Ranking Member Supports HUD’s Fair Housing Rule As a longstanding supporter of efforts to prohibit housing discrimination and promote fair housing choice, today Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, called on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assert that continued investment in high-poverty, high-minority… Read more »

At today’s Financial Services Committee hearing with Secretary Jack Lew, Ranking Member Maxine Waters expressed her disappointment that House Republicans have refused to ratify the International Monetary Fund (IMF) quota reform package, she underscored its importance, and laid out the harmful impact delaying these reforms will have on global stability. Waters delivered these remarks… Read more »

At today’s full Committee markup on a number of pieces of legislation related to capital markets and financial institutions, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, laid out a number of concerns with the measures being considered. Waters criticized the capital markets bills for eroding  transparency and investor protections, while also… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, today announced changes in the Democratic membership of the Financial Services’ subcommittees. Changes were necessary due to the departure of former Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the appointment of Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) to the Committee. Ranking Members of the… Read more »

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… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement in response to today’s GAO report on the Independent Foreclosure Review (IFR).  The study was conducted as the result of a 2012 request by Congresswoman Waters, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Reps. Brad Miller (D-NC) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). Waters released… Read more »

A new government report suggests that errors made by banks and their agents during foreclosures might have been significantly higher than was previously believed when regulators halted a national review of the banks’ mortgage servicing operations. When banking regulators decided to end the independent foreclosure review last year, most banks had not completed the examinations of their… Read more »

Following the news that members of the Senate Banking Committee have reached an agreement on legislation to reauthorize the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, applauded their progress and lamented the lack of action in the House of Representatives.  Waters has been outspoken in her support for a TRIA’s… Read more »

A bipartisan group of senators has struck a deal to extend a government insurance program for terrorist attacks. Under the proposal, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) would be extended for another seven years, but private companies would shoulder a larger share of the costs if a terrorist attack occurred, according to an aide familiar with the deal. The program is set to expire… Read more »

At today’s press conference to discuss, among other issues, the need for action to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, underscored the importance of a quick renewal of the Bank’s charter to create and sustain American jobs.   At the press conference, Waters and Financial Services Committee member… Read more »

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… Read more »

Urges speedy reauthorization of Bank’s charter At a Panel Discussion sponsored today by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) on the importance of the Export-Import Bank, the Congresswoman underscored the importance of a quick reauthorization of the Bank’s charter to create and sustain American jobs.   The event featured the perspectives of a diverse array of business owners, large and… Read more »

On Tuesday, April 8, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, will host a panel discussion on the importance to U.S. workers and economic growth of a timely reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Since the announcement of the panel, Committee Republicans have incorrectly asserted that a hearing on this year’s Ex-Im reauthorization… Read more »

At today’s Financial Services’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing to discuss allegations of discrimination and retaliation at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Congressman Al Green (D-TX) expressed serious concern over the revelations of the witnesses and underscored the need for senior Bureau officials to come before… Read more »

WASHINGTON — Rep. Maxine Waters' plan to let banks control a sole entity to issue government-backed mortgage securities is dead-on-arrival, but her proposal still significantly alters the housing reform debate. A different housing finance bill in the Senate — which envisions private-market competition for securitizing loans — has greater bipartisan support and is scheduled for a… Read more »

Lawmakers call for hearing to be cancelled Following the announcement that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) will not participate in a House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing to discuss ongoing claims of a single employee, two key Democratic members have raised concerns about the… Read more »

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, released a comprehensive legislative proposal to reform the housing finance market. Known as the Housing Opportunities Move the Economy (HOME) Forward Act of 2014, the legislation ends Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and creates a new, cooperative-owned securities issuer. For months, Waters has been… Read more »

A top House Democrat has offered her own take on overhauling the mortgage market, introducing legislation as Congress begins to move toward comprehensive legislation. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) unveiled her spin on the bipartisan priority Thursday, dubbing it the Housing Opportunities Move the Economy Forward Act. “Reforming a 10 trillion dollar housing finance market is an… Read more »

WASHINGTON — Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., unveiled a new plan Thursday to overhaul the housing finance market, entering what's becoming a crowded field of proposals to restructure the mortgage system. The discussion draft, titled the Housing Opportunities Move the Economy Forward Act, would unwind Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, like many of the competing plans in both the House and… Read more »

Subcommittee on Oversight asks inspectors general to review workplace discrimination Democratic members of the Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations have called on inspectors general at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and all other financial regulators to assess whether any personnel practices and policies have created an unfair or… Read more »

Yet another proposal for winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and overhauling the nation’s housing finance system will be put before Congress on Thursday, this one by Representative Maxine Waters of California, the ranking Democratic member of the Financial Services Committee. The major distinction of Ms. Waters’s proposal is that it would make the mortgage lending system more like… Read more »

Multilateral approach necessary to meet the urgent needs of Ukraine Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to retain the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provisions in the Ukraine package expected to be considered this week. She released the following statement: “I strongly urge… Read more »

In today’s Financial Services Committee hearing on “Why Debt Matters,” Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA), underscored the importance of promoting growth and reducing income inequality through short-term increases in discretionary fiscal stimulus in order to reduce the nation’s debt and deficit.  In her remarks, Waters criticized austerity measures such as the Sequester for… Read more »

Reform legislation signed today by the President Today, President Barack Obama signed into law comprehensive legislation designed to end unaffordable flood insurance rate hikes.  Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, lauded the enactment of H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act into law. For months,… Read more »

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today gave the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of five bills intended to promote economic growth and the majority’s Budget Views and Estimates for fiscal year 2015. Her remarks are below.  )  As prepared for delivery: Thank you Mr. Chairman. Promoting… Read more »