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Speeches and Committee Statements

During Markup, Waters Calls on Republicans to Stop Undermining Dodd-Frank, Underscores Urgent Need to Address Homelessness in America

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In opening remarks during a Financial Services Committee markup today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Committee’s Ranking Member, both scolded Committee Republicans on their attempts to once again roll back investor protections and also called for the Committee to focus on addressing poverty and homelessness in the United States. Waters noted that while some of the measures…

Payday Loans Are Toxic Like the Water of Flint Michigan

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In opening remarks during a Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, associated the hazards of previously unregulated financial products, such as payday lending, to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is preparing regulations for…

At Yellen Hearing, Waters Commends Progress, Notes Significant Work Remains

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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, commended the progress made under the leadership of the Federal Reserve, Democrats in Congress, and the Obama administration, but noted that “significant work remains” to elevate the…

Waters: Banks that Break the Law Don’t Deserve a “Get out of Jail Free” Card

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In remarks on the House floor today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, led Democrats in opposition to H.R. 766, the so-called “Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015”, a dangerous measure that would severely limit the Justice Department’s ability to investigate and prosecute bank fraud. In her remarks, Waters…

Waters Denounces Republican Package of Anti-Investor Bills

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Delivering remarks on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 1675 today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of Committee on Financial Services, led Democrats in denouncing the inaptly-named “Capital Markets Improvement Act of 2016,” a bill that includes several provisions that instead of improving our capital markets, would actually harm investors, the SEC and small…

Waters: H.R. 3700 Is a Step in the Right Direction

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During floor consideration of H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of Financial Services Committee, urged support of the bill, which seeks to enact several incremental changes across a number of federal housing programs that will allow affordable housing providers to better serve low-income families in…

Waters: GOP Budget Views Ignores the Progress Made Since 2008 Crisis and Offers No Solutions

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Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, rebuked Committee Republicans for putting forth budget views that ignore the significant progress that has been made since the 2008 crisis. Waters highlighted that the Republican budget failed to provide real solutions that will address the problems of the racial wealth gap, homelessness,…

Waters Encouraged by HR. 2901 Discussions, but Concerns Remain

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At today’s Financial Services Committee hearing entitled, “How to Create a More Robust and Private Flood Insurance Marketplace,” Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, discussed private sector involvement in the flood insurance market. Ranking Member Waters was encouraged by the discussion to improve the Flood Insurance Market Parity…

Waters: H.R. 3189 Puts Monetary Policy on 'Auto Pilot'

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During floor consideration of H.R. 3189, the so-called FORM Act, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of Financial Services Committee, urged rejection of the bill, which seeks to hamstring the Federal Reserve’s ability respond to variable market conditions, limit its independence, and undercut its efforts to fulfill its dual mandate. H.R. 3189 also adds an additional…

Waters: Consumer Protection Should Be Congress’ Top Priority

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During general debate on the Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act, H.R. 1210, on the House floor today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, led opposition to the measure, which would allow the largest banks in the country to make the sorts of predatory and risky loans that left the American economy on the brink of collapse.…

Waters Denounces Efforts to Undermine Auto-Lending Protections for Minorities

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Delivering remarks on the House floor in opposition to H.R. 1737 today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of Committee on Financial Services, denounced efforts to undermine policies to root out longstanding discriminatory lending practices in auto financing. Waters specifically pointed to the consequences of the bill, which would nullify critical guidance to prevent…

Leading Financial Services Democrats Continue to Examine Federal Commitment to Post-Katrina New Orleans

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Financial Services Committee Democrats, led by Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), participated in a Subcommittee field hearing, requested by Democrats, held today at the Port of New Orleans to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and review Federal efforts to support the City’s recovery. Several officials participated in the day’s events, including Housing and…

Waters Points out Danger of Deregulating Large Banks, Urges Fed to Use Dodd-Frank Tailoring Authority

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In advance of testimony by Chair Janet Yellen to discuss the Federal Reserve Board’s implementation of Dodd- Frank rules, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, pointed out the importance of the Fed’s supervisory role in preventing large banks and firms like AIG from ever destabilizing the American financial system again. The top…

Waters: Every Moment We Delay Further Depletes Americans’ Meager Retirement Savings

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In remarks on the House floor today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, led Democrats in opposition to H.R. 1090, the so-called Retail Investor Protection Act, a measure that would stall the Department of Labor’s rulemaking establishing critical consumer protections from conflicted investment advice. The top Democrat outlined the…

Waters: When Fully Resourced, HUD Works

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In opening remarks during a hearing in observance of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, outlined the accomplishments of the agency and the impact HUD has had in the lives of America’s most vulnerable individuals and families. Waters also focused…

During Markup, Waters Underscores Urgent Need to Renew Ex-Im

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In opening remarks during a Financial Services Committee markup today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the Committee’s Ranking Member, outlined the negative impacts of the group of bills under consideration and stressed the need to revive export credit financing for American businesses and workers. Specifically, the Ranking Member pointed out that the measures threaten to hamper…

At Cordray Hearing, Waters Applauds Consumer Protection Efforts, Increasing Access to Credit for Minorities

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In opening remarks during today’s full Committee hearing with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services panel, commended the results outlined in the agency’s semi-annual report. Waters also underscored the importance of the agency’s work to develop rules on payday lending, debt collection…

Waters: The Market Did Not – and Cannot—Police Itself

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At the second in a series of hearings on the fifth anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, noted that while Dodd-Frank has done much to stabilize our financial system, the devastating effects of the crisis continue to affect some of the most vulnerable segments of our population. She also underscored…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

At Hearing with Sec. Castro, Waters Underscores the Importance of Housing Programs

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During today’s full Committee hearing featuring Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, highlighted the critical importance of HUD and underscored the need to provide robust funding for the agency’s programs. In opening remarks, the top Democrat noted that…

With 10 Days Left, Waters Calls on GOP Leadership to Save Ex-Im

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With just ten days left for Congress to act before the Export-Import Bank shuts down, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, took to the House floor to call on House Republican leadership to bring renewal legislation to a vote. Stressing the importance of the agency to creating and sustaining American jobs in every corner of the…

Waters: Republican Brinksmanship on Ex-Im Threatens Survival of American Businesses in Global Marketplace

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As Republicans in Congress continue to run out the clock on the Export-Import Bank, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, condemned the Majority’s continued ideological attacks in the face of bipartisan support from a majority of the House of Representatives. Waters underscored that just 14 legislative days remain until this economic…

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