Majority Press Releases
Senate Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill With Historic Brown Provisions to Invest in Ohio Communities & Create Good-Paying American Jobs
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, with several key provisions he secured for Ohio communities. As the Chairman of a key committee on infrastructure legislation, Brown fought for Ohio and delivered, with big investments now on the way to the state for good-paying jobs to build and upgrade critical infrastructure like bridges, broadband, waterways, and public transit—all without rai… Continue Reading
August 9, 2021
Brown to Senate Colleagues: Housing Is Infrastructure
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to support the robust investments in housing that are included in this week's budget resolution. Brown specifically pushed for investments in affordable housing, underserved urban, rural, and tribal communities, and to make homeownership more accessible for workers and their families. Video of the speech can be found here and Brown’s … Continue Reading
August 9, 2021
Brown Applauds Biden Administration for Renominating Todd Harper
Today, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement applauding the Biden Administration for renominating Chair Todd Harper to the Board of Directors of the National Credit Union Association (NCUA).“Todd Harper has worked on a bipartisan basis for stronger consumer protections and capital requirements so credit unions can continue lending to and investing in their communities - in both good times and bad. I look… Continue Reading
August 6, 2021
Brown Applauds SEC for Approving New Diversity Standards
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - released the following statement after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Nasdaq’s proposed rule related to board diversity and disclosure:“Corporate America must do more to increase diversity in the boardroom,” said Brown. “I applaud the SEC and Nasdaq for recognizing the benefits to companies and shareholders of a more inclusive and equitable economy.” ###… Continue Reading
August 5, 2021
Brown: These HUD Nominees Stand Ready to Address Our Nation’s Housing Crisis
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered the following opening statement at today’s nominations hearing for Julia Gordon, David Uejio, and Solomon Greene to be Assistant Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:Today, we will consider three nominations for critical roles at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.Julia Gordon has been nominated t… Continue Reading
August 4, 2021
Brown Blasts Republican Attack on Qualified HUD Nominees
Today, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement regarding Ranking Member Toomey’s letter to President Biden urging him to withdraw Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) nominees: Ms. Julia Gordon nominee, to be Assistant Secretary of HUD; and Mr. Solomon J. Greene, to be Assistant Secretary of HUD.“Senator Toomey is asking the president to withdraw nominees over retweets. This is political theat… Continue Reading
August 3, 2021
Senator Reverend Warnock Chairs First Senate Banking Subcommittee Hearing, Underscores Prevalence of Consumer Scams in the Pandemic Recovery Economy
Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), chair of the U.S. Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, held a hearing to address the rising threat of financial fraud and scams during the pandemic and the economic threat these practices pose to a full recovery. The Senate Banking Subcommittee hearing, entitled “Protecting Consumers from Financial Fraud and Scams in the Pandemic Recovery Economy”, is the first hearing that Senator Warnock has chaired … Continue Reading
August 3, 2021
Brown Applauds Biden Administration for New Actions on the Eviction Moratorium Amid Troubling Rise in COVID-19 Cases
Today, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement regarding the Biden Administration’s new action to limit evictions.“I applaud the Administration for this effort to protect renters from the public health crisis. The troubling rise of the Delta variant means families need protection now more than ever,” said Brown. “While the order is in place, I again urge all state and local grantees to quickly provide rental… Continue Reading
August 3, 2021
Brown: Financial Watchdogs Must Ensure Banks and Credit Unions Serve Working Families and Their Communities
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled “Oversight of Financial Regulators: Does our Financial System Work for Everyone?”Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:Before we begin, I want to ask all of my colleagues to work with their governors and local officials to get the eviction prevention assistance out faster - I spoke to Governor DeWine a… Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Legislation to Examine History of Racially Restrictive Covenants
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced legislation to examine the history of racially restrictive covenants—which were used as tools of discrimination to keep Black families and households of color from moving into certain neighborhoods—so we can better understand the scope of these covenants.Sen. Smith’s Mapping Housing Discrimination Act is inspired by work being done at the University of Minnesota to map racially restrictive covenants, which will help to study the connection betw… Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Brown: Passing 36% Rate Cap Bill Would Protect Americans From Debt Traps
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled “Protecting Americans from Debt Traps by Extending the Military's 36% Interest Rate Cap to Everyone.”Yesterday, Chairman Brown joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), several members of the Committee, and a number of other Senate Democrats in reintroducing the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act, legisla… Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
U.S. Senators Seek to Cap Consumer Loans at 36%
In an effort to put a stop to abusive and predatory lending practices that target vulnerable consumers, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), today led the reintroduction of legislation that would extend the protections of the Military Lending Act (MLA), which caps the annual percentage rate (APR) on consumer loans at 36 percent, to cover veterans and other consumers.In 2006, Congress passed the MLA to rein in predatory payday len… Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Brown Presses CFPB to Address Risks to Consumers from Fintechs Like Chime
Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Dave Uejio pressing him to address the risks to consumers from Chime, a nonbank fintech.“Chime’s abrupt, involuntary closures of its customers’ accounts—and locking them out of access to their funds—can cause lasting damage to their financial condition. Chime customers who could not access funds may have … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Brown: Cryptocurrencies Put Americans’ Hard-earned Money at Risk
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled “Cryptocurrencies: What are they good for?”Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:First, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of our friend and former colleague, Senator Mike Enzi.Some of us served with him on this committee, which he joined in 1997. We remember his kindness, his persona… Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Brown, Carper: Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation Must Include Strong Transit Investments
U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today released the following statement:“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and create a better, more connected future for the American people. We cannot do that if Republicans attempt to strike transit funds and programs from the infrastructure pack… Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Chairman Menendez Delivers Opening Remarks at Senate Banking Subcommittee Hearing on Future Pandemic Risk
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment, delivered the following opening remarks at today’s hearing, entitled “Examining Frameworks to Address Future Pandemic Risk.” The Subcommittee heard testimony from a group of experts, businesses leaders, and insurance providers to explore whether Congress should consider a pandemic risk insurance program to limit the economic damage of future global catastrophic events such a… Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Brown’s Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing: “Examining Frameworks to Address Future Pandemic Risk”
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - today delivered remarks during a Securities, Insurance, and Investment Subcommittee hearing entitled “Examining Frameworks to Address Future Pandemic Risk.” Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:This is the first Securities, Insurance and Investment Subcommittee hearing - thank you Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Scott for holding this hearing and tha… Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Chair Tina Smith Leads Senate Hearing on Fire Safety, Home Health Risks Including Lead and Radon
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led her third hearing as chair of a key housing subcommittee, where Sen. Smith heard from leaders of housing authorities—including Jennifer Keogh, Deputy Executive Director of the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority—and a nationally recognized expert on led and radon dangers.In 2019, an early morning fire at the Cedar High Apartments, a 25-story public housing building in Minneapolis, led to the deaths of five residents on the upper levels. The building … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Brown Applauds Interagency Work on New Community Reinvestment Act Rule
Today, Sen. Sherrod Brown - Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced it is rescinding its Trump-era Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule and will work on a new rule with the Federal Reserve and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Federal Reserve, FDIC, and OCC also released a joint statement that they are working together on a new proposed CRA r… Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Brown: As Climate Change Fuels Disasters, We Must Shore Up Our Nation’s Infrastructure
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled “21st Century Communities: Climate Change, Resilience, and Reinsurance.”Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:This morning the Banking and Housing Committee again looks at the ways climate change puts the American economy and American communities at risk. Earlier, we examined the ways big banks’ focus … Continue Reading
