H.R. 3445

119 HR 3445 IH: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-05-15
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 3445  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   May 15, 2025   Mr. Huizenga  (for himself,  Mr. Barr ,  Mr. Meuser ,  Mr. Fitzgerald ,  Mr. Rose ,  Mr. Moore of North Carolina , and  Mr. Timmons ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Financial Services    A BILL
To amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to make the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection an independent agency led by a commission, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Commission Act  .
2.
Making the Bureau an independent agency led by a commission
The Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 ( 12 U.S.C. 5481 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 1011—
(A)
in subsection (a)—
(i)
by striking  in the Federal Reserve System, ; and
(ii)
by striking  independent bureau  and inserting  independent agency ;
(B)
by striking subsections (b), (c), and (d);
(C)
by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (j);
(D)
in subsection (j), as so redesignated, by striking  , including in cities in which the Federal reserve banks, or branches of such banks, are located, ; and
(E)
by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections:
(b)
Authority To prescribe regulations
The commission of the Bureau may prescribe such regulations and issue such orders in accordance with this title as the Bureau may determine to be necessary for carrying out this title and all other laws within the Bureau’s jurisdiction and shall exercise any authorities granted under this title and all other laws within the Bureau’s jurisdiction.
(c)
Composition of the commission
(1)
In general
The management of the Bureau shall be vested in a commission, which shall be composed of 5 members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and—
(A)
at least 2 of whom shall have private sector experience in the provision of consumer financial products and services; and
(B)
at least 1 of whom shall have been employed as a State bank supervisor (as defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1803 )).
(2)
Staggering
The members of the commission shall serve staggered terms, which initially shall be established by the President for terms of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively.
(3)
Terms
(A)
In general
Except with respect to the initial staggered terms described under paragraph (2), each member of the commission, including the Chair, shall serve for a term of 5 years.
(B)
Removal
The President may remove any member of the commission for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.
(C)
Vacancies
Any member of the commission appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term to which that member’s predecessor was appointed (including the Chair) shall be appointed only for the remainder of the term.
(D)
Continuation of service
Each member of the commission may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of office to which that member was appointed until a successor has been appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, except that a member may not continue to serve more than 1 year after the date on which that member’s term would otherwise expire.
(E)
Other employment prohibited
No member of the commission shall engage in any other business, vocation, or employment.
(d)
Affiliation
Not more than 3 members of the commission shall be members of any one political party.
(e)
Chair of the commission
(1)
Initial Chair
The first member and Chair of the commission shall be the individual serving as Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection on the day before the date of the enactment of this subsection. Such individual shall serve until the President has appointed all 5 members of the commission in accordance with subsection (c).
(2)
Subsequent Chair
Of the 5 members appointed in accordance with subsection (c), the President shall appoint 1 member to serve as the subsequent Chair of the commission.
(3)
Authority
The Chair shall be the principal executive officer of the commission, and shall exercise all of the executive and administrative functions of the commission, including with respect to—
(A)
the appointment and supervision of personnel employed under the commission (other than personnel employed regularly and full time in the immediate offices of members of the commission other than the Chair);
(B)
the distribution of business among personnel appointed and supervised by the Chair and among administrative units of the commission; and
(C)
the use and expenditure of funds.
(4)
Limitation
In carrying out any of the Chair’s functions under the provisions of this subsection, the Chair shall be governed by general policies of the commission and by such regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations as the commission may by law be authorized to make.
(5)
Requests or estimates related to appropriations
Requests or estimates for regular, supplemental, or deficiency appropriations on behalf of the commission may not be submitted by the Chair without the prior approval of the commission.
(6)
Designation
The Chair shall be known as both the  Chair of the commission  of the Bureau and the  Chair of the Bureau .
(f)
Initial quorum established
For the 6 month period beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection, the first member and Chair of the commission described under subsection (e)(1) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business until the President has appointed all 5 members of the commission in accordance with subsection (c). Following such appointment of 5 members, the quorum requirements of subsection (g) shall apply.
(g)
No impairment by reason of vacancies
No vacancy in the members of the commission after the establishment of an initial quorum under subsection (f) shall impair the right of the remaining members of the commission to exercise all the powers of the commission. Three members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except that if there are only 3 members serving on the commission because of vacancies in the commission, 2 members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If there are only 2 members serving on the commission because of vacancies in the commission, 2 members shall constitute a quorum for the 6-month period beginning on the date of the vacancy which caused the number of commission members to decline to 2.
(h)
Seal
The Bureau shall have an official seal.
(i)
Compensation
(1)
Chair
The Chair shall receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code.
(2)
Other members of the commission
The 4 other members of the commission shall each receive compensation at the rate prescribed for level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code.
 ;
(2)
in section 1012(c)—
(A)
in the heading, by striking
Autonomy of the Bureau   and inserting
Coordination with the Board of Governors  ;
(B)
by striking  (1)
Coordination with the board of governors.—  ; and
(C)
by striking paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5); and
(3)
in section 1014(b), by striking  Not fewer than 6 members shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the regional Federal Reserve Bank Presidents, on a rotating basis.  and inserting  Not fewer than half of all members shall have private sector experience in the provision of consumer financial products and services. .
3.
Deeming of name
Any reference in a law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, except in subsection (e)(1) of section 1011 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 ( 12 U.S.C. 5491 ), as added by this Act, shall be deemed a reference to the commission leading and governing the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, as described under section 1011 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010.
4.
Conforming amendments
(a)
Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010
(1)
In general
Except as provided under paragraph (2), the Consumer Financial Protection of 2010 ( 12 U.S.C. 5481 et seq. ) is amended—
(A)
by striking  Director of the Bureau  each place such term appears, other than where such term is used to refer to a Director other than the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and inserting  Bureau ;
(B)
by striking  Director  each place such term appears and inserting  Bureau , other than where such term is used to refer to a Director other than the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and
(C)
in section 1002, by striking paragraph (10).
(2)
Exceptions
(A)
In general
The Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 ( 12 U.S.C. 5481 et seq. ) is amended—
(i)
in section 1013(c)(3)—
(I)
by striking  Assistant Director of the Bureau for  and inserting  Head of the Office of ; and
(II)
in subparagraph (B), by striking  Assistant Director  and inserting  Head of the Office ;
(ii)
in section 1013(g)(2)—
(I)
by striking
Assistant director   and inserting
Head of the Office  ; and
(II)
by striking  an assistant director  and inserting  a Head of the Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans ;
(iii)
in section 1016(a), by striking  Director of the Bureau  and inserting  Chair of the Bureau ; and
(iv)
by striking section 1066.
(B)
Clerical amendment
The table of contents for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 1066.
(b)
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act ( 12 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. ) is amended—
(1)
in section 111(b)(1)(D), by striking  Director  and inserting  Chair ; and
(2)
in section 1447, by striking  Director of the Bureau  each place such term appears and inserting  Chair of the Bureau .
(c)
Electronic Fund Transfer Act
Section 921(a)(4)(C) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1693o–2(a)(4)(C) ), as added by section 1075(a)(2) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking  Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection  and inserting  Chair of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection .
(d)
Expedited Funds Availability Act
The Expedited Funds Availability Act ( 12 U.S.C. 4001 et seq. ), as amended by section 1086 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking  Director of the Bureau  each place such term appears and inserting  Bureau .
(e)
Federal Deposit Insurance Act
Section 2 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1812 ), as amended by section 336(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, is amended by striking  Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  each place such term appears and inserting  Chair of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection .
(f)
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978
Section 1004(a)(4) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 ( 12 U.S.C. 3303(a)(4) ), as amended by section 1091 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking  Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau  and inserting  Chair of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection .
(g)
Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act
Section 513 of the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act ( 20 U.S.C. 9702 ), as amended by section 1013(d)(5) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking  Director  each place such term appears and inserting  Chair .
(h)
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975
Section 307 of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (12 U.S.C. 2806 et seq), as amended by section 1094(6) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking  Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection  each place such term appears and inserting  Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection .
(i)
Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act
The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1701 et seq), as amended by section 1098A of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended—
(1)
in section 1402—
(A)
by striking paragraph (1); and
(B)
by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (12) as paragraphs (1) through (11), respectively;
(2)
in section 1403(c)—
(A)
by striking  him  and inserting  the Bureau ; and
(B)
by striking  he  and inserting  the Bureau ;
(3)
in section 1407—
(A)
in subsection (c), by striking  he  and inserting  the Bureau ; and
(B)
in subsection (e), by striking  Director or anyone designated by him  and inserting  Bureau ;
(4)
in section 1411(a)—
(A)
by striking  his findings  and inserting  the findings of the Bureau ; and
(B)
by striking  his recommendation  and inserting  the recommendation of the Bureau ;
(5)
in section 1415—
(A)
in subsection (a), by striking  he may, in his discretion,  and inserting  the Bureau may, in the discretion of the Bureau, ;
(B)
in subsection (b)—
(i)
by striking  in his discretion  each place such term appears and inserting  in the discretion of the Bureau ;
(ii)
by striking  he deems  and inserting  the Bureau determines ; and
(iii)
by striking  he may deem  and inserting  the Bureau may determine ; and
(C)
in subsection (c), by striking  the Director, or any officer designated by him,  and inserting  the Bureau ;
(6)
in section 1416(a)—
(A)
by striking  Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection who may delegate any of his  and inserting  Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which may delegate any ;
(B)
by striking  his administrative  and inserting  administrative ; and
(C)
by striking  himself  and inserting  the commission of the Bureau ;
(7)
in section 1418a(b)(4), by striking  Secretary’s determination  and inserting  determination of the Bureau ; and
(8)
by striking  Director  each place such term appears and inserting  Bureau .
(j)
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974
Section 5 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 ( 12 U.S.C. 2604 ), as amended by section 1450 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, is amended—
(1)
by striking  The Director of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as the  Director )  and inserting  The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (hereafter in this section referred to as the  Bureau ) ; and
(2)
by striking  Director  each place such term appears and inserting  Bureau .
(k)
S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008
The S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 ( 12 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. ), as amended by section 1100 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended—
(1)
by striking  Director  each place such term appears in headings and text and inserting  Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection ; and
(2)
in section 1503, by striking paragraph (10).
(l)
Title 44, United States Code
Section 3513(c) of title 44, United States Code, as amended by section 1100D(b) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, is amended by striking  Director of the .