On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed nine financial services bills that protect whistleblowers, support home buyers, advance technologies to thwart bad actors, protect government employees and others affected by a government shutdown, in addition to creating several commemorative coins and medals, including:
H.R. 3625, the PCAOB Whistleblower Protection Act of 2019, a bill that would protect individuals who blow the whistle on violations and bad actors by establishing a whistleblower program at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) similar to the program at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This bill was introduced by Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX).
It was passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 3619, the Appraisal Fee Transparency Act of 2019, a bill that would support our housing market by ensuring compliance with federal appraisal standards, create a national registry of appraisers in training and provide consumers with greater transparency into the disclosure of fees paid for appraisals.
This bill was introduced by Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance.
It was passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 2613, Advancing Innovation to Assist Law Enforcement Act, a bill that provides that the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) conduct a study and report to Congress on the use of emerging technologies such as AI and digital identity technologies, within FinCEN and how these technologies can be better leveraged to protect our economy from bad actors.
This bill was introduced by Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH).
It was passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 2290, Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act, a bill that would help government employees and other consumers affected by any government shutdown by requiring regulators to issue guidance to encourage financial institutions to take actions necessary to prevent harm to those affected, consistent with safety and soundness considerations.
This bill was introduced by Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA).
It was passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 3589, Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal Act, a bill that provides a Congressional Gold Medal to Greg LeMond, in recognition of his contributions to the nation as an athlete, activist, role model, and community leader.
This bill was introduced by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA).
It was passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 1830, National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act, a bill that directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.
This bill was introduced by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY).
It was passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 1396, Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act, a bill that provides one Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, in recognition of her service to the United States as a mathematician; one Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Christine Darden, for her service to the United States as an aeronautical engineer; two Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of the lives of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, in recognition of their service to the United States during the Space Race; and one Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of all the women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) between the 1930s and the 1970s.
This bill was introduced by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX).
It passed by a voice vote.
H.R. 550, Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019, a bill that would provide for a Congressional Gold Medal to be awarded to the U.S. Merchant Mariners of World War II, in recognition of their service during World War II.
This bill was introduced by Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA).
It was passed by a voice vote.
S. 239, Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019, a bill that directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue not more than 350,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of Christa McAuliffe, a teacher tragically killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.
This bill was introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
It was passed by a voice vote.
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