The nomination of Rep. Mel Watt to be the regulator for housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac failed a key procedural vote Thursday because of strong Republican opposition.. President Obama nominated Watt, a veteran Democrat from North Carolina, in May to be director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. But attempts to bring his nomination to a vote by the full Senate… Read more »

At a press conference calling on the U.S. Senate to confirm Melvin L. Watt as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Congresswoman Maxine Waters¸ Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, offered the following statement in strong support. “I am pleased that the U.S. Senate is moving forward with the nomination of Representative Mel Watt to head the Federal… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, offered the following statement today in response to the Senate Banking Committee hearing on the nomination of Congressman Melvin L. Watt to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Ranking Member Waters previously endorsed Congressman Watt’s nomination stating that he is an individual that is… Read more »

Today, Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Lois Capps (D-Calif.), in sending a letter to eight executive agencies urging them to protect surviving spouses from foreclosure. This segment of the homeowner population – often women in their later years – faces unique circumstances that unfairly deprive them of opportunities to avoid… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters offered the following statement today in response to news that President Barack Obama will nominate Congressman Melvin L. Watt to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. It is with high regard and great respect that I endorse the nomination of Representative Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency.  We are at a crossroads in our… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, today commended a proposal by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) that would ban the payment of lucrative commissions and reinsurance fees to banks in return for their purchase of “force-placed” insurance. Currently, mortgage servicers are permitted to require homeowners to purchase property… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today made the following opening statement at the full committee hearing on the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).  The FHFA is conservator of the Government Sponsored Enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Edward DeMarco, Acting Director of the FHFA, will appear before the committee as… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today released a letter to Edward DeMarco, Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)  raising questions about FHFA’s recent decision to prohibit Fannie Mae from moving forward with a plan to save taxpayers and borrowers  from unnecessarily high costs related to … Read more »