PH FedACTion: Financial Regulatory Updates
Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Wednesday, March 9, 2022
March 09, 2022
FedACTion Task Force
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Major Developments
U.S. Bans Importation of Russian Oil
March 8, 2022
The United States is banning the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal. The U.S. Treasury released one General License and several Frequently Asked Questions to aid in the wind-down of deliveries of existing purchases that have already been contracted for.
Congress
U.S. Senate
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearing: Examining Mandatory Arbitration in Financial Service Products
March 8, 2022
The Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held a hearing entitled, "Examining Mandatory Arbitration in Financial Service Products."
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Financial Services
Hearing: The Inflation Equation: Corporate Profiteering, Supply Chain Bottlenecks, and COVID-19
March 8, 2022
The House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on causes of inflation and its impact on families across this country.
Federal Agencies
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Treasury Launches Consumer Education Effort on Digital Assets
March 8, 2022
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that its Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) would form a new subgroup on digital asset financial education, which will operate alongside the FLEC's current workstream analyzing the impact of climate change on household and community financial resilience. Through this group, the FLEC will work to develop consumer-friendly, trustworthy and consistent educational materials, tools and outreach to help consumers make informed choices about digital assets.
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo Highlights Emergency Rental Assistance Program in Memphis, Tennessee on American Rescue Plan Anniversary Tour
March 8, 2022
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo spoke in Memphis, Tennessee to highlight how American Rescue Plan funds have been used to keep Americans in their homes during the pandemic.
Conference of State Bank Supervisors
Adapting to the Digital Age: Tech Investment and Mergers and Acquisitions
March 8, 2022
The Conference of State Bank Supervisors released its sixth installment of its seven-part series explore how community banks are adapting to a changing digital landscape by analyzing banking and technology questions from the 2021 CSBS National Survey of Community Banks. This installment examines how community bankers view investments in technology with respect to mergers and acquisitions.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Large Bank Supervision: Updated Comptroller's Handbook Booklet and Rescission
March 8, 2022
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued an updated "Large Bank Supervision" booklet of the Comptroller's Handbook.
National Credit Union Administration
CAMELS Rating System
March 8, 2022
The NCUA Board approved a final rule that added the Sensitivity to Market Risk, or "S," component to the existing CAMEL rating system and redefined the Liquidity Risk, or "L," component. The effective date of the CAMELS final rule(opens new window) is April 1, 2022.
International
European Commission
REPowerEU: Joint European action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy
March 8, 2022
The European Commission has proposed an outline of a plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
UK Financial Conduct Authority
Russian invasion of Ukraine: operational and cyber resilience
March 8, 2022
The Financial Conduct Authority released an alert setting out points to consider regarding firms' operational and cyber resilience following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
FCA strategy for Credit Unions
March 8, 2022
The Financial Conduct Authority issues a letter to credit unions outlining their strategies and expectations for firms.
Administration Changes
Vacancies
Federal Reserve Board
- Vice Chair for Supervision – Sarah Bloom Raskin nominated January 14, 2022 (nomination hearing held on February 3, 2022)
- Governor – Lisa Cook nominated January 14, 2022
(nomination hearing held on February 3, 2022) - Governor – Phillip Jefferson, nominated January 14, 2022
(nomination hearing held on February 3, 2022)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Chair – Vacant (Martin Gruenberg serves as Acting Chair)
- Vice Chairman
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
- Statement by Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell on his nomination by President Biden (November 22, 2021)
- Statement by Governor Lael Brainard on her nomination by President Biden (November 22, 2021)
- Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen Statement on Federal Reserve Nominations (November 22, 2021)
- Statement by Secretary Walsh on Federal Reserve Nominations (November 22, 2021)
- Brown Statement on the Renomination of Jerome Powell for Fed Chair (November 22, 2021)
- Toomey Statement on Renomination of Jerome Powell for Fed Chair (November 22, 2021)
- Brown Applauds Biden's Nomination of Governor Lael Brainard for Vice Chair (November 22, 2021)
- Brown Applauds Biden's Nominees for Fed Board (January 14, 2022)
- Toomey Statement on President Biden's Fed Nominees (January 14, 2022)
- Waters Applauds Nominations of Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson to Leadership Roles in the Federal Reserve (January 14, 2022)
- Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on Federal Reserve Nominations (January 14, 2022)
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Rohit Chopra (effective October 12, 2021)
- Statement by House Committee on Financial Services Chair Maxine Waters on Rohit Chopra's Confirmation (September 30, 2021)
- CSBS Statement on Rohit Chopra Confirmation as CFPB Director (September 30, 2021)
Securities and Exchange Commission - Gary Gensler (effective April 17, 2021)
- LizAnn Eisen Joins Division of Corporation Finance as Deputy Director, Disclosure Program (January 27, 2022)
- Lori H. Price Named Acting Director of the Office of Credit Ratings; Ahmed Abonamah to Leave SEC (February 1, 2022)
- Kelly L. Gibson, Director of the Philadelphia Regional Office, to Leave the SEC; Scott Thompson and Joy Thompson named Office Acting Co-Heads (February 11, 2022)
Small Business Administration - Isabella Casillas Guzman (effective March 16, 2021)
- Statement by Administrator Guzman Applauding President Biden's Appointees to Lead SBA Regional Offices (November 18, 2021)
- Statement by Administrator Guzman Applauding President Biden's New Appointees to the U.S. Small Business Administration (December 6, 2021)
- Statement by Administrator Guzman Applauding President Biden's New Appointees to the U.S. Small Business Administration (January 25, 2022)
Commodity Futures Trade Commission – Rostin Behnam (effective December 17, 2021)
- Kristin Johnson, Nominee for Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (September 13, 2021)
- Christy Goldsmith Romero, Nominee for Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (September 13, 2021)
- U.S. Senate Unanimously Confirms Behnam as Chairman (December 17, 2021)
- CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam Announces Executive Staff Appointments (January 20, 2022)
- CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam Appoints Initial CFTC Leadership (January 25, 2022)
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)
- Adrianne Todman Sworn in as Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (June 15, 2021)
- Statement from Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on the Confirmation of Alanna McCargo (December 15, 2021)
- Statement from Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on the Confirmation of Alanna McCargo (February 15, 2022)
Federal Housing Finance Agency – Sandra L. Thompson
- Brown Statement on the Selection of Sandra Thompson to Lead FHFA (December 14, 2021)
- Waters Applauds Biden's Nomination of Sandra L. Thompson as Permanent Director of the FHFA (December 14, 2021)
- Statement from HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on the Nomination of Sandra Thompson (December 14, 2021)
U.S. Department of Education - Dr. Miguel Cardona (effective March 2, 2021)
- Secretary Cardona Statement on Confirmation of Education Department Officials Brown, Rodriguez and Graham (October 6, 2021)
- Statement from Secretary Miguel Cardona on the Confirmation of Catherine Lhamon as Assistant Secretary for the Office for Civil Rights (October 20, 2021)
- Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on the Confirmation of Sandra Bruce as the Department's Inspector General (December 3, 2021)
- Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on President Biden's Nomination of LaWanda Toney (December 16, 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.