FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Lauren Weiner, 202-470-5870
DATE: January 6, 2010

AFR Hopes His Vision on Financial Regulatory Reform Will Carry Through

Washington, DC – Americans for Financial Reform issued the following statement regarding Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd’s announcement that he will not run again for reelection.

Heather Booth, Executive Director, Americans for Financial Reform: “We greatly appreciate Sen. Dodd’s years of service in the Senate and his strong leadership on numerous issues. It is this leadership we know will be a key factor as financial regulatory reform makes its way through the Senate. We support the direction of the draft bill on financial reform that he initiated, which includes a strong independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency, and look forward to working with Sen. Dodd and other Senators to continue on a path toward passing real reform that ensures transparency and accountability in our financial system.

“Financial reform is badly needed to protect working families and small businesses by reining in the greedy, reckless behavior of big banks on Wall Street that cost millions of jobs, and by cracking down on abuses committed by credit card companies and the mortgage lending industry. These reforms are urgently needed to prevent a future financial crisis.”