of law, each employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (including employees under chapter 74 of such title) shall be treated as an employee under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, for purposes of making claims under such chapter relating to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19). (b) Presumption If an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs described in subsection (a) contracts coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19), such disease shall be presumed to have been proximately caused by the employment of the employee for purposes of claims made under chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code. 170010. Deferral of certain debts arising from laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (a) In general With regard to a covered debt, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during the covered period, may not take any of the following actions: (1) Collect a payment (including by the offset of any payment by the Secretary). (2) Record such a debt. (3) Issue notice of such a debt to an individual or a consumer reporting agency. (4) Allow any interest to accrue. (5) Apply any administrative fee. (b) Exception Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary may collect a payment regarding a covered debt (including interest or any administrative fee) from an individual who elects to make such a payment during the covered period. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term consumer reporting agency has the meaning given that term in section 5701 of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term covered debt means a debt owed— (A) by an individual to the United States