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Waters Applauds Senate Progress on Housing Finance Reform

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today applauded Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) for reaching agreement on an effort to reform the housing finance system. She released the following statement: “I am encouraged by the news that Senators Johnson and Crapo have reached agreement on principles for the reform of…

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 Calls for Action on Data Security

| Posted in Press Releases

As part of a hearing to investigate data security following breaches at large commercial retailers, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, pointed to the emerging epidemic of cyber crimes and called on legislators to ensure the safety and security of critical consumer financial information. Waters raised concerns about the frequency of data…

Comprehensive Flood Insurance Legislation Passes House

| Posted in Press Releases

In an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 301-91, today the U.S. House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation designed to end unaffordable flood insurance rate hikes.  Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today lauded passage of H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. For months, Waters led a…

Waters, Richmond Endorse Bipartisan Flood Insurance Legislation

| Posted in Press Releases

Following weeks of negotiations between members of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee and Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) today threw their support behind comprehensive legislation designed to end unaffordable flood insurance rate hikes. For months, Waters led a Democratic effort to…

GOP, Waters Reach Deal on Flood Bill

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

Reforms to flood insurance approved by Congress in 2012 would be scaled back under a deal reached Monday by House Republicans and Democrats. The rare bipartisan deal, which GOP leaders plan to bring to the floor for a vote on Tuesday, responds to complaints from flooded-out constituents who said the 2012 law would require them to pay much more for federal flood insurance. But the…

Waters Cites Progress in Flood Insurance Discussions

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement on the progress of negotiations with GOP leader Eric Cantor regarding legislation to address rising flood insurance premiums. "We have made important progress on legislation that will provide relief to those facing unaffordable flood insurance premiums. I…

House Republicans Pass Legislation Gutting Consumer Protection

| Posted in Press Releases

Waters leads effort to oppose measure weakening CFPB Today, the Republican-led House of Representatives approved H.R. 3193, legislation that would undermine consumer protection by weakening the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s ability to be an effective, independent advocate for consumers. Democratic opposition was led by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) Ranking Member of the…

Divided Republicans Turn to Rep. Waters

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

A politically fraught fight over flood insurance has prompted a split between the House Republican leadership and a top committee chairman, forcing senior GOP lawmakers to bargain for votes instead with liberal Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.), the panel’s top Democrat. GOP leaders have struggled to gain enough support to pass a House alternative to flood insurance legislation the Senate…

As Discussions Continue on Flood Insurance, No Deal Yet

| Posted in Press Releases

As Republicans in the House of Representatives release legislation intended to address dramatic flood insurance premium increases, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), a leader of the effort to stop the problem, expressed her concerns with the legislation as currently written. “Although there have been productive conversations with Republican leadership, I still have significant concerns…

Waters Statement on GSE Repayment of Taxpayer Funds

| Posted in Press Releases

  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 Calls on Regulators to Ensure Mortgage Servicers Continue to Protect Homeowners

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: CFPB, OCC, HUD, FHFA

Following widespread concern over the actions of a number of independent mortgage servicers, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), top Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, has called on government regulators to take action that will protect homeowners from abuses that have led to stalled modifications, excess fees and even foreclosure. In a letter to Comptroller of the Currency…

Lawmaker Urges U.S. Regulators to Scrutinize Mortgage Servicers

| Posted in In Case You Missed It
Tags: CFPB, OCC

Representative Maxine Waters of California is urging federal banking regulators to scrutinize the sale of billions of dollars of mortgage-servicing rights to a fleet of specialty firms, a move that comes amid mounting concerns that some of the most vulnerable homeowners are facing fresh abuses in battles to save their homes. For some Americans whose home values plummeted in the depths…

BREAKING NEWS: Majority of House Coauthor Flood Relief Bill

| Posted in Press Releases

Legislation could pass today if brought up for a vote Over the past several days, the effort to delay unaffordable flood insurance premiums has reached a boiling point. Today, in the face of two weeks of significant obstruction by Republican leadership, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) announced that a substantial majority of the House of Representatives – 231 members – have signed on…

Waters Praises Yellens Foresight; Urges Continued Action to Stem Unemployment

| Posted in Press Releases

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: Once Again, Democrats Must Rescue Economy

| Posted in Press Releases

As the House of Representatives stood poised to approve legislation to increase the government’s borrowing authority, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, urged passage of the measure. Waters underscored the importance of the “clean” debt ceiling increase as critical to avoiding economic catastrophe. She also pointed out that once…

House Republicans Again Block Consideration of Flood Insurance Relief

| Posted in Press Releases

For the third time in two weeks, House Republicans rejected a Democratic procedural motion to bring bipartisan legislation that would delay the implementation of flood insurance increases up for a vote. Using a parliamentary procedure to order the "previous question," Republicans blocked an effort to bring H.R. 3370, the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, to the…

House Dems Push for Hearing on Ex-Im Bank Reauthorization

| Posted in In Case You Missed It

House Democrats on the Financial Services Committee are calling for panel leaders to hold a hearing on the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which they argue bolsters job and economic growth. In a letter to Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and subcommittee Chairman John Campbell (R-Calif.), 26 Democratic lawmakers said the bank is a self-sustaining agency that has…

Democratic Lawmakers Call for Hearing on Export-Import Bank

| Posted in Press Releases

In the face of a Republican agenda that seeks to erode consumer protection and undermine Wall Street reform, Democratic members of the Financial Services Committee have called for a renewed focus on a legislative goal that is proven to preserve and create U.S. jobs by helping American businesses compete internationally for opportunities to export goods and services. In a letter to…

For the Second Time, House Republicans Block Consideration of Flood Insurance Relief

| Posted in Press Releases

For the second straight day, House Republicans rejected a Democratic procedural motion to bring bipartisan legislation that would delay the implementation of flood insurance increases up for a vote. Again using a parliamentary procedure to order the "previous question," Republicans blocked an effort to bring H.R. 3370, the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, to the…

Waters Applauds Volcker's Authors for Strong Rule

| Posted in Press Releases

  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…

Waters Statement on Insurance Modernization Report

| Posted in Press Releases

At today’s hearing to review the Treasury Department’s Federal Insurance Office’s (FIO) Report on Modernizing Insurance Regulation, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, applauded the Office for its efforts to oversee the insurance marketplace and protect consumers. She also called for improved access to insurance in underserved…

House Republicans Block Consideration of Flood Insurance Relief

| Posted in Press Releases

Waters Calls for Immediate Passage of Legislation to Delay Flood Insurance Rate Hikes Today, House Republicans rejected a Democratic procedural motion to bring bipartisan legislation that would delay the implementation of flood insurance increases up for a vote. Using a parliamentary procedure called the "previous question," House Republicans blocked an effort to bring H.R. 3370, the…

Senate Passes Critical Flood Insurance Legislation

| Posted in Press Releases

Waters Calls for Immediate Action by the House Following Senate passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to fix the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement: “This is a huge step toward providing much needed relief for our nation’s homeowners. Yet the…

Waters Speaks Out on CFPBs Strong Record of Consumer Protection

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, commended Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray for the Bureau’s significant accomplishments in protecting our nation’s consumers and service members who have been victimized by unscrupulous corporations and financial institutions. At today’s full committee hearing…

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