Majority Press Releases
DODD, SHELBY STATEMENT ON HOUSING LEGISLATION
"We have been working diligently for months on legislation to address the housing crisis. Last week we sent legislation to the House. Since then, we have been engaged in extensive and largely fruitful discussions with our counterparts in the House of Representatives, as well as Administration officials. We remain optimistic about the prospects for this legislation." -30-… Continue Reading
July 18, 2008
SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE PASSES BIPARTISAN IRAN SANCTIONS LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today announced that the Committee passed "The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2008" by a vote of 19 to 2. The Banking Committee exercises jurisdiction over virtually all aspects of U.S financial and economic sanctions policy toward Iran, including the U.S. trade and investment ban administered by t… Continue Reading
July 18, 2008
DODD, SHELBY ANNOUNCE BIPARTISAN IRAN SANCTIONS LEGISLATION
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today announced that they have reached a bipartisan agreement on legislation that will expand U.S. sanctions on Iran with respect to weapons proliferation, support for terrorism, and the destabilization of its neighbors in the Middle East. The Banking Committee will consider the legislation on Thursday. "Iran's missile tests last wee… Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
TOMORROW: DODD CONVENES BANKING COMMITTEE FOR TWO HEARINGS
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, announced that tomorrow the Committee will hold a second hearing in addition to a previously planned hearing where Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke will deliver the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress. At the second hearing, Chairman Bernanke, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will testify on recent market developments and… Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
DODD STATEMENT ON FED'S NEW REGULATIONS FOR LENDERS
"Today's Federal Reserve Board regulations should help to put an end to certain abusive lending practices. Too many homeowners have been put into loans that are unaffordable, and as a result, we are now seeing the devastating effects of the failure of millions of mortgage loans. My initial reaction is that, if effectively followed and enforced, the new regulations, though not strong enough in all areas, will help to prevent similar abuses in the future. Under these regulations, lenders will o… Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
TODAY: DODD TO SPEAK ON MARKETS, ADMINISTRATION PROPOSALS
Washington, DC - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, will hold a conference call with reporters today on the state of the economy and the Administration's proposals to help restore confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. WHO: Chairman Chris Dodd WHEN: 2:30 p.m. TODAY, Monday, July 14th CALL-IN: For call-in information, please contact Kate Szostak at kate_szostak@banking.senate.gov. -30-… Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
DODD STATEMENT ON FANNIE MAE, FREDDIE MAC
"The Administration's failure to prevent bad lending practices has caused unprecedented hardship in the form of record foreclosures and market turmoil. Now, homeowners across the country and our entire financial system are suffering the consequences. Regrettably, the Administration has refused to develop or support any meaningful effort to help keep Americans in their homes and preserve efficiency and stability in our markets. "First and foremost, we must enact the bipartisan housing bill tha… Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
DODD STATEMENT ON CLOSURE OF INDYMAC
"IndyMac's closure is the latest example of the severe consequences associated with risky mortgage lending practices, coupled with regulatory failures which allowed these risky lending practices to occur. This combination of risky lending and lax regulation is largely responsible for the current problems in our housing markets and overall economy. I intend to thoroughly examine the implications of this failure. That said, I am confident in the strength and stability of our banking system, and… Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
DODD-SHELBY LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS NATIONAL HOUSING CRISIS PASSES SENATE
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today announced that the Senate passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act. This landmark bipartisan legislation drafted by Dodd and Shelby includes major efforts to address the root of our economic problems - the housing crisis - by providing relief to hundreds of thousands of American homeowners and introducing broad improvements t… Continue Reading
July 9, 2008
DODD STATEMENT ON IRAN MISSILE FIRING
Washington, DC - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today issued the following statement in response to reports that Iran test-fired nine missiles, some of which could reach Israel and other nations in the region: "These reports underscore the danger that Iran's weapons program poses to its neighbors, while increasing concern about its refusal to cooperate with the international community. To ensure peace and stability in this r… Continue Reading
July 9, 2008
TUESDAY: BERNANKE TO DELIVER MONETARY POLICY REPORT TO THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today announced that Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke will appear before the Committee next week to deliver the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress. The Committee's procedures for media review of the monetary policy report and testimony are also detailed below. HEARING DETAILS: WHO: Chairman Chris Dodd Members of the Senate Banking Committee Chair… Continue Reading
July 7, 2008
DODD STATEMENT ON SEC-FED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs released the following statement today on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was entered into by the SEC and Fed. "It is my hope that the MOU will result in improved supervision of investment banks and bank holding companies, and strengthen our financial markets for investors and our nation's economy. It is important to note that the MOU does not grant any new authority to … Continue Reading
July 2, 2008
Senators Comment on Currency Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) issued a brief statement today regarding recent meetings on the issue of legislation to address international currency issues. The Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate Finance and Banking Committees have introduced currency bills in the last year, and are working together toward legislation to address currency exchange rate regimes. "Last week, the four of us … Continue Reading
June 27, 2008
DODD, SHELBY URGE TREASURY, FED, SEC TO WORK WITH CONGRESS ON REGULATORY REFORM EFFORTS
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today sent a letter to the heads of the U.S. Treasury Department, Federal Reserve Board, and Securities and Exchange Commission regarding reports that the agencies are working on an agreement to reform the regulation of U.S. financial institutions. In the letter, Dodd and Shelby recognize the agencies' efforts to improve and streamline… Continue Reading
June 26, 2008
SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE CONFIRMS TEN NOMINEES
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today announced that the Committee confirmed the nominations of three individuals to serve on the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as several other nominees for positions within the Administration. The Banking Committee has approved a total of 24 nominees, including those confirmed today, during the 110th Congress. The following ten nominees passed the Committee unanim… Continue Reading
June 25, 2008
Bill Being Considered on the Floor
Click link for copy of Bill being considered on the floor… Continue Reading
June 24, 2008
DODD STATEMENT ON RECORD DECLINE IN HOME VALUES AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement on the historic decline in home values as recorded by the Case-Shiller index, which measures home values in 20 metro areas across the country, and the record drop in consumer confidence as surveyed by the Conference Board: "This data shows that the housing crisis continues to worsen, reducing home values across the country and potentially forcing mil… Continue Reading
June 20, 2008
FAVORABLE REACTION TO THE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT OF 2008
Note: The Housing and Economic Recovery Act being considered on the Senate floor this week includes many measures, such as the HOPE for Homeowners Act, the National Housing Trust Fund, the Capital Magnet Fund, and the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act, all of which are referred to below. Information about each measure can be found in a summary of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, available here: http://banking.senate.gov/public/_files/HousingandEconomicRecoveryActSummary.pdf … Continue Reading
June 19, 2008
DODD, SHELBY RESPOND TO ADMINISTRATION'S VETO THREAT
"This is a disappointing response. We believe this legislation represents a compromise that will bring relief to hundreds of thousands of homeowners and the housing markets without putting the American taxpayer at risk. All the pieces of this package have overwhelming bipartisan support. Furthermore, the legislation includes two major provisions that the Administration has urged the Congress to pass, FHA Modernization and GSE reform. We hope the White House will reconsider its position." -… Continue Reading
June 17, 2008
DODD, SHELBY ANNOUNCE HOUSING BILL TO BE CONSIDERED BY SENATE
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, announced that they have completed bipartisan legislation that includes major efforts to address the housing crisis. By providing relief to hundreds of thousands of American homeowners and introducing broad improvements to the nation's housing system, the legislation will help to contain the current problems in the housing marke… Continue Reading
