Ranking Member Waters’ Statement on Committee Republicans’ Elimination of Congress’ First-Ever Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee
Washington, DC,
January 13, 2023
Following news that Committee Republicans plan to eliminate the Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee first established by then-Chairwoman Waters in 2019, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement: “I am deeply disappointed and disturbed to hear that Committee Republicans plan to eliminate the Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee. When I assumed the chair in 2019, one of my first moves was to establish this subcommittee in an effort to add greater scrutiny to the financial services industry, which for so long, has been overwhelmingly White and male. Under my leadership and the incredible leadership of former Subcommittee Chair Joyce Beatty, Committee Democrats did just that. Through Congress’ first-ever subcommittee of its kind, we held historic hearings and authored ground-breaking reports that provided unprecedented transparency and accountability to America’s largest financial institutions. Our efforts to combat inequities in America’s financial services systems including wealth inequality, gender and racial wage gaps, and high poverty rates ushered in major wins for women, communities of color, and minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Not to mention, we finally put a spotlight on the challenges facing persons with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community and justice-involved individuals. ### |