AFR sent a letter of opposition to members of Congress regarding S. 3468, The Independent Agency Regulatory Analysis Act, which would give the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) jurisdiction over all independent agencies in the federal government, including all of the financial regulatory agencies.
AFR sent out this letter to our press list today. It concerns the American Bankers Association’s plans to establish a 501C4 focused on U.S. Senate races.
AFR submitted a comment letter to the CFTC on the clearing mandate. This is the CFTC’s initial proposal for what derivatives will have to be cleared, and the CFTC has the ability to designate more swaps for clearing, which AFR recommends in the letter.
Earlier today, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 4-1 to issue a proposed rule implementing the provision of the JOBS Act that allows the “general solicitation and advertising” (GS&A) of private stock offerings. Commissioner Luis Aguilar voted against releasing the proposal, pointing out that it did not include any of the enhanced protections suggested by commenters (such as CFA and AFR) to address the significantly increased investor vulnerability that will result from lifting the long-standing ban on these practices.
AFR submitted a comment letter to the CFTC regarding a rule that will determine whether the CFTC can regulate derivatives trading by foreign affiliates of US banks and corporations. Since derivatives trades move easily around the world and between affiliates and the parent company, it is important that US regulators be able to apply Dodd-Frank to such foreign trades. Our letter urged the CFTC not to let financial institutions escape derivatives rules by funneling transactions through their foreign affiliates.
In a major victory for investors, SEC Chairman confirmed earlier today that the Commission was changing course and would follow the traditional rulemaking procedures – proposing a rule and offering an opportunity for public comment – before lifting the solicitation ban.
The JOBS Act rulemaking on the SEC’s schedule Aug. 22 raises a variety of complex issues that demand a full and transparent rulemaking process. The rushed approach to rulemaking reportedly contemplated by the agency would not allow for full consideration of these issues, and would therefore put investors at risk.
U.S. Banks Push Consumer Bureau to Postpone Rule on Remittances 2012-08-16 18:56:17.327 GMT By Carter Dougherty Aug. 16 (Bloomberg) — U.S. banks are lobbying the consumer finance bureau to delay rules on international money transfers, saying they can’t meet a Feb. 7 deadline for disclosing
AFR issued a press statement urging the SEC to abandone its rushed JOBS Act Rulemaking, which could put investors at risk.
AFR signed onto a letter supporting the CFPB’s overseas remittances rule, which requires remittance transfer providers to provide essential information to consumers about the actual amount of money to be received by their family in the foreign country. The rule makes remittance providers liable for agents acting on their behalf and includes an error resolution procedure to resolve problems.