Americans for Financial Reform

Government Category: Comments & Letters to Regulators

Joint Letter: Calling on SBA to release Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness data

AFR joined a letter to the Small Business Administration calling for the release of data pertaining to Paycheck Protection Program recipients’ loan forgiveness requests, which represents $194.5 billion of taxpayer money, most of which has already been forgiven. The letter urges the SBA to release the number of jobs borrowers supported with PPP funds, information on any pay reductions experienced by workers employed by borrowers, whether the borrower applied for or received a second draw PPP loan, among other important data points.

Letters to Regulators: Letter to the OCC to Scrutinize New Partnerships Between Risky Share Agreement Companies and Banks

AFREF joined our partners in sending a letter calling on the OCC to carefully scrutinize new partnerships between risky Income Share Agreement companies and banks under OCC supervision. Partnerships like the one between Mentorworks and Blue Ridge Bank have the potential to put borrowers at risk by opening the market to a product that is violating the law & harming borrowers.

Letters to Regulators: Letter in Response to FHFA RFI Expressing Concerns About Climate and Natural Risk Management

AFREF and 17 organizations sent a letter in response to FHFA’s RFI on climate and natural risk management detailing our concerns about the disproportionate impact of climate change and natural disasters on borrowers and communities of color and low and moderate income neighborhoods. We provided recommendations for next steps on FHFA’s work on mitigating climate risk and urged FHFA to make sure climate risk mitigation efforts do not cause inadvertent harm to the communities who are already most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and who face the most challenges in accessing and sustaining homeownership.

Joint Statement: Over 415 Orgs Call on President Biden to Cancel Federal Student Debt Immediately using Executive Action

Today, over 415 organizations sent an updated letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, calling on them to use executive authority to cancel federal student debt immediately. In the letter, the 416 advocacy groups highlight that cancelling student debt would stimulate the economy, help reduce racial wealth gaps, and could have a positive impact on health outcomes.