Congress Archives - Page 13 of 26 - Americans for Financial Reform

Letter to Congress: AFR, 28 Organizations Urge Congress to Support Operation Choke Point

“The undersigned civil rights and consumer organizations urge you to oppose any measures to restrict the Department of Justice’s Operation Choke Point or bank regulator efforts to prevent money laundering and payment fraud. In particular, H.R. 766 (Luetkemeyer), the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015, H.R. 1413 (Luetkemeyer), the Firearms Manufacturers and Dealers Protection Act 2015, and similar bills would make it harder for government agencies to protect the public. In these days of escalating data breaches, terrorism threats, and internet fraud, we need to encourage, not discourage, efforts to deprive criminals of access to the banking system.”

Letter to Congress: AFR, 45 Organizations Urge Opposition to HR 970, S 559, Legislation Harmful to Students and Taxpayers

“…we write to convey our strong opposition to the “Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act” (HR 970, S 559). In particular, we oppose these bills because they repeal the gainful employment regulation and create new loopholes in the federal ban on incentive compensation, harming both students and taxpayers.”

Letter to Congress: AFR, 16 Organizations Oppose Budget-Cutting Provision of HR 1195

“…we are writing in strong opposition to the addition of language to H.R. 1195 that would pay for new procedural requirements on the CFPB by cutting or capping its budget, thereby reducing its ability to carry out its important consumer protection mission.”

Letter to Congress: Do Not Hamstring the CFPB, Oppose Budget-Cutting Provision of HR 1195

“…we are writing in strong opposition to the addition of language to H.R. 1195 that would pay for new procedural requirements on the CFPB by cutting or capping its budget, thereby reducing its ability to carry out its important consumer protection mission.”

Letter to Congress: AFR Opposes Legislation that Would Undercut Protections for Consumers, Undermine the CFPB

“We are writing to urge your opposition to the following series of bills, which are expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives the week of April 13th. Many of these bills would undercut important protections on mortgages, and re-open the door to higher fees and other practices that contributed to the devastating housing crisis. Others would undermine or put barriers in front of the important work of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and are part of a strategy to weaken the CFPB and disrupt the good work the Bureau is doing preventing financial tricks and traps.”

Letter to Congress: AFR Opposes Legislation that Would Undercut Protections for Consumers, Undermine the CFPB

AFR sent a letter to members of the House Financial Services Committee, urging them to oppose a number of the bills being included in today’s markup. The bills opposed by AFR would undermine the CFPB and help return us to an environment of predatory lending, irresponsible underwriting, and excessive fees that paved the way for our recent devastating housing crisis.

Letter to Congress: AFR and Seven Organizations Urge Senate to Reject Amendment that Supports Scammers

AFR and seven organizations sent a letter to Senators urging opposition to oppose Senator Inhofe’s amendment 384 to the budget resolution, which would restrict the Department of Justice’s Operation Choke Point or bank regulator efforts to prevent money laundering for terrorists and drug dealers. Operation Choke Point is focused only on banks that help scammers and other illegal activity, and Congress should not hinder these critical activities.

Letter to Congress: AFR Joins 80 Organizations in Support of Den. Durbin’s Consumer Protection Bill

AFR joined 80 organizations in support of Senator Durbin’s ‘Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Rates’ Act. This bill, introduced to Congress on March 24th, caps interest rates and fees to 36% for all consumer credit transactions, putting an end to abusive lending that can top 300% and dig borrowers into a cycle of debt.

Marcus Stanley, AFR Policy Director, Testimony Before the Senate Banking Committee

AFR’s Policy Director, Marcus Stanley, testified before the Senate Banking Committee regarding capital formation and reducing small business burdens.

Joint Letter: AFR, 6 Organizations Urge Congress to Stand Up for Homebuyers, Reject HRF 685

“This bill will unnecessarily raise the cost of mortgages for millions of prospective homebuyers by allowing some of the higher fees borrowers faced in the lead up to the mortgage crisis… H.R. 685 would allow high-cost loans to qualify as QM loans by creating exceptions to the points and fees threshold. These exceptions would exclude fees paid to certain title companies affiliated with the lender. The points and fees definition is designed to include all compensation received by the lender. It is a reasonable standard that provides basic protections for homebuyers.”