Category Archives: Letters to Congress

gavel from a courtroom - Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

Letters to Congress: Letter Asking for Commitment to Nominating Professionally Diverse Candidates to Federal District Courts

AFR joined a letter to the Senate asking for commitment to supporting President Biden’s goal of nominating professionally diverse candidates for federal district courts by fulfilling his request to recommend public defenders, civil rights lawyers, and public interest lawyers when judicial vacancies occur in their states. The letter explains that if the American public is to maintain faith in our judicial system, it is critical that we restore balance to a bench where former corporate lawyers and prosecutors are so heavily overrepresented.

Letters to Congress: Letter in Support of Two Language Access Bills

AFR organized a letter of support for two bills expanding and improving language access for mortgage transactions that will make important strides in improving access to the mortgage market and awareness of the availability of assistance for homeowners who are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments. LEP borrowers face many challenges that impede their full participation in the consumer marketplace, including, specifically, their ability to obtain and preserve ownership of a home. Tracking and transferring the language preference of LEP borrowers and enhancing the availability and use of services and resources in their preferred languages will significantly improve market access for LEP borrowers at all stages of a mortgage loan.

A Wall Street street sign

Letters to Congress: Joint Letter Endorsing the Wall Street Tax Act

AFR joined a letter to the House of Representatives urging them to cosponsor the Wall Street Tax Act of 2021, H.R. 328. Also called the Financial Tax Transaction Act (FTT), the bill would create significant revenues and reduce risk and volatility, reorienting Wall Street’s focus away from speculation toward long-term investments that support Main Street businesses, employees, and working families.

a gavel over a paper that says "arbitration hearing"

Letters to Congress: Letter in Support of the FAIR Act

AFR joined a letter strongly supporting the Force Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act (FAIR Act). The letter stated that the legislation would ensure that workers, consumers, servicemembers, nursing home residents, ordinary investors, and small businesses harmed by bad actors will be able to bring valid claims in court, and would not be forced into private, secretive, corporate-controlled arbitration systems required by nonnegotiable contracts. It argued for the particular need for Congress to move forward with this legislation in light of the economic hardship facing working families during the pandemic.