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Newsweek: Democrats and Republicans Agree on Something: Don’t Bet on It Happening
“Prediction markets have turned democracy itself into a casino by allowing gambling on American elections, government actions, or military intervention,” Patrick Woodall, managing director at the nonprofit Americans for Financial Reform, said in a statement supporting the analogous Democratic-led STOP Corrupt Bets Act.
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The Detroit News: U.S. Democratic Sens. Merkley, Warren take aim at prediction markets
* The bill has been endorsed by major public interest groups including Project On Government Oversight, Public Citizen and Americans for Financial Reform.
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Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal: Jayapal, Warren, Boyle, 45+ Lawmakers Renew Push for Wealth Tax on Ultra-Millionaires and Billionaires
“Our tax system is unjust. It is littered with loopholes that benefit the ultrawealthy, allowing them to game the system while working people pay higher rates than Wall Street’s billionaires and multi-millionaires. The Ultra-Millionaire Tax is a key policy needed to make the superrich pay their fair share of taxes and build an economy that works better for the rest of us,” Ericka Taylor, Co-executive Director of Americans for Financial Reform.
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Senator Jeff Merkley: New Merkley, Raskin Legislation Bans Gambling on Elections, Sports, War, and Government Activity
“Prediction markets have turned democracy itself into a casino by allowing gambling on American elections, government actions, or military intervention,” said Patrick Woodall, managing director at Americans for Financial Reform. “Government officials should not be able to leverage their access to confidential information to game prediction markets and unfairly enrich themselves. The STOP Corrupt Bets Act prevents connected officials from getting rich by trading on inside information and restores some needed trust and confidence in the U.S. government.”
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BitcoinEthereumNews.com: MrBeast Buys Teen Banking App Step, Drawing Praise and Political Scrutiny
Consumer advocacy groups have flagged similar concerns. Tom Feltner, associate director of consumer policy at Americans for Financial Reform, warned that the chain linking influencers, fintech apps, and partner banks requires careful scrutiny. “When you mix hundreds of millions of followers with a bank that is defined by regulatory failures, missing deposits, you really are creating a recipe for a major disaster,” Feltner said.
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Congressman Maxwell Frost: Congressman Frost Leads Fight Against Wall Street to Defend Affordable Housing Communities
The PRO Manufactured Home Communities Act is endorsed by: ROC USA, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Private Equity Stakeholder Project, MHAction, Americans for Financial Reform, National Manufactured Home Owners Association (NMHOA), National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition
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Crypto News: US Senator Introduces Crypto Bill Blocking Federal Bailouts for Digital Assets
The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). It also receives endorsements from consumer advocacy groups: Consumer Federation of America, American Economic Liberties Project, Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Action, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumer Law Center on behalf of its low-income clients, National Consumers League, Public Citizen, and Woodstock Institute.
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401k Specialist: ERISA Litigation Reform Act Advances to House Floor
Scott also introduced into the record two letters arguing against the legislation—one from several former Department of Labor officials who worked in both Democratic and Republican administrations, and another from organizations including the Alliance of Retired Americans, Americans for Financial Reform, Committee for a Fiduciary Standard, Economic Policy Institute, National Committee to Protect and Preserve Social Security and Medicare, National Retiree Legislative Network, and Pension Rights Center.
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Fox13: Mega-influencer partners with Mid-South bank
“When people’s financial security is dependent on a lot of different links in a chain, from influencers to fintech apps to partner banks, that chain needs to be carefully scrutinized,” explained Tom Feltner, the associate director of consumer policy for Americans for Financial Reform.
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Pension & Investments: Sen. Durbin moves to block Social Security Trust Funds from investing in crypto following Trump’s crypto retirement push
The bill is endorsed by several organizations, including Social Security Works, Alliance for Retired Americans, Americans for Financial Reform, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers and the Consumer Federation of America, according to the news release.
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Archyde: Private Credit: A Guide to Loans Beyond Banks
Concerns are also rising about the opacity of the private credit market. Unlike publicly traded debt, private credit loans are not subject to the same level of regulatory oversight or disclosure requirements. This lack of transparency makes it demanding to assess the true risk exposure of these funds, according to Americans for Financial Reform.
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Forbes: AI Is Power Hungry: Invest Now In Energy And Infrastructure
This boom has made service providers in high-demand areas such as mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and roofing highly appealing to both strategic buyers and private equity investors. What’s interesting is that private equity firms have been leading the way, accounting for about 80–90% of completed M&A deals in the data center sector since 2022, according to a March 2025 report published by the Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund.
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Senator Dick Durbin: Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Interagency Committee To Expand Oversight On For-Profit College Industry
The bill has earned support from the American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform, Center for Responsible Lending, Complete College America, National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Education Association, New America, Protect Borrowers, The Education Trust, The Institute for College Access & Success, UnidosUS, and Veterans Education Success.
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The Bit Gazette: Florida Senate passes stablecoin bill, sends legislation to Governor DeSantis
Policy experts say the approach mirrors broader U.S. regulatory thinking. “Stablecoins have enormous potential for payments, but regulators want to avoid situations where they behave like shadow banks,” said digital finance analyst Mark Hays of Americans for Financial Reform in previous policy commentary.
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Crypto Daily Alert: Stablecoins face limits as Clarity Act tests SEC vs CFTC
Consumer advocates are pressing for tighter guardrails before any vote. According to Americans for Financial Reform, the House version risks carving out lax oversight that could expose consumers and investors to greater harm.
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The Baynet: Van Hollen Joins Lawmakers To Revive Free IRS Direct Tax File Program
The bill is endorsed by 115 unions, advocacy groups, and national organizations, including Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, Economic Security Project Action, Groundwork Collaborative, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America, Americans for Financial Reform…
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Credit and Collection News: What It Means To Be A Bank Is Rapidly Changing
Four groups did file comment letters regarding World Liberty Financial’s charter application: the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Americans for Financial Reform, Public Citizen, and Fair Finance Watch.
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US Senator Mark R. Warner: Warner, Kaine Introduce Direct File Act to Guarantee Free, Easy Tax Filing for Americans
The bill is endorsed by 115 unions, advocacy groups, and national organizations, including Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, Economic Security Project Action, Groundwork Collaborative, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America, Americans for Financial Reform…
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Financial Regulation News: Sens. Warren, Merkley introduce bill to end tax breaks for corporate home buyers
The bill is endorsed by American Economic Liberties Project, American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform, Communications Workers of America, Consumer Action, Grounded Solutions Network, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, and Private Equity Stakeholder Project.
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Congressman Brad Sherman: Sherman, Sen. Elizabeth Warren & 160 Lawmakers Introduce Direct File Act to Guarantee Free, Easy Tax Filing for Americans
Endorsing Organizations (115) – Public Citizen, Americans for Tax Fairness, Economic Security Project Action, Groundwork Collaborative, AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Communications Workers of America, Americans for Financial Reform…
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PunchBowl News: Vault: Bank regulators crash the Senate
Read the letter sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer here.
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U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Senate Democrats Introduce The American Homeownership Act To Stop Wall Street’s Housing Grab and Get Homes Back into the Hands of Families
“As record numbers of U.S. families struggle to pay the rent and young people are increasingly locked out of homeownership, we must take action and prioritize homes for families to live in rather than as profit engines for billionaire investors. The American Homeownership Act would strip lucrative tax breaks and other benefits from private equity and Wall Street landlords, and keep new properties out of their hands,” said Caroline Nagy, Associate Director of Housing Policy at Americans for Financial Reform.
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Credit and Collection News: Nearly 100 Groups Are Standing Up for a Strong, Robust, and Independent CFPB
“Wall Street and Silicon Valley would like nothing more than to take down the agency that safeguards the financial security of everyday families and make it easier to rip people off without consequences,” said Tom Feltner, associate director of consumer policy at the Americans for Financial Reform. “The CFPB needs the funding and independent leadership to protect people from the debt traps, junk fees, and scams that make everything more expensive.”
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Archynewsy: CT Bill Aims to Protect Patients from Medical Credit Card Debt | Americans for Financial Reform
Tom Feltner, Associate Director of Consumer Policy at Americans for Financial Reform, has voiced support for the bill, joining consumer and healthcare advocates in urging its passage. Americans for Financial Reform believes the legislation is a crucial step in protecting Connecticut patients from potentially predatory financial practices.
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Ballard Spahr L.L.P.: Trump Administration says CFPB has cost consumers hundreds of billions of dollars
“The Trump administration has tried for over a year to shut down the CFPB because it worked tirelessly to protect people from junk fees, scams, and widespread financial harm as well as holding financial firms accountable for ripoffs and unfair practices,” said Tom Feltner, Associate Director of Consumer Policy at Americans for Financial Reform. “It is not surprising that this administration is now claiming that people would be better off without the commonsense financial protections that have prevented another financial crisis for the past fifteen years.”
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Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley: Pressley Unveils Legislation to Mandate Disclosures to Hold Big Banks Accountable, Demands SEC Require Reports in Interest of Investors
The GSIB Act is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, Public Citizen, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Rise Economy, Fair Finance Watch, and Action Center on Race and the Economy.
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Credit and Collection News: President Trump Escalates Assault On CFPB
Consumer advocates, Democratic members of Congress, and groups like Americans for Financial Reform and borrower‑protection coalitions characterize the strategy as an “assault” designed to let big banks, debt collectors, and fintechs operate with fewer constraints and more junk‑fee revenue at consumers’ expense.
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Truthout: Grassroots Organizers in Wisconsin Offer Blueprint for Beating Back Data Centers
A recent Americans for Financial Reform report also notes that private equity has “established a foothold in all parts of the data center lifecycle,” which includes everything from “assembling land where future data center campuses will be built” to “direct data center operation.”
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Seehafer News: Sen. Baldwin Takes Aim at Wealthy Investors Who Buy Up Single-Family Homes
The bill is supported by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, and Consumer Action.
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Senator Jack Reed: Reed & Smith Lead Effort to Pass the Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act
The Affordable Housing and Homeownership Protection Act has been endorsed by several leading organizations, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, and Consumer Action.
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WisPolitics: U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Leads bill to expand affordable housing, crack down on wealthy investors who buy up single-family homes
This legislation is led by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Tina Smith (D-MN). It’s supported by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, and Consumer Action.
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CardRates: State Rate Caps Could Create a Compliance Headache
“This legislation paves the way for states to step up and protect people from sky-high credit card interest rates,” said Tom Feltner, Associate Director of Consumer Policy at Americans for Financial Reform.
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Lassen County Times: Groups call on California to ensure insurance industry discloses carbon emissions
“The insurance industry is pulling out all the stops to escape accountability for its role in driving the climate crisis. Insurance companies have profited by backing the fossil fuel industry for decades, knowing full well that the resulting climate change was going to upend insurance markets. Now that climate impacts are here, insurance companies are leaving the public out to dry, all while generating record underwriting and investment profits,” said Alex Martin, climate finance policy director at Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund. “CARB must stand up to the insurance industry. The public, and the groundbreaking law passed by the…
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Punchbowl News: Vault: Progressive groups urge Congress to act on 10% rate cap
The letter, led by Protect Borrowers and the Consumer Federation of America, was also signed by the American Economic Liberties Project, Americans for Financial Reform, Faith in Action Network, NAACP and Young Invincibles.
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The Lever: Trump Is Reverse Engineering The Great Recession
“People should be very alarmed that we are trying to deregulate something that is a known problem in our financial system,” said Caroline Nagy, a housing expert with the consumer protection-focused Americans for Financial Reform. “It seems like they’re making changes that will exacerbate wealth inequality and make it easier for Wall Street lenders to make more money at other people’s expense. It feels very much like we’re repeating a pattern in some ways. “
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Jacobin: Trump’s SEC May Tee Up a Repeat of the 2008 Financial Crisis
“People should be very alarmed that we are trying to deregulate something that is a known problem in our financial system,” said Caroline Nagy, a housing expert with the consumer-protection-focused Americans for Financial Reform. “It seems like they’re making changes that will exacerbate wealth inequality and make it easier for Wall Street lenders to make more money at other people’s expense. It feels very much like we’re repeating a pattern in some ways.”
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Economic Policy Institute: Trump is pushing to include risky assets like crypto and private equity in 401(k)s
A recent overview published by the American Federation of Teachers, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, and the American Association of University Professors examined this question closely and cast doubt on the value of alternative investments for pension funds, especially when adjusting for risk and illiquidity.
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Bank Policy Institute: Do Mortgage Escrow Interest Requirements Benefit Consumers?
The groups represented include America’s Credit Unions, Americans for Financial Reform, Bank Policy Institute, Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Federation of America, Independent Community Bankers of America, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Community Reinvestment Coalition and U.S. PIRG.
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Senator Whitehouse: Whitehouse, Warren, Merkley, Reed Introduce Bill to Empower States to Protect Americans from High Credit Card Interest Rates
“This legislation paves the way for states to step up and protect people from sky-high credit card interest rates,” said Tom Feltner, Associate Director of Consumer Policy at Americans for Financial Reform. “States have a critical consumer financial protection role to play that has only become more vital since the administration has attempted to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, halt its efforts to bring down costs, and roll back its work to enforce critical financial protections.” The bill text can be found here.
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Bank Policy Institute: Banks, Credit Unions and Consumer Groups Support ‘Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act’
The groups represented include America’s Credit Unions, Americans for Financial Reform, Bank Policy Institute, Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Federation of America, Independent Community Bankers of America, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Community Reinvestment Coalition and U.S. PIRG.
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Senator John Kennedy: Kennedy, Kim reintroduce bill to close “shadow banking” loophole and ensure a fair banking system
Americans for Financial Reform, the Bank Policy Institute, the Center for Responsible Lending, the Consumer Federation of America, America’s Credit Unions, Independent Community Bankers of America, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the National Consumer Law Center, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group support the Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act.
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IndependentWomen: Housing Affordability Roundup
Speakers from the American Enterprise Institute, the National Association of Home Builders, Americans for Financial Reform, and our very own Patrice Onwuka from Independent Women gave crucial insight into what is making housing so unaffordable today.
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Center for Economic and Policy Research: Is Trump’s Move to Rein in Private Equity For Real?
There is litlte doubt that instituational investors are a real presence in the housing market. As Americans for Financial Reform’s Caroline Nagy pointed out at a recent House Subcommittee hearing, prior to 2011 there was no single investor that owned more than 1,000 single-family homes; by 2021, 32 of these companies owned 446,000 homes. And institutional investors bought three of every 10 single-family homes in the first half of last year. Their ability to pay cash is just one way they have a distinct advantage over other homebuyers.
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NerdWallet: The CFPB Is Still Standing … Barely. But Is It Doing Anything?
“We are at a pivotal moment for all that was, all that has been and what could be,” says Amanda Jackson, director of consumer campaigns for Americans for Financial Reform, a nonprofit group focused on financial equity. “The CFPB has done tremendous work since its inception.” “We’re seeing the agency pull back from prior commitments and that hurts everyone,” Jackson continues. “So it is a concerning moment. It’s what we spend a lot of time calling attention to — the integrity of the bureau, the fact that the bureau has done so much work — and all that, we are…
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Congresswoman Judy Chu: Reps. Chu, Meng, Goldman, and Vargas Introduce Bill to Protect Multilingual Services in the Federal Government
The Language Access for All Act of 2026 is endorsed by the following organizations: AAPI Equity Alliance, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Americans for Financial Reform, Apicha Community Health Center, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Asian Resources, Inc, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Association of Language Companies, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, CenterLink, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Colorado Language Access Coalition, Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Consumer Action, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), Justice in…
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NJTODAY: New Jersey Democrats help speculative and opaque vultures of Wall Street
In a scathing letter to Congress, a united front including Americans for Financial Reform, the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, the American Federation of Teachers, the Consumer Federation of America, National Nurses United, the UAW, and over a dozen other major organizations sounded a stark alarm.
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Bitcoin World: Crypto Market Structure Bill Faces Critical Hurdle as Senate Committee Releases Revised CLARITY Act Draft
Cryptocurrency industry groups have expressed measured support for legislative progress. “We appreciate Chairman Boozman’s continued leadership,” said Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith. “However, the details will determine the bill’s effectiveness.” Smith’s organization represents numerous digital asset companies. Similarly, consumer advocacy groups urge caution in the regulatory approach. “Any legislation must prioritize investor protection above industry preferences,” emphasized Americans for Financial Reform director Lisa Donner.
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Cryptorank: Crypto Market Structure Bill Faces Critical Hurdle as Senate Committee Releases Revised CLARITY Act Draft
Similarly, consumer advocacy groups urge caution in the regulatory approach. “Any legislation must prioritize investor protection above industry preferences,” emphasized Americans for Financial Reform director Lisa Donner.
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Senator Tammy Baldwin: Senator Baldwin Leads Bill to Cap Credit Card Late Fees at $8
The Credit Card Fairness Act is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Public Citizen, and Protect Borrowers.
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RealEstateRama: Heinrich to Hedge Funds: “Get Out of the Housing Market”
The HOPE for Homeownership Act is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Action, National Housing Resource Center, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Housing Law Project, and Private Equity Stakeholder Project.
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Jim Hightower’s Lowdown: Sing Along to “The Wall Street Bankers’ Hard Time Blues”
Wanna fight the bankers and their rigged systems? Americans for Financial Reform thinks that “the financial system should serve an economy where everyone can thrive, not just enrich a powerful few.” Sounds great to us! Check them out at ourfinancialsecurity.org.
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Senator Martin Heinrich: Heinrich to Hedge Funds: “Get Out of the Housing Market”
The HOPE for Homeownership Act is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Action, National Housing Resource Center, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Housing Law Project, and Private Equity Stakeholder Project.
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Sierra Sun Times: U.S. Democrat Senators Introduce Legislation to Cap Credit Card Late Fees at $8
“Excessive credit card late fees bulk up profits for big banks while eating into already strained household budgets, “said Ericka Taylor, Co-Executive Director of Americans for Financial Reform. “This legislation would cap credit card late fees and make life a little more affordable.”
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Yahoo: Sen. John Fetterman introduces bill that would cap credit card late fees at $8
The legislation is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Public Citizen, and Protect Borrowers.
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ConsumerAffairs: Bill would renew Biden caps on credit card late fees
“Excessive credit card late fees bulk up profits for big banks while eating into already strained household budgets,” said Ericka Taylor, Co-Executive Director of Americans for Financial Reform. “This legislation would cap credit card late fees and make life a little more affordable.”
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NorthCentralPA: Sen. John Fetterman backs credit card late fee cap
The Credit Card Fairness Act has received endorsement from Americans for Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Public Citizen, and Protect Borrowers.
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DoddFrank Update: Lawmakers seek to codify cap on credit card late fees
These organizations include Americans for Financial Reform, the Brookings Institute, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Public Citizen and Protect Borrowers.
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ChesCo: $8 Late Fee Cap Returns as Senators Target Banks’ Credit Card Profits
Consumer advocates lined up behind the bill. Ericka Taylor, co-executive director of Americans for Financial Reform, said excessive late fees inflate bank profits while eroding household budgets.
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Audacy: Sen. Fetterman wants to cap credit card late fees at $8
The Credit Card Fairness Act is endorsed by groups such as Americans For Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, The National Consumer Law Center (for their low-income clients), Public Citizen, and Protect Browser. Ericka Taylor, Co-Executive Director of Americans for Financial Reform says “This legislation would cap credit card late fees and make life a little more affordable.”
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Senator John Fetterman: Fetterman, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Cap Credit Card Late Fees at $8
“Excessive credit card late fees bulk up profits for big banks while eating into already strained household budgets,” said Ericka Taylor, Co-Executive Director of Americans for Financial Reform. “This legislation would cap credit card late fees and make life a little more affordable.”
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CU Today: Late-Fee Cap Returns: Fetterman Bill Revives CFPB’s $8 Rule Amid Trump’s Credit Card Push
According to WTAJ, the bill has drawn support from consumer advocacy groups including Americans for Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center, Public Citizen, and Protect Borrowers.
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Pennlive: Bill from Pa.’s Fetterman would cap ‘predatory’ credit card late fees
“Excessive credit card late fees bulk up profits for big banks while eating into already strained household budgets,” said Ericka Taylor, co-executive director of Americans for Financial Reform. “This legislation would cap credit card late fees and make life a little more affordable.”
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Yahoo: Fetterman targets ‘predatory’ credit card late fees with $8 cap
The bill is endorsed by Americans for Financial Reform, the Consumer Federation of America, Groundwork Collaborative, the National Consumer Law Center
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The Block: Senate crypto bill nears crunch time as amendments pile up, lobbying intensifies ahead of Senate Banking Committee hearing
A day earlier, on Tuesday, a group of over 260 labor, civil rights, consumer, environmental, and other organizations sent a letter to the Senate asking for several changes amid concerns about conflicts of interest, consumer protections, environmental impacts on cryptocurrency mining, and others.
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Fresno Bee: President Trump’s credit card plan is complicated
“A 10% credit card interest cap would save Americans $100 billion a year without causing massive account closures, as banks claim,” the advocacy group Americans for Financial Reform argued, according to PBS.
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The Street: Big bank pushback is brewing over Trump credit card plan
“A 10% credit card interest cap would save Americans $100 billion a year without causing massive account closures, as banks claim,” the advocacy group Americans for Financial Reform argued, according to PBS.
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Nonprofit Quarterly: Blue-State Pensions Are Subsidizing the Billionaire Takeover: This Must Stop!
From there, union members and their allies can engage the funds as they make key investment decisions, clarifying the impact and risk profile of the pension board trustees’ decisions and sharing viable and responsible investment alternatives like those laid out in the report Investing for the Common Good: How Workers’ Pensions Can Help Solve the Housing Crisis from the Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund and Georgetown’s Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
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Food and Water Watch: Gov. Hochul’s Data Center and Nuclear Proposals Would Drive New Yorkers’ Energy Bills Sky-High
The letter was facilitated by the national environmental organization Food & Water Watch, and signed by national and statewide groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Americans for Financial Reform, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Citizen Action of NY, NY Communities for Change, and For the Many.
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Food and Water Watch: Microsoft’s “Community-First AI” Plan is Corporate Greenwashing, Nothing More
The letter was facilitated by the national environmental group Food & Water Watch, and signed by organizations including Physicians for Social Responsibility, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Progressive Democrats of America, Our Revolution and Americans for Financial Reform.
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Cobb Courier: How To Spot And What To Do About The Political Moves Of Private Equity
McKinley does note that the authors cite a study, “but it’s done by from the progressive group Americans for Financial Reform, a collection of self-appointed consumer and labor groups as well as other special interest groups.
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The American Prospect: Monetizing Regime Change
For an insider trader in a traditional financial market, said Mark Hays, the associate director for cryptocurrency and financial technology at Americans for Financial Reform, “unless you’re in a position to know [specific financial] information, it can be difficult to be an insider trader.”
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NPR: Crypto soared in 2025 — and then crashed. Now what?
Mark Hays, a consumer finance advocate at Americans for Financial Reform, says that the most recent crash is yet another reminder that crypto has long relied on rampant risk-taking.
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American Banker: From cafés to Pokémon Go, banks rethink physical spaces
Expert Quote: “This practice violates the law that separates banking from commerce and is the kind of unfair competition that antitrust laws were meant to stop,” the nonprofit Americans for Financial Reform has said.
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Voice and Viewpoint: Harvard Report: Black Homeownership Gains Have Halted
The legislation has the support of diverse housing stakeholders: Americans for Financial Reform, the National Council of State Housing Agencies, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the National Association of Realtors.
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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand: Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To Better Protect Consumers And Crack Down On Abusive Practices In The Buy Now, Pay Later Industry
This legislation is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, and the Consumer Federation of America.
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PIRG: We are carrying forward a legacy of consumer advocacy with results.
Ed has served on the boards of Americans for Financial Reform, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Flyers Rights, and the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue, an international forum he co-founded with U.S. and European consumer advocates.
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Senator Jack Reed: Reed & Ross Intro Bicameral Proposal to Better Protect Consumers & Crack Down on Abusive Practices in the Buy Now, Pay Later Industry
This legislation is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), American for Financial Reform, and the Consumer Federation of America.
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[citation needed]: Issue 98 – The world’s most corrupt crypto startup operation
The signatories include financial reform groups Americans for Financial Reform and Better Markets; consumer advocacy groups Public Citizen, the Center for Economic Justice, and the National Consumers League; advocacy groups Accountable.US, Demand Progress, Democracy for America, Our Revolution, and many local Indivisible groups; environmental groups Greenpeace, the Climate and Community Institute, and a long list of regional, state, and local environmental groups; and labor unions AFT and the Communications Workers of America.
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Blockonomi: Senate Crypto Market Structure Bill Hits Roadblock as Consumer Groups and Unions Team Up
Nearly 200 groups have signed a letter expressing concern about the Senate’s version of the crypto market structure bill. The signatories include Better Markets, Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform, and the Communications Workers of America.
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Tokenpost: Consumer and Advocacy Groups Push Back Against Senate Crypto Regulation Bill
Consumer advocated, financial-reform organizations, and several major unions are voicing strong opposition to the Senate’s emerging legislation aimed at regulating the U.S. cryptocurrency market. Nearly 200 groups — including Better Markets, Public Citizen Americans for Financial Reform, and the Communications Workers of America — signed a letter warning that the current proposal fails to protect crypto consumers from widespread fraud and industry abuses.
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CBS News: Bessent calls for overhaul of regulator tasked with spotting systemic financial risks
“What you’re removing is the smoke alarm for the entire financial system,” said Oscar Valdés Viera, private equity and capital markets policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform, a coalition consisting of over 250 national and local groups.
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American Banker: House weighs finance AI sandbox
“The financial industry has already been deploying AI within the bounds of federal laws and regulations across its business lines from customer service to automated underwriting to securities trading to risk management and more,” the groups, led by Americans for Financial Reform, wrote. “These legal and regulatory regimes are designed to protect people and the financial system from predatory practices, market manipulation, and economic instability. There is no justification for allowing companies to deploy AI systems that would otherwise violate federal laws and pose risks to people and the economy. Nor does the use of AI, however trivial, justify broad…
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Crypto News: Consumer Groups Join Unions Trying to Derail U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill
“The legislative initiatives explored in the Senate so far have largely failed to address the widespread harms caused by the crypto industry and the Senate should not consider any bill that does not address these problems in full,” said the letter sent to senators this week, signed by almost 200 groups, including Better Markets, Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform and the Communications Workers of America. It followed a similar objection raised this week by the teachers’ union, AFT.
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Yonkers Times: 50+ New York Groups Call for Moratorium on New Data Centers
The letter was facilitated by the national environmental organization Food & Water Watch, and signed by national and statewide groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Americans for Financial Reform, Citizen Action of NY, NY Communities for Change, and For the Many.
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CoinDesk: Consumer Groups Join Unions Trying to Derail U.S. Crypto Market Structure Bill
“The legislative initiatives explored in the Senate so far have largely failed to address the widespread harms caused by the crypto industry and the Senate should not consider any bill that does not address these problems in full,” said the letter sent to senators this week, signed by almost 200 groups, including Better Markets, Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform and the Communications Workers of America. It followed a similar objection raised this week by the teachers’ union, AFT.
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epic.org: EPIC Joins Coalition Letter Seeking to Preserve Consumer Protections Against AI Harms in the Financial Services Industry
EPIC joined a coalition letter led by Americans for Financial Reform calling on the House Financial Services Committee to oppose the Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act (H.R. 4801). 64 other consumer protection, civil rights, labor, and technology advocacy organizations also signed on to the letter.
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Washington Monthly: The Main Beneficiaries of Trump’s Pardons? White-Collar Criminals Like Him
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) dropped several cryptocurrency cases. As noted by Americans for Financial Reform, some of the cases were aborted after suspects invested in the Trump family crypto business.
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Food & Water Watch: 230+ Groups Call for National Moratorium on New Data Centers
In a letter sent to Congress today, more than 230 national, state and local organizations from across the country called for a full national moratorium on the approval and construction of new data centers. The letter cites massive and unsustainable consumption by data centers of energy and water resources, and skyrocking utility costs for families and small businesses. The letter was facilitated by the national environmental group Food & Water Watch, and signed by organizations including Physicians for Social Responsibility, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Progressive Democrats of America, Our Revolution and Americans for Financial Reform.
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Food & Water Watch: 50+ New York Groups Call for Moratorium on New Data Centers
The letter was facilitated by the national environmental organization Food & Water Watch, and signed by national and statewide groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Americans for Financial Reform, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Citizen Action of NY, NY Communities for Change, and For the Many.
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Law360: Zillow’s Climate Score Removal Sparks Insurance Concerns
“I would love to see more data from the Federal Insurance Office,” said Caroline Nagy, an affordable housing expert with progressive policy group Americans for Financial Reform, in an interview.
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Congressman Dan Goldman: Rep. Dan Goldman Introduces New Tax On Wealthiest Americans Generating An Estimated $276 Billion In Revenue
Oscar Valdés Viera, Private Equity and Capital Markets Policy Analyst at Americans for Financial Reform, said, “Our tax code shouldn’t reward wealth over work or give billionaires a menu of legal tricks to avoid paying their fair share. Working people pay more as their paychecks increase, but billionaires can live off untaxed borrowings to sidestep their taxes and deepen America’s yawning wealth and racial inequality in the process. The ROBINHOOD Act is an important step toward ending a system that puts wealth over wages and restoring a measure of fairness to our tax code.”
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Rolling Stone: Crypto Won Big in 2024. AI Is Angling to Do the Same in 2026
Cryptocurrency expert Mark Hays of Americans for Financial Reform says that attempts to split the difference rarely work. “Some policymakers seem to think that they can have it both ways by conceding to industry interests in return for political support, while saying they also want to protect the public interest. … It’s a shaky bet at best, selling out principles for uncertain return.”
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Politics Plus: Open Thread November 27 2025
Holiday Inbox Chaos and Other Signs of the Times with guest video from Americans for Financial Reform
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Black Agenda Report: Unable to Squeeze Another Dime From Black People, a Subprime Economy Runs Aground
In a 2022 paper, Emily Hirtle, a policy associate for Americans for Financial Reform wrote: “Racism flourishes in the subprime auto market as well – as of 2016, at least eight banks had been accused of increasing interest rates for Black and Latinx borrowers. As Senator Elizabeth Warren remarked in a 2015 speech: ‘The [auto] market is now thick with loose underwriting standards, predatory and discriminatory lending practices, and increasing repossessions.’”
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Finextra: The Genius Act: what needs to be addressed and why should we care?
Additionally, critics like Americans for Financial Reform (AFR) have noted that the act offers “little protection for consumers from failed stablecoins.
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The Dispatch: Crypto Comes to Washington
“The bill is long on promises and very short on details,” Mark Hays, associate director for cryptocurrency and financial technology at Americans for Financial Reform, told TMD. “If this legislation passes without adequate safeguards for investors and with loopholes that could undermine existing financial regulations, when the next crypto crash comes—and it will come—more of us, even if we don’t invest in crypto, could be negatively impacted.”
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Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal: Jayapal, Warren Introduce Legislation to Curb Corporate Influence on Federal Regulation, Restore Deference to Experts
The legislation is endorsed by Coalition for Sensible Safeguards; Accountable.US / Accountable.NOW; AFL-CIO; AFT; American Atheists; American Bird Conservancy; American Economic Liberties Project; American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees; Americans for Financial Reform;
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InsuranceNewsNet: California proposes greater ‘solvency’ oversight of insurers; industry balks
“I think it will be a good step in the right direction of trying to get a handle on these climate related risks, especially in California, where there’s so many obvious problems in the market,” said Alex Martin, policy director for climate and finance at Americans for Financial Reform, in an interview with InsuranceNewsNet.
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Jacobin: The Bill That Will Make Bank Failures More Likely
“All banks, especially new ones, must have an adequate capital cushion to absorb their losses during times of stress to avoid failing and potentially causing contagion,” Renita Marcellin, advocacy and legislative director for the depositor advocacy group Americans for Financial Reform, told lawmakers at a 2023 congressional hearing on banking regulation.
