#Senate Ag – Federal Financial Analytics

25 07, 2023

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Eliza Allen2023-07-25T17:18:26-04:00July 25th, 2023|2- Daily Briefing|

Key Democrat Takes On Fed Rate Hikes

Ahead of today’s FOMC meeting, Joint Economic Committee Chair Heinrich (D-NV) yesterday sent a letter to Fed Chair Powell cautioning against additional policy tightening.

Second HFSC Markup Targets Stablecoins, Regulatory Restrictions, ESG

Thursday’s HFSC has now added another day to its mark-up calendar this week, moving the stablecoin and ESG bills to Thursday doubtless in order to avoid an endurance contest before the August recess and still meet Chairman McHenry’s (R-NC) commitments.

Senate GOP Tries to Block Capital Rewrite

Just days before the banking agencies take up new capital rules, Senate Banking Ranking Member Scott (R-SC) and ten other committee Republicans sent a letter to Chairman Powell demanding greater transparency and prior consultation.

Waters Presses FHFA for FHLB Reform

Following FHFA listening sessions and in anticipation of a final report this September on the FHLB system, HFSC Ranking Member Waters (D-CA) late yesterday sent a letter to FHFA Director Thompson laying out a series of recommendations to significantly reform the system.

Ag Committees Slam SEC Custody Proposal

In a letter to SEC Chairman Gensler released today, Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Boozman (R-AR) and Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) along with House Ag. Committee Chairman Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member Scott (D-GA) raised strong objections to what they called serious flaws in the SEC’s proposed custody rule (see FSM Report CUSTODY5).

Warren, Scott Renew Fed-Ethics Campaign

Continuing their bipartisan campaign against the Fed, Sens. Warren (D-MA) and Scott (R-FL) yesterday sent a letter…

13 12, 2022

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Eliza Allen2022-12-13T17:08:34-05:00December 13th, 2022|2- Daily Briefing|

Glimmers of 2023 Policy Emerge in HFSC FTX Autopsy

As anticipated, today’s HFSC session fixated on the intricacies of FTX’s bankruptcy and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried’s arrest. Incoming Chairman McHenry (R-NC) supported the need for extensive regulation and new law but stressed separating the promise of crypto innovation from fraud committed by bad actors and again slammed the SEC’s strategy of “regulation by enforcement.”

FDIC Again Targets False Advertising, Logo Usage

Moving beyond its last effort at ending misrepresentation of deposit-insurance status (see FSM Report DEPOSITINSURANCE112), the FDIC Board today voted unanimously to issue for public comment a proposed modernization of how the FDIC logo is to be displayed and expand on prior efforts to block crypto firms from implying that they are insured. We will soon provide clients with an in-depth analysis of the NPR, which also follows a CFPB circular (see FSM Report DEPOSITINSURANCE113) on FDIC insurance status misrepresentations in May.

Gruenberg, FDIC Nominees Set for Confirmation

As anticipated, Senate Banking today confirmed the Administration’s slate of FDIC directors, positioning them for approval before adjournment and thus giving the agency a full board for the first time in years. Acting Chairman Gruenberg was approved 13-11, with Sen. Toomey (R-PA) voting for him despite strong objections likely to ensure final action this year on the entire slate.

Daily121322.pdf…

3 08, 2022

DAILY080322

Eliza Allen2023-01-04T13:29:59-05:00August 3rd, 2022|2- Daily Briefing|

Senate Ag Crypto Bill Lauds CFTC, Faces Many Obstacles

As we anticipated as the crypto debate continues, the Senate Agriculture Committee has sought to claim jurisdiction with a new, bipartisan bill granting the CFTC broad regulatory, supervisory, and enforcement powers over most digital-asset platforms and the assets traded on them.

ECB Study Favors CBDCs Over Private Crypto for Cross-Border Payments

A study released by the ECB today argues that CBDCs would be a cheaper, safer, and more effective vehicle for cross border payments for global transactions than privately-issued cryptoassets or stablecoins. Based on assessment of global, not just EU markets, the study thus has implications for those in the U.S. opposing a CBDC.

FRB-Minneapolis Renews Attack on Big-Bank Capital Resilience

Renewing its attack on big-bank capital ratios, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis today released its own stress-test conclusions, reinforcing its president’s longstanding view that the largest U.S. banks are woefully under-capitalized even though test results show considerable variance on a bank-by-bank basis as well as overall resilience.

FRB Philadelphia President Touts Fintech’s Financial Inclusion Potential

FRB Philadelphia President Patrick Harker today stated that fintech can increase financial inclusion, specifically citing buy-now pay-later products because they offer financial services to low- to moderate-income customers who would otherwise be locked out of traditional lending because they are more likely to be non-White, lower earning, and younger.

Daily080322.pdf…

25 03, 2022

Daily032522

Arezou Rafikian2023-03-27T16:04:54-04:00March 25th, 2022|2- Daily Briefing|

Fed Puts Off Finalizing New DIHC Framework
The FRB today extended the comment deadline on a longstanding proposal crafting a new regulatory framework for depository institution holding companies principally engaged in insurance services.

CFPB Wants to Hear More re Pricing Practices
Saying it has been swamped with consumer tales about “junk fees,” the CFPB today extended the comment deadline until April 11 on its request for views on this hot topic.

Bipartisan Crypto Construct Harder to Build than Describe
On a Politico webcast last night, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) announced a bipartisan alliance to craft cryptoasset standards they expect to see on the Senate floor by year-end.

Waller Still Wants Little to Do with a CBDC
At a feisty panel today, FRB Gov. Chris Waller stood by his view that a CBDC is “a solution in search of a problem.”

Senate Democrats Demand Overdraft-Fee Fix
Sen. Rev. Warnock (D-GA) and Chairman Brown (D-OH) joined other Democrats demanding lower or eliminated overdraft fees.

FDIC Starts Process of Revising Bank-Merger Policy

The FDIC today has officially released the bank-merger RFI that now-Acting Chairman Gruenberg and CFPB Director Chopra sought to release under Chair Jelena McWilliams.

Daily032522.pdf…

9 02, 2022

Daily020922

Arezou Rafikian2023-04-05T11:42:19-04:00February 9th, 2022|2- Daily Briefing|

Global Regulators Demand Fast Capital Rewrite
Reinforcing his chairman’s comments yesterday, the Basel Committee and its supervising panel of central bankers today stressed the need for national action on the Basel III/IV package. The global bodies also reiterated the need for “full, timely, and consistent” action, with these calls sure to speed U.S. inter-agency deliberations as soon as the Federal Reserve’s board fills out with a new supervisory vice chair.

Senate Ag Ready to Engage on SEC/CFTC Crypto Jurisdiction
The Senate Agriculture Committee today held a hearing examining the CFTC’s authority to govern cash digital assets, with Members on both sides agreeing that it is vital to clarify the distinctions between securities and commodities law to ensure that the CFTC can intervene where appropriate to ensure stability and consumer protection. Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) acknowledged bitcoin’s financial-inclusion potential, but also noted an array of risks such as those to the climate, volatility, fraud, and insider trading.

IMF Discounts CBDC Inevitability
The IMF today released a comprehensive report on CBDC, the results of which led Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to conclude that a central-bank digital currency is not an inevitable outcome of digital transformation.

Daily020922.pdf…

12 01, 2022

Daily011222

Arezou Rafikian2023-04-24T15:42:45-04:00January 12th, 2022|2- Daily Briefing|

Ag Committees Enter Crypto Fray

Flexing their jurisdictional muscle, the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees today sent a letter to the CFTC urging it to govern cryptoassets which, they say, are commodities.

CFPB UPs the Ante for Its Anti-BNPL Inquiry

The CFPB today broadened its market-monitoring demand of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) providers into a general request for public comment. Focusing in particular on consumers and international agencies, the Bureau seeks views on matters such as risks and benefits, merchant experience, and ways to improve the sector.

Daily011222.pdf…