Member Corner

“Fannie Mae will never impose a cost on the American taxpayer…” – James A. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae, testifying before the House of Representatives, April 17, 1996  “Under the direction of James A. Johnson, Fannie Mae’s calculating and politically connected chief executive, the company capitalized on its government ties, building itself into the largest and most… Read more »

UPDATE: After releasing details of the PATH Act, the full committee held a hearing entitled “A Legislative Proposal to Protect American Taxpayers and Homeowners by Creating a Sustainable Housing Finance System” on July 17, 2013, bringing the total to 12 hearing and more than 50 witnesses on this subject since January. We've blogged before about the importance of… Read more »

  Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Randy Neugebauer talked about the Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners Act on Fox Business's The Willis Report yesterday evening. He also spoke about the housing reform plan on KFYO’s Lubbock First News. The full committee will hold a hearing on the PATH Act discussion draft this Thursday at 1 p.m.  Read more »

This week we'll hold two major full committee hearings. Be sure to check back here on the Bottom Line Blog -- and sign up for our email updates -- for more information throughout the week.  Here's what's happening:  On Wednesday, the full committee welcomes Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at 10 a.m. for the July Humphrey-Hawkins hearing. The Fed Chief's… Read more »

Leaders of the Financial Services Committee have proposed the PATH Act – the Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners Act (.pdf) – to create a sustainable housing finance system for the 21st century. The proposal: Ends the taxpayer-funded bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that has cost taxpayers nearly $200 billion – the largest bailout in history; Increases… Read more »

  Chairman Jeb Hensarling delivers this week's Sunday Video Message introducing the Protecting American Homeowners and Taxpayers Act, the PATH Act for short. Read more »

Wall Street Journal: Housing Reform Breakout The House GOP moves to revive the private home mortgage market.  New York Times: Diverging Debate at Fed on When to End Stimulus Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday that the Fed was likely to extend the centerpiece of its campaign to bolster the economy — keeping short-term interest rates close to zero —… Read more »

Wall Street Journal Editorial: Housing Reform Breakout  One perverse result of the financial crisis is that Washington has nationalized housing finance. Taxpayers guarantee about 85% of new mortgages, some $5.1 trillion in mortgage credit and growing. So it's a big and welcome political breakthrough that House Republicans are taking… Read more »

Welcome back from the Independence Day break! We kick off the last four-week stretch of congressional activity before August with two suspensions and three hearings this week. Be sure to check back here on the Bottom Line Blog -- and sign up for our email updates -- for more information throughout the week.  Here's what's happening:  On Monday the House is expected to consider… Read more »

At a time when Washington is awash in scandals over mass surveillance and political targeting, the CFPB is amassing tens of millions of your private financial records and consumer data. According to Investors Business Daily, the "massive database of personal information" includes "monthly credit card, mortgage, car and other payments," giving the bureau a snapshot of your bill-paying and… Read more »