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By the Numbers: President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union Address

6,778 total words. 40 words devoted to housing finance reform. 0 housing finance reform proposals from the Obama administration in 5 years 1 bill in Congress that protects taxpayers from ever again having to foot the bill for a housing crisis by ending the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and explicitly preserves the 30-year fixed rate mortgage. That bill – the Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners Act, the PATH Act. “Instead of perpetual bailouts, Americans want meaningful reform of our housing finance system. That is why the House Financial Services Committee passed the PATH Act... Read More »

Weekly Rundown

The House is in session Monday through Wednesday this week. Here's what's happening: On Tuesday at 10 a.m. the Full Committee will hold a hearing to receive the Semi-Annual Report of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). CFPB Director Richard Cordray will be the only witness. Commensurate with holding the CFPB accountable, our website now offers individuals a web form to let committee members know how the CFPB has impacted them as consumers, as business owners or how the Bureau has affected their customers. The committee’s web form gives individuals the choice of having their story ... Read More »

Weekly Rundown

Welcome back for the Second Session of the 113th Congress. The House convenes on Tuesday with votes scheduled through Friday this week. Here's what's happening: On Thursday at 10 a.m. the Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee continues our Federal Reserve Oversight Project with a hearing on the international impacts of the Fed's quantitative easing program. Be sure to check back here on the Bottom Line Blog -- and sign up for our email updates -- for additional information throughout the week. Read More »

WSJ: A Good Time for Housing Reform

WSJ Editorial | January 5, 2014 The prospects for progress on Capitol Hill this year are few, but one possibility is reform of federal housing policy. With home prices rising and the economy growing, now is a good time to pare back the government support that has too often led to unsustainable housing booms and taxpayer busts. Consider the Obama Administration's latest report to Congress on the Federal Housing Administration. The Department of Housing and Urban Development noted last month that the FHA has a negative $1.3 billion net worth, and that's after a $1.7 billion Treasury capital inf... Read More »

Media Buzz: The Federal Reserve Centennial Oversight Project

Earlier this month Chairman Hensarling and Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Campbell announced the committee's “Federal Reserve Centennial Oversight Project” – an aggressive series of hearings slated during 2014 that will culminate in the markup of legislation to reform how the nation’s central bank operates. The Oversight Project coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Fed’s creation later this month, as well as the expected Senate confirmation of a new Federal Reserve chairman. “The Federal Reserve Centennial Oversight Project will be the most vigorous and sustained assess... Read More »

Weekly Rundown

The House is in session Monday through Friday this week -- the last week of session and committee activity currently scheduled for 2013. Here's what's happening: On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will testify on the state of the international finance system. The full committee will then meet again at 2 p.m. to rethink the Federal Reserve's many mandates on its 100-year anniversary. Be sure to check back here on the Bottom Line Blog -- and sign up for our email updates -- for additional information throughout the week. Read More »

Sunday Video Message | Rep. Robert Hurt

Congressman Robert Hurt (Twitter | Facebook) delivers this week's Sunday Video Message on H.R. 1105, the Small Business Capital Access & Job Preservation Act. H.R. 1105 passed the House with strong bipartisan support last week. Read More »

120 Year Old Kentucky Bank Faces Greatest Challenge Yet

Since 1893, Owingsville Banking Company (OBC) has served the citizens of rural Bath County Kentucky. The bank endured the Great Depression, the stagflation of the 1970s and, most recently, the Great Recession. Today, however, OBC faces a new challenge -- not the difficult market conditions of this tepid economic recovery, but an avalanche of Washington regulations. In the above video (at the 4:50 mark), fifth generation banker Thomas Richards testified that the "frightening" regulatory environment created by Dodd-Frank and enforced by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) could wipe... Read More »

Floor Vote Prep | H.R. 1105, the Small Business Capital Access & Job Preservation Act

The Problem: Excessive and unnecessary regulations hurt our economy, increase costs and restrict access to private sector capital that our nation’s job creators need to grow the economy and create jobs. The Example: Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Act imposes new registration and reporting requirements on hedge funds and private equity firms. Specifically, Title IV requires investment advisers to private investment funds to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. As a result of Title IV’s registration requirements, advisers to private fu... Read More »