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Waters: Financial System Stronger and Safer Than Ever Before

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At a hearing to discuss the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act's increased capital and liquidity requirements for the nation's biggest banks, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of Financial Services Committee, strongly rebuked critics by showing how these requirements have effectively stabilized and strengthened financial markets. The top Democrat pointed to reports of…

Waters Statement on White House Ex-Im Reauthorization Meeting

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Following a meeting at the White House with President Obama and small business owners affected by the shutdown of the Export-Import Bank, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, underscored Democrats’ commitment to passage of a long-term reauthorization of the export credit agency. She issued the following statement: “I am pleased…

Leading Democratic Lawmakers Throw Support behind Rule to Protect Retirees and Investors

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Today, a broad and diverse group of House Democrats expressed their strong support for a rule proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL) that seeks to ensure those providing investment advice are actually working in the best interest of retirement savers. In a letter led by Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee and Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ranking…

Dodd-Frank Five Years Later: More Stability, Transparency and Accountability on Wall Street

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Five years after its passage, a new report has concluded that while the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act has been successful in the face of constant Republican attack, more must be done to ensure all Americans can benefit from our nation's recovery. The findings were announced today as part of a comprehensive report released by Democratic staff on the Financial Services Committee, at the…

House Democratic Leaders Urge USTR to Allow Capital Controls in TPP Negotiations

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Leading House Democrats today sent a letter urging United States Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman to negotiate provisions in the upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement that provide governments the flexibility to help protect and strengthen the stability of their financial systems by implementing measures that would stem flows of speculative capital. The…

Waters Calls for Universities, Retirement Plans to Divest from Payday Lenders

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At the conclusion of a first-of-its-kind Capitol Hill gathering of lawmakers and religious leaders to discuss the impact predatory payday and small-dollar lending practices are having in communities across America, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) announced she will be calling on some of the country’s most notable endowments and state retirement plans to begin to take steps to divest…

Democratic Lawmakers Urge IMF to Revisit Jamaica’s Economic Program

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Five leading Democratic lawmakers today called on President Obama to urge the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revisit the terms of Jamaica’s current economic program, which to date has been characterized by continued low growth, a decline in social indicators, high unemployment and threats to social cohesion. The House lawmakers did so in a letter led by Congresswoman Maxine Waters…

At Yellen Hearing, Waters Urges Caution on Interest Rates

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In opening remarks during today’s semi-annual Humphrey-Hawkins hearing with Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, urged caution as the Federal Reserve considers raising interest rates before the end of the year. Waters touted the importance of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act in ensuring…

Waters Urges Rejection of Moving To Work Expansion

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Tags: HUD

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Financial Services, is raising serious objections to what she characterized as a “harmful” Senate proposal to expand the Moving to Work (MTW) Program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In a letter addressed to leaders on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Ranking Member…

Brown, Waters, and Warren: FHA Lending Proposal Gives Wall Street Banks Free Pass at Taxpayers' Expense

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Tags: HUD

Leading Democrats on the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees today urged the Obama Administration to reconsider a proposal that would make it easier for lenders that have engaged in criminal behavior to keep accessing taxpayer-backed mortgage insurance. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the Banking Committee’s senior Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), the senior Democrat on…

** MEDIA ADVISORY** Waters Convenes Interfaith Leaders to Address Predatory Lending in American Communities

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This Thursday, July 16, 2015, at 2:30 p.m., Congresswoman Maxine Waters(D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, will convene leaders from Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities to highlight the moral and religious objections that faith leaders have raised in response to predatory payday and small-dollar lending practices in communities across America. The…

Waters, Meeks, Booker, Warren Host Groundbreaking Summit to Address Diversity among Federal Asset Managers

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Today, four leading Democratic members of Congress hosted Chief Investment Officers (CIOs) from some of the largest federal pension plans and senior executives from the nation’s leading minority and women-owned asset management firms for a half-day summit to discuss the underutilization of these firms in the management of federal retirement plan assets. Congresswoman Maxine Waters…

Five Years Later, Waters Reminds GOP why Wall Street Reform was Necessary

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At a hearing to commemorate the five year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, issued a strong rebuke to Republican attacks on the landmark law, recounting the devastation of the crisis, the success of the law thus far, and documenting Republicans’ efforts to return to the practices that…

Financial Services Democrats Urge Action on Dodd-Frank Anti-Discrimination Provision

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Today, several leading Democrats on the Financial Services Committee urged two federal agencies to “immediately” begin rulemaking to implement a key civil rights provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act. In a letter led by Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), 13 lawmakers urged Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray and Federal Reserve…

Waters Lauds Fair Housing Rule

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Tags: HUD

Following today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of a final rule that will provide communities with data, tools and guidance to help them meet long-standing fair housing obligations, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, praised the measure as critical to address the effects of the segregation and…

Waters: Failure to Act on Ex-Im ‘Unconscionable’

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Mere hours before the Export-Import Bank’s charter is set to expire at midnight, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, joined Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Gwen Moore (D-WI) and Congressman Denny Heck (D-WA) in expressing their disappointment about the Republican-driven…

Waters: Republican Ex-Im Brinksmanship Will Kill U.S. Jobs

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As the House of Representatives leaves town for a week-long recess without taking up legislation to extend the Export-Import Bank’s charter just days before it is set to shut down, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, issued the following statement: “Today, Speaker Boehner and House Republicans have chosen once again to govern by…

Waters Lauds SCOTUS Decision to Uphold Disparate Impact Standard

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Following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the doctrine of disparate impact under the Fair Housing Act, which allows courts to hold defendants liable for the discriminatory effects of its actions, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, praised the decision. The standard was challenged under the case entitled Texas Department of…

Waters Statement on Labor-HHS Appropriations Measure

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Following a House panel’s approval of legislation to fund the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, criticized Republicans for advancing legislation that would undermine a broad swath of the American people, from seniors and students to those investing in their retirement.…

With Time Running Out, Republicans Fail to Stand up for Export-Import Bank

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With just one day remaining for Congress to act before the Export-Import Bank shuts down, a wide array of Democrats took to the House floor asking for unanimous consent to extend its charter by bringing up H.R. 1031 – a bill sponsored by Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Gwen Moore (D-WI), Reps.…

Leading Democrats Express Concerns with Agency Diversity Standards

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Today, two leading Democratic Members of Congress are raising concerns with the release of final diversity assessment standards by six federal financial regulators, which were called for by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act. In a joint statement Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee and chief architect of the provision, known as…

Democrats Move to Force a Vote on Export-Import Bank

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Today, with just five days for Congress to act before the Export-Import Bank shuts down, Democrats on the Financial Services Committee took to the House floor in an attempt to force a vote to bring legislation to reauthorize, reform and re-energize the Export-Import Bank up for a vote. Using a parliamentary procedure called the "previous question," Democrats are pressing for consideration…

Waters Statement on Financial Services Funding Bill

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Tags: SEC

Following a House panel’s approval of a financial services spending bill, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, criticized Republicans for advancing legislation that would undermine consumer protection, weaken important Wall Street reforms and hurt regulators’ ability to protect our economy. She released the following statement: “This…

Waters Highlights FSOC’s Efforts to Ensure Resilience in Financial System

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During today’s full committee hearing to discuss the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s annual report with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee applauded the critical work of the Council in identifying risks to the financial system and protecting American consumers and the overall stability of the economy.…

Waters Lauds HUD Decision to Protect Seniors in Reverse Mortgage Program

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Tags: HUD

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, praised the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its announcement to provide reverse mortgage servicers the discretion to allow surviving spouses to stay in their homes in instances where the borrower passes away. Ranking Member Waters has been a leader on this issue, in May…

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