On the recordFebruary 4, 2016
Thank you for the time. I rise today to support H.R. 766, the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2016. As a small-business owner for 44 years, I have seen it all--or at least I thought I saw it all--and I am deeply troubled over a Federal Government program that I believe to be, at best, immoral and, at worst, illegal: Operation Choke Point. The Obama White House has single-handedly granted itself the authority to cut off relationships between private financial institutions and the perfectly legitimate businesses which they serve. This Congress has not passed any legislation granting the executive branch such immense power. Mr. Chairman, all of us here have bore witness to the Obama administration's willingness to bypass the lawmaking branch of our government, but this is a new low. Operation Choke Point is the worst example of the Obama White House telling Americans what is best for them, and there is no appeals process. Mr. Chairman, this is the worst form of government intrusion I have ever seen and can think of. Operation Choke Point is another example of this administration's going around Congress to create laws rather than do their job, to enforce the laws we already have on the books. As a second-generation small-business owner, I support H.R. 766, which will rein in this abuse of power. Operation Choke Point is un- American and deceiving. It is simply wrong.…
