left-caret

PH FedACTion: Financial Regulatory Updates

Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Wednesday, May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021

FedACTion Task Force

Subscribe to PH FedACTion: Financial Regulatory Updates

PH Client Alerts

Click here to read more from our Coronavirus series.

Administration Changes

Appointments/Confirmation Hearings

Department of the Treasury – Janet Yellen (effective January 26, 2021)

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Rohit Chopra (Nominee)

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

Small Business Administration – Isabel Guzman (effective March 16, 2021)

Commodity Futures Trade Commission

Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

National Credit Union Administration – Todd M. Harper

Department of Housing and Urban Development – Marcia Fudge (effective March 10, 2021)

Department of Education – Dr. Miguel Cardona (effective March 2, 2011)

Congress

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.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on Financial Services

Hearing: Oversight of Prudential Regulators: Ensuring the Safety, Soundness, Diversity, and Accountability of Depository Institutions

May 19, 2021

The House Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing on May 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern titled “Oversight of Prudential Regulators: Ensuring the Safety, Soundness, Diversity, and Accountability of Depository Institutions.”

Hearing: Examining Belt and Road: The Lending Practices of the People’s Republic of China and Impact on the International Debt Architecture

May 18, 2021

The House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy held a hearing titled “Examining Belt and Road: The Lending Practices of the People’s Republic of China and Impact on the International Debt Architecture.”

Chairwoman Waters Appoints Representative Auchincloss as Financial Services Committee Vice Chair

May 17, 2021

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services (Committee), announced that Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) will serve as Vice Chair of the Committee in the 117th Congress.

Federal Agencies

U.S. Department of the Treasury

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen to Chair Meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission

May 18, 2021

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen will chair a meeting of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission on May 26, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. The meeting will focus on the role of financial education in reducing economic inequity.

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on a Better Deal for Americans to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

May 18, 2021

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen gave remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on a better deal for Americans.

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at the Summit on Financing African Economies

May 18, 2021

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen gave remarks at the Summit on Financing African Economies.

Treasury Provides Congress with the Second Report Pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act

May 18, 2021

The Treasury Department has submitted a report to Congress pursuant to section 5(b) of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.

Federal Reserve Board

Paper: The Global Determinants of International Equity Risk Premiums

May 18, 2021

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System released a paper a part of its International Finance Discussion Papers titled “The Global Determinants of International Equity Risk Premiums.”

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Working Paper: Payments Evolution from Paper to Electronic: Bill Payments and Purchases

May 18, 2021

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston released a working paper titled “Payments Evolution from Paper to Electronic: Bill Payments and Purchases.”

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

OCC Report Examines Key Risks and Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Federal Banking System

May 18, 2021

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency reported the key issues facing the federal banking system and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the federal banking industry in its Semiannual Risk Perspective for Spring 2021.

Revisions to OCC’s Revised Regulations Implementing the Community Reinvestment Act

May 18, 2021

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced that it is reconsidering the agency’s revisions to its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations, adopted in June 2020 rule. While this reconsideration is ongoing, the OCC will not object to the suspension of the development of systems for, or other implementation of, provisions with a compliance date of January 1, 2023, or January 1, 2024, under the 2020 CRA rule. The OCC also does not plan to finalize a December 4, 2020, proposed rule that requested comment on an approach to determine the CRA evaluation measure benchmarks, retail lending distribution test thresholds, and community development minimums under the June 2020 rule. In addition, the OCC is discontinuing the CRA information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act notice published in the Federal Register in December 2020.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Office of Advocacy Releases Spring Economic Bulletin

May 18, 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy released its May 2021 Economic Bulletin, which examines new data on how small businesses have fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the bulletin, the pandemic caused an economic shock, which led to business closures and job losses. However, there are signs of recovery in proprietor income and job growth.  

$2.7 Million for Women’s Business Center Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant

May 17, 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Women’s Business Ownership is accepting applications for the Women’s Business Centers Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant. The purpose of the opportunity is to continue or establish innovative projects that aim to improve service delivery, training, and support provided to women-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Federal Housing Finance Agency

FHFA Announces Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Proposed Duty to Serve Underserved Markets Plans for 2022-2024

May 18, 2021

The Federal Housing Finance Agency published the proposed 2022-2024 Underserved Markets Plans (Plans) submitted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the Duty to Serve program. The proposed Plans cover the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024.

International

European Commission

Communication: Future-Proof Taxation – Commission Proposes New and Ambitious Business Tax Agenda

May 18, 2021

The European Commission adopted a Communication on Business Taxation for the 21st century to promote a robust, efficient and fair business tax system in the European Union (EU). It sets out both a long-term and short-term vision to support Europe's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure adequate public revenues over the coming years. It aims to create an equitable and stable business environment, which can boost sustainable and job-rich growth in the EU.

Europe’s Global Approach to Cooperation in Research and Innovation: Strategic, Open, and Reciprocal

May 18, 2021

The European Commission adopted a Communication on its Global Approach to Research and Innovation, Europe’s strategy for international cooperation in a changing world. With this, the European Union aims to take a leading role in supporting international research and innovation partnerships, and to deliver innovative solutions to make societies green, digital and healthy.

European Banking Authority

EBA Announces Plans for the 2021 EU-Wide Transparency Exercise and EBA Risk Assessment Report

May 18, 2021

The European Banking Authority (EBA) announced that the annual 2021 EU-Wide Transparency exercise will be carried out in autumn and the information on banks’ exposures and asset quality during the COVID-19 crisis will be released to market participants. The exercise will cover the figures from the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021. The exercise is planned to be launched in September 2021 and the results are expected to be published at the beginning of December 2021, along with the EBA Risk Assessment Report.

Bank of England

Speech: Climate Change – Plotting Our Course to Net Zero

May 18, 2021

Sarah Breeden, Executive Director, UK Deposit Takers Supervision at the Bank of England, gave a speech at the University of Edinburgh and Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges webinar titled “Climate Change – Plotting Our Course to Net Zero.”

Bank of England Prudential Regulation Authority

PRA Statement on Supervisory Benchmarking Exercise Relating to Capital Internal Models May 2021

May 18, 2021

The Bank of England Prudential Regulation Authority issued a statement addressing the 2022 and 2023 supervisory benchmarking exercise for capital internal models. The exercise is relevant to those credit institutions that have been in scope of the associated reporting requirements.

UK Financial Conduct Authority

Speech: The Rise in Scams and the Threat to a Legitimate Financial Services Industry

May 18, 2021

Mark Steward, Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight at the Financial Conduct Authority, delivered a speech at the City & Financial Global - FCA Investigations & Enforcement Summit, titled “The Rise in Scams and the Threat to a Legitimate Financial Services Industry.”