WASHINGTON – This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs marked up and voted out of committee S. 2155, the “Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act.” Co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation right-sizes regulation for smaller financial institutions and includes important consumer protections for veterans, senior citizens and victims of fraud. It will also improve our nation’s financial regulatory framework, encouraging economic growth in communities across Kansas.

“I have been proud to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to strike a sensible agreement on ways to improve local financial services, and to strengthen protections for veterans, senior citizens and victims of fraud,” said Sen. Moran. “By rolling back unnecessary and cumbersome regulations, this bill encourages economic growth in rural and local communities and helps Kansans access and protect their credit.”

Widespread support for S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act:

Bipartisan Policy Center:

“As U.S. politics descends ever further into partisanship, there are still signs that old-fashioned legislating is not dead. This week, the Senate Banking Committee will mark up one of the first significant pieces of financial regulatory legislation in years with real bipartisan support. These are not major changes. Yet taken together, they are constructive and should provide greater incentives to extend credit, particularly to Main Street small businesses, without undermining the progress made since the crisis in making the financial system safer.” – John Soroushian and Justin Schardin, Bipartisan Policy Center

Independent Community Bankers of America:

“The markup of S. 2155 is a rare opening for real, impactful relief that will strengthen economic growth, job creation, and consumer protection. It is the culmination of years of collaborative effort to achieve consensus among members of Congress across the spectrum and community bankers in their home states and districts. Community bankers urge all members of the Senate Banking Committee to vote YES on S. 2155.” – Camden Fine, ICBA President and CEO

Credit Union National Association:

“This bill includes credit union-specific provisions that provide meaningful regulatory relief, a sign that policymakers are paying close attention to the needs of credit union members. We thank Sen. Crapo and his colleagues for working across party lines to advance regulatory relief legislation that benefits community financial institutions, and look forward to continuing to work closely with them as the bill moves through the legislative process.” – Jim Nussle, CUNA President and CEO

Consumer Bankers Association:

“We appreciate the Senate’s bipartisan effort to enact regulatory reform which helps banks better serve American consumers and small businesses. The agreement makes some meaningful regulatory changes, including providing the Federal Reserve flexibility to make a more complete assessment when designating certain institutions systematically important. This is a significant first step and we urge Congress to continue working toward policies which consider risk rather than arbitrary asset thresholds.” -Richard Hunt, CBA President and CEO

Insured Retirement Institute:

“This bill containing the Senior$afe Act of 2017 will help our member companies and financial advisers combat financial abuse of older Americans. It would increase protections for older investors, help prevent financial exploitation, and preserve senior’s hard-earned retirement savings. The legislation will foster better communications between advisors and their firms with appropriate governmental and law enforcement agencies when they suspect financial exploitation of a client. It will also encourage more firms to offer important employee training in this area.” – Catherine Weatherford, President and CEO, Insured Retirement Institute

American Bankers Association:

“ABA welcomes today’s announcement of a bipartisan Senate agreement on legislation that would reform our nation’s financial regulatory rules. The deal reached today by Chairman Crapo and Senators Tester, Heitkamp, Donnelly and Warner shows that lawmakers of good faith from both parties can agree on commonsense changes to allow banks to better serve their customers and communities. We thank them for their leadership, and look forward to working with senators to move this legislation forward, and to improve it where possible.”  - Rob Nichols, ABA President and CEO 

National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions:

"NAFCU thanks Chairman Crapo and his Democratic partners in the Senate for including provisions in this package that would lead to regulatory relief for credit unions. We look forward to working with members of the Senate Banking Committee, their staff and other senators as this package moves through the legislative process. This bill is a step in the right direction, and we will continue to push for more relief for the industry and its 110 million member-owners."  - Dan Berger, NAFCU President and CEO

Financial Services Roundtable:

“This bipartisan effort is directionally positive as it seeks to modernize regulations while protecting consumers and driving economic growth. Today’s announcement shows Chairman Crapo and his bipartisan co-sponsors are working hard to improve the financial experience of consumers.” – Tim Pawlenty, FSR CEO

Mortgage Bankers Association:

"I want to commend Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) for reaching a bipartisan compromise on regulatory relief legislation designed to lessen some burdens on lenders, allowing them to better serve their customers and consumers. In particular, MBA is glad to see the inclusion of language amending the SAFE Act to provide increased job mobility for loan originators, as well as language to address concerns with PACE lending, HMDA, and the TILA/RESPA integrated disclosure. We look forward to continuing to work with the committee on other provisions in the bill, such as expanding the language regarding Qualified Mortgages held in portfolio." – David H. Stevens, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association

U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports S. 2155, the ‘Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act,’ which would provide long-overdue relief to Main Street businesses and consumers . . . The Chamber strongly supports tailored regulations—sophisticated rules that are properly calibrated to the risk profile of an activity or institution. S. 2155 is a first step in the right direction.” – Neal L. Bradley, Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 

National Association of Home Builders:

“On behalf of the more than 140,000 members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), I am writing in strong support for your efforts in S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act to address the challenging credit conditions that home builders and home buyers continue to experience as a result of the regulatory response to the recent financial crisis.” – James W. Tobin III, Executive Vice President and Chief Lobbyist, National Association of Home Builders 

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December 5, 2017

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Democratic Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer:

We write to express our support for the provision in the House-passed Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill to delay implementation of electronic logging devices (ELD) for commercial motor vehicles transporting livestock or insects. The delay will give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) time to make necessary adjustments to hours of service rules to address animal welfare concerns.

Livestock production is a key contributor to the economies of our states, and jobs in rural communities depend on the ability to transport livestock across large expanses of the country. For example, it is common for cattle in Western and Southeastern states to be purchased by producers and feedlots in the Midwest and Great Plains. These animals must be transported hundreds and even thousands of miles to their final destinations in a safe and humane manner. Long distance transportation is often the most stressful event in a livestock animal’s life and it is impractical and inhumane to stop, offload multiples times, or significantly delay delivery of these animals. This issue is even more prevalent in areas where extreme weather can cause severe traffic delays that limit the time it can take to transport these animals to their destination.

On November 20th, the FMCSA announced a 90-day waiver from compliance for vehicles transporting agricultural commodities to consider a petition submitted by the industry and to provide additional guidance on the 150-air mile radius agricultural exemption. The announcement indicates a recognition by FMCSA of the challenges faced by livestock haulers in meeting the mandate, but it does not provide any assurances of relief beyond the 90-day period. Thus, we believe it is necessary to include Sec. 132 of the House THUD bill in the final FY2018 appropriations bill to further delay compliance and allow sufficient time to address the concerns.

Livestock haulers are charged with the challenging task of ensuring motorist safety while protecting the welfare of the animals being transported. While some commercial operators without live cargo may have the ability to more easily transition from paper logbooks to ELDs, the pending mandate will have negative consequences on livestock haulers and hinder the ability of this unique subset of the industry to humanely deliver healthy livestock.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

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WASHINGTON ­– U.S. Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, have introduced the Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017, legislation that would transform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) into a modern, efficient and easy-to-use system that will increase veterans’ access to quality care. This legislation, S. 2184, would better integrate VA services and existing VA community care programs, such as the Veterans Choice Program, into an efficient and high-performing healthcare system.

“In the wake of the scandal in care at VA hospitals in Phoenix and around the country, we vowed to guarantee our veterans timely access to quality treatment,” said Sen. McCain. “The Veterans Choice Program was the first step in delivering on that promise, but much more needs to be done to provide all veterans a choice in when and where they receive care. Our bill would strengthen and improve the core elements of Choice by consolidating and streamlining the VA’s community care program. Moreover, the bill would deliver long overdue, critical reforms to the VA, including commonsense reporting standards that ensure cost-efficient care to our nation’s veterans. It’s time we transform the VA into a 21st century health care system, one that respects the dignity of our men and women in uniform and provides all veterans the quality health care they deserve.”

“Since the creation of the Veterans Choice Program, Congress has repeatedly pushed the VA to make much-needed changes to its healthcare system,” said Sen. Moran. “Far too many Kansas veterans have experienced unnecessary difficulties accessing the care they’ve earned from the VA, and I appreciate that they have shared their stories and empowered us to work on their behalf. Demand has demonstrated that veterans want and need healthcare options in their communities, but there must be reform at the VA to create a system that works for them. I’m proud to be introducing this transformative legislation with Senator McCain, whose advocacy for our veterans is unparalleled. This joint effort to reform the VA will offer veterans an integrated healthcare system within their community that reduces red tape, enhances their quality of life and provides care that is worthy of their service and sacrifice.”

This legislation would ensure that veterans are the primary decision-makers concerning when and where they receive care. In addition, the bill would require the VA to use objective data on healthcare demand to set standards for access and quality, and to identify and bridge gaps in veterans’ care – whether in VA or community facilities. Importantly, the bill would ensure the VA promptly pays community providers, offers access to walk-in clinics, offers telemedicine, increases graduate medical education and residency positions for employees, and improves its collaboration with community providers and other federal agencies.

This legislation is supported by the American Legion, AMVETS and Concerned Veterans for America.

“On behalf of the 2 million members of The American Legion, I write to support your bill titled, Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017,” said American Legion National Commander Denise H. Rohan. “The bill, as currently written, would modify the already existing Choice program, providing veterans with the 21st Century medical system they rightfully deserve.” The American Legion’s full letter in support of the legislation is available here.

“AMVETS is pleased to support the Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017. Veterans need health care, both inside and outside of the VA system of care,” said AMVETS National Executive Director Joe Chenelly. “This measure addresses funding, implements ongoing patient surveying in conjunction with community care teams, and devises re-evaluation of both VA and private sector care. Both need oversight. All veterans have a right to receive the quality health care they have earned, and we applaud the hard work and insight that has taken place for this type of measure to be created. We urge its swift passage and will assist however we can.”

“Despite tens of billions of dollars in budget increases for the VA over the past three years, there are still far too many veterans waiting long periods of time for critical appointments and still too frequent reports of veterans suffering as the result of substandard care at the VA,” said Concerned Veterans for America Executive Director Dan Caldwell. “The Veterans Community Care and Access Act of 2017 would change that by reforming how the VA delivers health care to our veterans. The legislation would give veterans more options in their healthcare and change how it is delivered. Additionally, the legislation creates a plan to combine multiple outside care programs at the VA that will reduce bureaucracy and streamline reimbursements to community providers… Concerned Veterans for America strongly supports this legislation and we thank you for leading on this important issue.” Concerned Veterans for America’s full letter in support of the legislation is available here.

A description of key highlights of the bill is attached and available here. Read a full section by section description of the legislation here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today released the following statement after voting in favor of the motion to proceed on the Senate’s tax reform bill:

“Over the past few weeks, I have spoken with hundreds of Kansans at townhalls and meetings across the state regarding tax reform and ways to build a tax code that works for them. Today’s vote signals a significant step forward in achieving tax relief for families in Kansas and across America.

“I look forward to continuing the tax debate in an open and transparent fashion, and while I am still discussing ways to improve this bill before final passage with my colleagues, I expect to support a tax package that grows the economy, protects taxpayers, creates good paying jobs and helps Americans keep more of their hard-earned money.”  

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