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PH FedACTion: Financial Regulatory Updates

Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Thursday, March 17, 2022

March 17, 2022

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Congress

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on Small Business

Hearing: An Empirical Review of the Paycheck Protection Program

March 16, 2022

The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations held a hybrid hearing titled: "An Empirical Review of the Paycheck Protection Program."

Federal Agencies

U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Departments of the Treasury and Justice Launch Multilateral Russian Elites, Proxy Oligarch Task Force

March 16, 2022

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland met virtually with representatives from Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Commission, to launch the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) multilateral task force.

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

FinCEN Announces Actions to Support Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Multilateral Task Force and Ongoing U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Foreign Government Corruption

March 16, 2022

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced support for the multilateral REPO Task Force, which will increase information sharing with relevant authorities in task force member-countries. FinCEN also issued a FinCEN Alert, which highlights the importance of financial institutions identifying and quickly reporting suspicious transactions by sanctioned Russian elites and their proxies that involve real estate, luxury goods, and high-value assets.

Federal Reserve Board

Federal Reserve Board and Federal Open Market Committee Release Economic Projections and FOMC Statement

March 16, 2022

The Federal Reserve Board released economic projections made by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in conjunction with its March 15-16 meeting, as well as a statement from the FOMC in which it announced it will raise rates by a quarter percentage point.

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Business Leaders Survey March 2022

March 16, 2022

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released the March 2022 Business Leaders Survey which found that business activity perked up in the region's service sector.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

OCC Issues Final Rule Addressing Authority for Exemptions to Suspicious Activity Report Requirements

March 16, 2022

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a final rule amending the OCC's suspicious activity report (SAR) regulations.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Speech: Keynote of Chairman Rostin Behnam at the FIA Boca 2022 International Futures Industry Conference

March 16, 2022

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair gave the keynote speech at the FIA Boca 2022 International Futures Industry Conference in Boca Raton, Florida.

National Credit Union Administration

NCUA Releases 2021 Annual Report

March 16, 2022

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) released its 2021 Annual Report, highlighting the NCUA's activities, policy initiatives and accomplishments for the past year.

International

European Commission

Capital Markets Union: Commission proposes simpler rules to make settlement in EU financial markets safer and more efficient

March 16, 2022

The European Commission has proposed changes to the Central Securities Depositories Regulation to enhance the efficiency of the EU's settlement markets, while safeguarding financial stability.

UK Financial Conduct Authority

FCA to consult on use of "side pockets" for retail funds with exposure to sanctioned and suspended Russian assets

March 16, 2022

The Financial Conduct Authority has commenced discussions with stakeholders concerning options to allow UK authorized retail funds to make exceptional use of "side pockets" given the significant practical challenges in disposing of Russian and Belarussian assets in the context of suspensions and extensive global sanctions.

Administration Changes

Vacancies

Federal Reserve Board

  • Vice Chair for Supervision – Vacant
  • Governor – Lisa Cook nominated January 14, 2022
    (nomination hearing held on February 3, 2022; committee approval March 16, 2022)
  • Governor – Phillip Jefferson, nominated January 14, 2022
    (nomination hearing held on February 3, 2022); committee approval March 16, 2022)

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

  • Chair – Vacant (Martin Gruenberg serves as Acting Chair)
  • Vice Chairman – Vacant

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

  • Comptroller – Vacant (Michael Hsu serves as Acting Comptroller)

Commodity Futures Commission

  • Three (3) Commissioner Vacancies

Appointments/Confirmation Hearings

U.S. Department of the Treasury - Janet Yellen (effective January 26, 2021)

Federal Reserve Board

Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Rohit Chopra (effective October 12, 2021)

Securities and Exchange Commission - Gary Gensler (effective April 17, 2021)

Small Business Administration - Isabella Casillas Guzman (effective March 16, 2021)

Commodity Futures Trade Commission – Rostin Behnam (effective December 17, 2021)

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

National Credit Union Administration - Todd M. Harper

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Marcia Fudge (effective March 10, 2021)

Federal Housing Finance Agency – Sandra L. Thompson

U.S. Department of Education - Dr. Miguel Cardona (effective March 2, 2021)

PH Client Alerts

Click here to read more from our Coronavirus series.

Legislation/Legislative Updates

Click here to view the full text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), Enacted March 27, 2020.

Click here to view the full text of the Paycheck Protection Program Increase Act of 2020, Enacted April 24, 2020.

Click here to view the full text of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, Enacted June 5, 2020.

Click here to view the full text of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Enacted December 27, 2020.

Click here to view the full text of the American Rescue Plan of 2021, Enacted March 11, 2021.

Click here to view the full text of the PPP Extension Act of 2021, Enacted March 30, 2021.

Click here to view a running list of proposed legislation from the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, House Committee on Financial Services, and House Committee on Small Business.