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Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Rising (Maxine) Waters

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Maxine Waters — the fiery liberal from Los Angeles known for calling House Republican leadership “demons” and threatening to nationalize oil companies — has gone from the scourge of Big Business to a sympathetic ally for corporate America. It’s no accident. Waters is executing this transformation by seizing on the growing divide between conservative Republicans and Big Business and…

House Panel Passes Bill to Ease Capital Requirements on MSRs

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WASHINGTON — The House Financial Services Committee passed a slew of bills on Wednesday, including one designed to ease capital requirements on mortgage servicing assets held by small institutions. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., won substantial bipartisan support, passing the panel by a vote of 44 to 9. It would delay implementation of a provision of…

Wall Street Faces New U.S. Scrutiny of Derivatives Tactic

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Wall Street banks face heightened scrutiny from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over their latest tactic to escape U.S. trading rules for overseas derivatives. The regulator sent letters today to JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. (C), and Morgan Stanley (MS) seeking further information about the practice of…

Heading into August, Waters Blasts Committee’s Unfinished Business

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At the last markup before the Congress breaks for August recess, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking  Member of the Financial Services Committee, criticized Republicans for wasting time while a number of major issues remain unresolved. The full Committee markup included six bills, the majority of which would be harmful to consumers and the economy. They include measures…

Waters Praises Importance of Dodd-Frank, Blasts Republican Opposition

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At today’s Financial Services Committee Hearing entitled, “Assessing the Impact of the Dodd-Frank Act Four Years Later” Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) 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 brought the economy to…

Waters Statement on SEC's Final Rules on Money Market Funds

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Following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of its long awaited rules for money market mutual funds, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, released the following statement noting the SEC’s progress and underscoring the importance of the Financial Stability Oversight Council in moving these rules toward completion. …

Democratic Report on Dodd-Frank Law Documents Progress, Efforts to Undercut It

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the fourth anniversary of the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) released a Democratic staff report that documents the important progress regulators have made in implementing Dodd-Frank, as well as the unyielding Republican effort to…

**Media Advisory** Waters Announces Barney Frank to Testify on Namesake Law

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Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, announced that former Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) will return to Congress this Wednesday to testify at a hearing to assess “the Impact of the Dodd-Frank Act Four Years Later.” “For 20 years, Barney Frank and I worked together closely on the Financial Services Committee, but…

Waters Discusses Economic Challenges and Legislative Threats with Chair Yellen

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As Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen returned to testify before the House Financial Services Committee today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Ranking Democrat, laid out the significant challenges that lie ahead for the Fed, underscored the need to continue the unfinished business of Wall Street Reform and criticized Republican efforts to undermine the independence of…

Waters Calls on Hensarling to Protect Investors, Fund SEC Exams

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Citing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) “abysmal” number of annual investment advisor examinations, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee is calling on its Chairman to consider legislative proposals that would increase these reviews. In a letter to Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) noted that despite…

Waters: GOP Proposal Will “Cripple” Federal Reserve’s Effectiveness

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At today’s full committee hearing to discuss legislation purported to “reform” the Federal Reserve, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, expressed serious concerns with the proposal’s impact on the Fed’s  ability to promote growth, stabilize the economy and take decisive action to avoid an economic collapse. Citing…

Waters Calls Out GOP’s Spending Bill Scheme

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As the House of Representatives moves toward consideration of a financial services spending bill, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, criticized Republicans for attempting to use an appropriations measure to make controversial legislative changes that would undermine consumer protection, weaken important Wall Street reforms and hurt…

Spending Bill Should Omit Changes to CFPB, Waters Says

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

WASHINGTON — Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., is warning that a key House appropriations bill soon to be considered by the full chamber could hurt the ability of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other regulators to oversee the financial services industry. Legislation to fund the Treasury Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Small Business Administration and…

Waters Touts Importance of Wall Street Watchdog

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At today’s full committee hearing to discuss the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) highlighted the important work of the Council in identifying systemic risk and protecting American homeowners, consumers, and the economy. Specifically, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services…

Waters: CFTC Bill Hamstrings Wall Street's Cops

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As the House of Representatives considers a bill to renew the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), criticized provisions that would hamstring regulators’ ability to regulate the complex and important derivatives marketplace. The Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services criticized the provisions as a multifaceted Republican…

Waters Strongly Opposes Radical Changes to TRIA, FSOC

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In today’s full committee markup, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, voiced her strong opposition to Republican measures to radically change the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) and undercut the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC). On TRIA, Waters blasted Republicans for drafting legislation that jeopardizes a…

Waters Calls for Increased Scrutiny of Overseas Derivatives Trading

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In the wake of recent reports that U.S. banks are restructuring overseas derivatives transactions to sidestep critical protections enacted under the Wall Street Reform Act, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, has called on the top U.S. derivatives regulator to “thoroughly investigate” the removal of U.S. guarantees from arrangements…

58 Democrats Call on SEC to Quickly Move Toward Extractive Industry Transparency

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Following the release of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) new anticipated agenda, which includes a commitment to propose a rule on extractive industry transparency within the next ten months,  a coalition of 58 Democratic House members yesterday called on the Commission to initiate the rulemaking on a faster, more definite timeline. The rule is mandated by Section 1504…

Waters Discusses FSOC's Designation Process

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At today’s full Committee hearing on the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (FSOC) designation process,  Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, discussed the importance of the FSOC process in giving Congress and regulators the comprehensive view of the entire market necessary to identify and mitigate systemic risks. Waters also reminded…

Waters Praises SECs Progress, Underscores Need for Sufficient Funding

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At today’s full Committee hearing on “Oversight of the SEC's Agenda, Operations, and FY 2015 Budget Request” Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, praised Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Mary Jo White for the Commission’s  progress implementing the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform Act. She also underscored the need to accomplish…

Waters Calls For Focus on Serious Issues

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At today’s Financial Services Committee hearing with regulatory officials to discuss “government red tape,” Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, applauded regulators for putting the financial system on more stable footing after the worst economic crisis in a generation, and criticized the majority for continuing to push an…

What Jeb Hensarling Doesn’t Know from Compromise

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

Jeb Hensarling is finding out the hard way that conservative purity and running a powerful House committee don’t always mix. Even though he holds the gavel of the House Financial Services Committee, he recently had a bill yanked from under him by leadership because he wouldn’t compromise, while top priorities — like overhauling the housing finance system — are stuck in limbo because he…

Waters Statement on GSE Repayment of Taxpayer Funds

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  Today, Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) Fannie Mae announced it has earned a fourth quarter profit of $6.5 billion in 2013 and will repay $7.2 billion to the U.S. Department of the Treasury in March. The payment will mean the company has returned $121.1 billion back to the taxpayers –returning even more than the $116.1 billion it received after being taken over by the…

Waters Praises Yellens Foresight; Urges Continued Action to Stem Unemployment

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As Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen made her first appearance before Congress, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, congratulated Yellen on her historic appointment and record of accomplishment. Waters also praised Yellen’s support for bold action to stabilize the economy and underscored her belief that more needs to be done to…

Waters Applauds Volcker's Authors for Strong Rule

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  At today’s Financial Services Committee hearing featuring the five agencies charged with promulgating the Volcker Rule, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the Committee, commended regulators for working to put forth a strong rule that will ensure a more stable financial system. Passed as part of the Wall Street Reform Act, the Volcker Rule ensures taxpayer dollars…

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