Majority Press Releases
BROWN FIGHTS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled ‘The Quarterly CARES Act Report to Congress.’Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:I’d again like to thank Chairman Crapo for following the best advice of health experts, and holding a virtual hearing to prevent the spread of coronavirus.I am still outraged by Leader M… Continue Reading
May 18, 2020
Ahead Of Tuesday’s Hearing, Brown Calls On Trump Administration To Ensure The Main Street Lending Programs Serves Small And Medium-Sized Businesses and Underserved Communities
.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell urging them to avoid the mistakes of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), by focusing on small and medium-sized businesses, underserved communities, and improving data collection and transparency. Brown also called for the Trump Administration to incorporate new operational an… Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Brown Statement On HUD and FHFA Extending Foreclosure Moratoriums for Homeowners During The Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - today released the following statement following the announcement that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) would extend the suspension of foreclosures on Federal Housing Administration-insured (FHA) and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages through June 30, 2020:“I applaud the FHFA and HUD for recognizing th… Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
BROWN APPLAUDS HOUSE FOR INCLUDING KEY PRIORITIES, LIKE HOUSING ASSISTANCE AND CRITICAL CONSUMER PROTECTIONS THAT WILL HELP WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES & COMMUNITIES STRUGGLING AMID PANDEMIC
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today applauded the House of Representatives for its Heroes Act, which includes several key priorities and much-needed relief for hardworking Americans, small businesses, and impacted communities. The Heroes Act provides housing assistance, critical consumer protections, and small business relief.Brown urged Sen. Mitch McConnell to bring this bill to the Se… Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Brown, Menendez, and Smith Call on Trump Administration to Ensure that Lenders are not Shorting Small Businesses on PPP Loans
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - and Banking Committee members Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza urging them to provide answers and clarity to small businesses regarding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan amounts. The Senators cited recent press reports where … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Transcript: Brown’s Remarks During Executive Session On the Nominations of Brian Miller and Dana Wade
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - today delivered remarks during an Executive Session to consider the nominations of Brian Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery(SIGPR), and Dana Wade to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A transcript is below:Thank you Mr. Chairman.The Committee will vote in person on two nominees for positio… Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Brown Demands Financial Regulators Do More To Protect Workers and the Economy During and After the Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member 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.’ Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow: I’d like to thank Chairman Crapo for following the best advice of health experts, recognizing the importance of our actions and example in this moment, and facilitating a hearing that will mi… Continue Reading
May 8, 2020
Brown, Waters, Heck Introduce Legislation to Help Renters During the Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, and Congressman Denny Heck (D-WA) today announced new legislation, the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020. The bill was introduced in the House and Brown will soon introduce a companion bill in the Senate. The bills would establ… Continue Reading
May 5, 2020
BROWN PRESSES SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY (SIGPR) NOMINEE ON HIS INDEPENDENCE AND ABILITY TO HOLD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs - delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing on the nominations of Brian D. Miller to be Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, U.S. Department of the Treasury; and Dana T. Wade to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.Sen. Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:Thank you, Mr. Chairma… Continue Reading
May 4, 2020
Brown, Colleagues Urge The CFPB To Halt Work On The Payday Rule And Restart The Rulemaking Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today joined 11 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger urging her to immediately halt work on the Payday Rule. The Senators cited press reports that extensively detail improper interference and manipulation of the rulemaking process for the Payday Rule by political appointees at … Continue Reading
May 1, 2020
Brown Urges Trump Administration to Prioritize American Manufacturers of Critical Personal Protection Equipment
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today sent a letter to Secretary Mnuchin calling for the Trump Administration to prioritize American manufacturers who produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical supplies and equipment in CARES Act lending programs. Senator Brown in his letter made clear that American manufacturers and their workers are vital to the economy, our nation’s security, and our respon… Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
BROWN, SCHATZ CALL ON SBA TO PRIORITIZE SMALLER PPP LOANS
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) - Ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) yesterday called on Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza to prioritize smaller banks and smaller loans in the Paycheck Protection Program. “We write to urge you to issue guidance to ensure that the processing and disbursement of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans prioritize … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
ICYMI: Sens. Brown, Warren, Banking Committee Colleagues Urge Major Mortgage Servicers to Immediately Notify Eligible Homeowners of Protections Available Through CARES Act
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, led a letter to major mortgage servicers -- Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Mr. Cooper, Bank of America, PennyMac Loan Services, Quicken Loans, Freedom Mortgage, New Residen… Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Brown, Colleagues Urge the CFPB to Reinstate Vital HMDA Data Collection
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today joined 18 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger urging her to reverse her decisions to suspend the quarterly reporting of information under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) during the COVID-19 pandemic and halt reporting of all HMDA data for lenders. Eliminating these repor… Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
BROWN, COLLEAGUES URGE MNUCHIN, POWELL TO EXPAND PPP OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Doug Jones (D-AL) in pushing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to make sure that minority and low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities get proper access … Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
ICYMI: Brown, Democratic Lawmakers Call On Small Business Administration To Expand Paycheck Protection Program Opportunities For Small, Underserved Businesses
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ranking Member of U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Ben Cardin, House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez, and House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Small B… Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Brown, Schumer, And Cardin Call On SBA Inspector General To Investigate Reports That Some Paycheck Protection Program Lenders Have Prioritized Larger, Wealthier Clients Over Hard-Hit Small Businesses In Urgent Need
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), Ranking Member of U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, yesterday sent a letter to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Inspector General Mike Ware, calling for the immediate investigation of reports that some lenders participating in the SBA’s Paycheck Protect… Continue Reading
April 23, 2020
BROWN URGES FINANCIAL REGULATORS TO ENSURE THAT TEMPORARY SUSPENSIONS OF IMPORTANT FINANCIAL PROTECTIONS DO NOT TURN INTO PERMANENT ROLLBACKS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today sent a letter to the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) urging regulators that temporary changes to financial safeguards that have long-been on industry wish lists should not become permanent. Senator Brown in his l… Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
BROWN SUPPORTS INTERIM CORONAVIRUS SPENDING PACKAGE TO BOOST FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS AND TESTING CAPACITY
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today supported the Senate bill to provide additional funding for small businesses, hospitals and increased testing capacity. The bill was passed by unanimous consent and is expected to pass the House of Representatives this week. The bill provides $470 billion, including:- $310 billion for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) o This includes $60 billion for smaller lenders, including $30 … Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
Brown, Warren Proposal to Provide Immediate Relief for Consumers Amid COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - Today, United States Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, published a Medium post on their proposal to provide immediate relief to consumers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They call for the next coronavirus aid package to i… Continue Reading
