Americans for Financial Reform

Joint Statement: Another Step Forward for Retirement Savers

From a statement by the Save our Retirement Coalition: “Retirement savers need an enforceable fiduciary standard and a Department of Labor that is prepared to hold firms accountable for compliance. Until the full complement of rule requirements takes effect, their hard earned savings will continue to be at risk as a result of conflicted advice from financial professionals who put their own financial interests ahead of their customers’ best interests. Yesterday’s decision was an important step forward, but there is still a long road ahead.”

Joint Letter: Open Letter to Acosta Urging Strong Fiduciary Rule Without Delay

In the face of supporting evidence described above, in addition to harming retirement savers, the Department would be exposing itself to significant legal risk to change course and further delay the Rule now.

AFR in the News: Trump to propose scrapping beleaguered student loan forgiveness program (MarketWatch)

“Alexis Goldstein, a senior policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform… described the idea of eliminating the program as ‘horrifying,’ noting that… borrowers are struggling to manage their student debt, pushing them to put off home-buying and other financial milestones. Eliminating a forgiveness program would only make that worse, she said. ‘It seems both ill-conceived from a policy perspective and just cruel.’”

AFR Letter: Oppose the Regulatory Accountability Act

Throwing up elaborate procedural hurdles isn’t a recipe for to good government. It’s a deliberate plan for increasing the control that Wall Street’s lobbyists have over government decision-making at the expense of the public interest.

Letter to Congress: Americans for Financial Reform opposes five bills before HSGAC

“…These bills would further complicate, confuse, and delay the regulatory process; further advantage regulated industries over the public interest; and make it impossible for regulators to act effectively against Wall Street recklessness and abuse of consumers.”

Letter to Regulators: AFR Calls on CFTC To Strengthen Risk Controls for Derivatives Dealers

The full letter is linked below: Americans for Financial Reform Comment Swaps Entity Capital and Liquidity Requirements

Letter To Congress: AFR, 63 Groups Oppose Regulatory Accountability Act

On behalf of the undersigned 63 organizations, we are writing to express our strong opposition to S. 951, the “Regulatory Accountability Act”, and to urge you to oppose this bill. The Regulatory Accountability Act (RAA) would have a crippling effect on regulation across the

AFR in the News: Mnuchin Said to Start Review That Could Ease Volcker Rule’s Bite (Bloomberg)

“At a closed-door meeting in Washington on Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin directed five key agencies to re-examine what’s permitted under the Volcker Rule… Marcus Stanley, policy director at Americans for Financial Reform, said he’s dubious that Volcker is handcuffing lenders. ‘You’re talking about banks that are making tens of billions a year on trading activity,” said Stanley, whose group supports aggressive oversight of Wall Street. “It doesn’t seem to me that they’ve exited the markets.’”

AFR in the News: Consumer advocates press Congress to keep CFPB intact (MarketWatch)

“More than 100 members of organizations… met with government officials of both parties and their staffs to lobby against several laws proposed recently… Brian Simmonds Marshall, policy counsel for Americans for Financial Reform, [said] , ‘We were very glad we had so many consumer advocates in Washington when these crucial issues to consumer protection are being actively considered by Congress…’”

Joint Statement: Prepaid Card Protections Escape Congressional Veto

“‘This rule will give consumers, including people who rely on prepaid debit cards instead of a bank account, the basic protections they need to manage their finances more safely and securely,’ said Lisa Donner, executive director at Americans for Financial Reform. ‘When people learned it was under threat, they made the case that this rule is important and workable, and it looks like enough lawmakers paid attention.'”