Bruce Westerman: “I thank the ranking member for yielding. I rise today to speak against H.R. 2543. This bill does not address the…”

“I thank the ranking member for yielding. I rise today to speak against H.R. 2543. This bill does not address the underlying causes restricting access to credit or inflation that has eroded many Americans' borrowing power. It is just a mixed bag of extra mandates on the Federal Reserve and new regulatory burdens on small businesses. I don't hear my small businesses asking for more regulation, additional compliance burdens, or the imposition of a sweeping social agenda. Families are struggling to afford food and gas. Small businesses are struggling to hire employees, and my local banks and credit unions are feeling the pinch of inflation and rising interest rates every day. If the majority was serious about helping Americans, they would have made my amendments in order to examine the effects of inflation and bank consolidation on access to credit for those in low-income census tracts, rural counties, racial minorities, women, and veterans, the very communities that Democrat policies have hurt the most. My amendments would have been a step in the right direction, but the Democrat majority blocked them. Mr. Speaker, digging the hole deeper is no way to get out of the crisis the Democrat administration and Democrat majorities in Congress have created.”