowa).

Brown and Hawley urged the Treasury Department to use its authority to also prevent the direct payments from being seized for private debts, outside of child support payments.

The senators said that existing Treasury rules already prevent two months of Social Security and other federal payments from being garnished by private-debt collectors, and that Treasury could apply those rules or issue new guidance to protect the coronavirus payments from being seized as well.

"If Treasury fails to take action, the CARES Act direct payments are at risk of being seized by debt collectors," the senators wrote. "That is not what Congress intended. We came together to pass the CARES Act to help American families pay for food, medicine, and other basic necessities during this crisis."

Brown, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, also sent a similar letter to Mnuchin earlier this month with Sens. Ron Wyden Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenGOP senator blocks Schumer resolution aimed at Biden probe as tensions run high Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal Hillicon Valley: TikTok, Oracle seek Trump's approval as clock winds down | Hackers arrested for allegedly defacing U.S. websites after death of Iranian general | 400K people register to vote on Snapchat MORE (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon MORE (D-Mass.).