This Week in Washington for July 31, 2017

July 31, 2017

Dina Ellis and Casey Miller

THE BIG PICTURE

This was another roller coaster week by anyone’s judgment, ranging from passage of sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea to the dramatic middle of the night failure of the healthcare bill to intrigue at the White House. The House is now in recess for the next five weeks, but the Senate is staying in session for two more weeks to get nominees confirmed and to move on to tax reform.

President Trump Names New White House Chief of Staff: In a tweet on July 28, President Trump announced that he has appointed Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly as White House Chief of Staff, replacing Reince Priebus. “I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American....,” the tweet read.

Senate Fails to Repeal Obamacare: After a busy and tumultuous week, the Senate defeated three separate proposals to repeal Obamacare. Most dramatically, the Senate on July 28 voted down 49–51 a trimmed-back healthcare measure that Republicans hoped would pass. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) surprised many when he joined fellow Republicans Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to vote against the proposed legislation. The slimmed-down Obamacare repeal bill would have: repealed the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate; partially repealed the ACA’s employer mandate; defunded Planned Parenthood for one year, diverting the funding to community health centers; and cut down the ACA’s Prevention and Public Health Fund. The Senate on July 26 rejected a bill to repeal Obamacare without a replacement, and then rejected a smaller package rollback of Obamacare.

No Modifications to Transgender Policy, According to Joint Chiefs: In response to President Trump’s tweet that transgendered people would no longer be allowed to serve in the military, Marine General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Joe Dunford issued a statement that there will be “no modifications” to the military’s transgender policy, at least “until the President’s direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidance.”

Moreover, on July 26, the Department of Justice filed an amicus brief saying that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not cover employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Congress Passes Sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea: Congress last week passed a sanctions package that combined Senate-passed Russia and Iran sanctions with a House-passed North Korea sanctions measure. The legislation received pushback from the Trump Administration because it allows Congress to block any attempt by the President to ease or end penalties against Russia. The legislation overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 419–3.

On a related note, the Treasury Department announced on July 28 new sanctions on businesses in Iran, targeting entities involved in the country’s ballistic missile program.

ALSO LAST WEEK ON THE HILL

Senate Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing on Nominees Rostin Behnam, Brian Quintenz, and Dawn Stump: On July 27, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on three nominees to be Commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission: Rostin Behnam, Brian Quintenz, and Dawn Stump. At the hearing, the nominees said that they would complete work on a controversial rule that would curb speculation in energy commodities. This is one of the biggest issues facing the derivatives market, and no progress has been made since the last time three nominees testified in March 2014.

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) Said He May Oppose Export-Import Bank Nominee Scott Garrett: Senator Tim Scott said on July 25 that unless former Rep. Scott Garrett gave a “clear, public statement that ensures he will not dismantle the bank,” Scott will oppose the nomination. Garrett’s nomination is controversial because while he was in Congress he was a leading opponent of the bank and protested the bank’s very existence.

Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Ask for Information on Carl Ichan: Senators Warren and Whitehouse on July 28 wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in his role as Chair of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), requesting information on whether Carl Icahn communicated with any FSOC members as the council considers whether to reverse the designation of American Insurance Group (AIG) as a systemically important financial institution (SIFI).

HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

Committee Holds Hearing on State of the International Financial System: The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing entitled “The Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the International Financial System.” Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was the Committee’s sole witness. In his opening statement, Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) said that the U.S. cannot afford to lose its “status as the global leader for capital markets” and said that the economy “isn’t close to reaching its potential.” In a relatively contentious exchange, Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) asked Secretary Mnuchin why she didn’t get a response to her May 23 letter regarding potential financial activity between Russia and the Trump Administration.

In response to a question from Chairman Hensarling, Secretary Mnuchin said that the $50B threshold in Dodd-Frank that subjects banks to stricter regulation should be raised to at least $250B. According to Mnuchin, “simple, uncomplex banks, the regulators should be able to exempt above [$250B or $300B]. That doesn’t mean that those banks shouldn’t be regulated. They will be regulated by the primary regulator, and they will be regulated properly.”

House Votes to Block Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Arbitration Rule: On July 25, the House voted 231–190 to block a controversial CFPB rule that rule that would ban mandatory arbitration clauses in certain financial contracts and would make it easier for consumers to file class-action lawsuits against financial institutions. House Financial Services Committee Democrats released a report showing the successes of the CFPB, with a case study on the mandatory arbitration rule. The future of the bill is unclear in the Senate, as it is possible that there won’t be enough votes to pass the legislation.

Committee Approves Bipartisan Bills: The full Committee met on July 25 to approve four bipartisan bills. All of the legislation passed unanimously. The Committee approved the following four bills:

H.R. 2864, the “Improving Access to Capital Act.” Sponsors: Reps. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN). This bill would help small companies access capital and give investors greater investment opportunities. The legislation provides a useful tool for smaller reporting companies to raise capital from the public through a streamlined Securities and Exchange Commission review process.
H.R. 1624, the “Municipal Finance Support Act of 2017.” Sponsor: Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN). The bill would require federal banking regulators to treat certain municipal securities held by financial institutions as high-quality liquid assets. This change will protect financial institution investment in local communities by including investment grade municipal bonds in bank liquidity buffers.
H.R. 3110, the “Financial Stability Oversight Council Insurance Member Continuity Act.” Sponsors: Reps. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) and Maxine Waters (D-CA). The bill would permit the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (FSOC) Independent Member with Insurance Expertise, after the expiration of his or her term, to serve on the FSOC until the earlier of 18 months after the date on which the term of service ends; or the date on which a successor to such member is appointed and confirmed.
H.R. 3326, the “World Bank Accountability Act of 2017.” Sponsor: Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY). This legislation would withhold a portion of future appropriations for the World Bank until the Treasury Department reports that the World Bank has undertaken reforms to fight corruption, strengthen management accountability and undermine violent extremism.

The Latest on Flood Insurance: In a statement, Ranking Member Maxine Waters said that she opposes Chairman Jeb Hensarling’s flood insurance legislation. According to Waters, “flood insurance premiums and fees would still increase for all policyholders, coverage would still be less available, and cherry-picking by the private sector would be encouraged.”

The flood insurance reauthorization is must-pass legislation, as the program expires at the end of September. Congress is receiving increasing pressure to reauthorize the legislation from groups like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE

OCC and Federal Reserve Governor Confirmation Hearings Held: The Committee conducted a hearing on the following nominations:

Mr. Joseph Otting, to be Comptroller, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; and
The Honorable Randal Quarles, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Reappointment as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and Vice Chairman for Supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

In his opening statement, Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) said that the two positions up for consideration are “critically important to ensuring a safe, sound, and vibrant financial system.” He said that the candidates were “highly qualified” for the posts. Ranking Member Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) criticized the nominees for profiting off of the financial crisis. In his opening statement, Brown said that the nominees “believe in government help for Wall Street, just not working families.”

Fed nominee Randal Quarles said that he does not advocate the adoption of the so-called Taylor Rule, which is a proposed guideline for how central banks should alter interest rates in response to changes in economic conditions. Quarles also advocated for increased transparency in annual stress testing.

Committee Holds Executive Session and Nomination Hearing: The Committee met in an executive session to vote on the following nominees:

Mr. J. Paul Compton, Jr., of Alabama, to be General Counsel, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
Ms. Anna M. Farias, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
Mr. Neal J. Rackleff, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
Mr. Richard Ashooh, of New Hampshire, to be Assistant Secretary for Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce;
Ms. Elizabeth Erin Walsh, to be Assistant Secretary for Global Markets and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce; and
Mr. Christopher Campbell, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions, U.S. Department of the Treasury.

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED OR PROPOSED

Ranking Member Maxine Waters Introduces “Bad Actor Disqualification Act”: On July 27, Ranking Member Waters introduced legislation aimed to protect investors from bad actors. It would prevent the Securities and Exchange Commission from automatically waiving disqualification by:

Requiring the waiver process to be conducted and voted on at the Commission level, rather than at the staff level;
Requiring the Commission to consider whether granting a waiver would be in the public interest, protect investors, and promote market integrity;
Requiring the Commission to publish notice and afford the public an opportunity to comment and present their views at a public hearing on whether a particular waiver should be granted or denied; and
Requiring SEC staff to keep complete, public records of all waiver requests (formal and informal) and create a public database of all disqualified bad actors.

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) Introduces Senate Companion to “Valid When Made” Bill: Senator Mark Warner introduced legislation that would amend the Home Owners’ Loan Act, the Federal Credit Union Act, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to require that the rate of interest on certain loans remains unchanged after transfer of the loan. The bill is bipartisan, with two Republicans, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), cosponsoring the bill, as well as Democrat Gary Peters (D-MI).

THE REGULATORS

Securities and Exchange Commission Issues Investigative Report Concluding that DAO Tokens Were Securities: The SEC issued an investigative report on July 25 cautioning market participants that offers and sales of digital assets by “virtual” organizations are subject to the requirements of the federal securities laws. Such offers and sales, conducted by organizations using distributed ledger or blockchain technology, have been referred to, among other things, as “Initial Coin Offerings” or “Token Sales.” Whether a particular investment transaction involves the offer or sale of a security — regardless of the terminology or technology used — will depend on the facts and circumstances, including the economic realities of the transaction.

Federal Reserve Issues Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) Statement: The FOMC said in a statement on July 26 that it expects that “with gradual adjustments in the stance of monetary policy, economic activity will expand at a moderate pace, and labor market conditions will strengthen somewhat further. Inflation on a 12-month basis is expected to remain somewhat below two percent in the near term but to stabilize around the Committee’s two percent objective over the medium term.” It also said that the Fed expects to allow some assets to roll off its balance sheet “relatively soon.”

Banking Regulators Issue Guidelines for Banks Under Volcker Rule: The federal banking regulators on July 24 announced guidelines for banking entities seeking an extension to conform certain “seeding” investments in hedge funds or private equity funds (“covered funds”) to the requirements of section 619 of the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly known as the Volcker Rule. According to the guidelines adopted by the Board, firms seeking a seeding period extension should submit information including the reasons for the extension and an explanation of the entity's plan to conform the investment to the requirements of section 619.

Treasury Department to Phase Out “myRA” Program: The Treasury Department said on July 28 that it would wind down a retirement savings program launched by the Obama Administration in 2015. The program aimed to help people start saving for retirement. The only investment option in an account was government savings bonds and investment was capped at $15K. Treasury cited “extremely low” demand as the reason for shutting down the program.

Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard Says Fed Should Have More Diversity: Speaking at Michigan State University, Fed Gov. Lael Brainard said that the Fed needs more diversity in its highest ranks. “I look forward to the day when we have moved far beyond all the firsts, when we can see with satisfaction that the people of the Federal Reserve fully reflect the characteristics of the American people.”

SEC Chair Jay Clayton Speaks to Chamber of Commerce: SEC Chairman Jay Clayton addressed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on July 26. He spoke about shareholder advocacy and said that he is not ready to take away shareholder rights to put issues on corporate ballots. According to Clayton, “we live in a democracy. We have a democratized public company system. That’s good.”

The Chamber of Commerce on July 25 released seven recommendations to the SEC on shareholder proposal reform:

Amend the Resubmission Rule to raise the thresholds for support that proposals must receive in order to be eligible for resubmission.
Withdraw Staff Legal Bulletin 14H (CF) to restore certainty under an exemption allowing exclusion of a proposal if it conflicts with one of the company’s own proposals.
Offer more transparency to investors by requiring proponents to provide sufficient disclosure regarding their economic interests and objectives.
Reassert the “relevance rule” by allowing excludability of a proposal if the subject matter impacts less than five percent of a company’s total assets and five percent of net earnings.
Prohibit the use of images, photos, or graphs as part of proposals, while maintaining the ability of proponents to include a hyperlink for a website they wish to include.
Provide market participants with more certainty regarding its policing of a provision dealing with proposals that relate to a redress of a personal claim or grievance.
Allow for the exclusion of proposals that include materially false or misleading statements.

Office of Comptroller of Currency Makes Move to Block New York Challenge to Fintech: the OCC on July 25 made an early move to block a court challenge to the OCC’s fintech charter efforts. On behalf of the agency, U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said the lawsuit filed by the New York Department of Financial Services challenging fintech charters is subject to dismissal on three grounds: lack of standing; that the OCC is shielded by the Supremacy Clause; and that OCC regulations allow chartering approvals even if chartered companies don’t take deposits.

Treasury Secretary Mnuchin Sends Letter Urging Debt Ceiling Raise: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to raise the debt ceiling, saying it is “critical” for Congress to increase the nation’s borrowing authority by September 29.

NOMINATIONS, COMINGS AND GOINGS AT THE AGENCIES

SEC Names Bryan Wood as Director of Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs: The SEC announced on July 24 that Bryan Wood has been named Director of the agency’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Wood has spent 10 years on Capitol Hill, most recently as Senior Advisor and Counsel at the House financial Services Committee.

Office of Comptroller of Currency (OCC) Announces Chief Risk Officer: The OCC announced on July 24 that William Rowe has been named its Chief Risk Officer. Mr. Rowe has served as Deputy to the Chief of Staff and Liaison to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation since 2006. He served as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Deputy Comptroller for Midsize and Community Bank Supervision from 2002 to 2006 and as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Deputy Comptroller Bank Supervision Operations from 1999 to 2002.

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS

Varo Money Inc. Files Paperwork to Set up New Bank: San Francisco-based company Varo Money Inc. has applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a U.S. national bank charter to form Varo Bank N.A., making it the first fintech startup to formally apply for a federal bank charter. Additionally, Varo has applied for deposit insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Co-Founder and CEO Colin Walsh said “we wanted to offer more than just checking, savings and lending products – we wanted to help our customers solve financial problems, fix the fundamentals, and guide them toward a better financial future.”

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