HR-5461 : Still Just a Bill

Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act of 2014 - Amends the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act concerning establishment of minimum leverage and minimum risk-based capital requirements on a consolidated basis for a depository institution holding company or a nonbank financial company supervised by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

States that federal banking agencies shall not be required to subject any person to such minimum capital requirements, to the extent that such person either: (1) acts in its capacity as a regulated insurance entity regulated by a state insurance regulator, or (2) is a regulated foreign subsidiary engaged in the business of insurance.

Exempts from any requirement to prepare holding company financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles any Board-supervised depository institution holding company or nonbank financial company that is also a person regulated by a state insurance regulator or a regulated foreign subsidiary (or a regulated foreign affiliate) that files its holding company financial statements using only Statutory Accounting Principles in accordance with state law.

Restoring Proven Financing for American Employers Act - Amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 with respect to certain prohibitions on proprietary trading by banking entities and certain relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds (Volcker Rule). Prohibits the Volcker Rule from being construed to require divestiture of any debt securities of collateralized loan obligations issued before January 31, 2014.

Declares that a banking entity shall not be considered to have an ownership interest in a collateralized loan obligation because it acquires or retains a debt security in it if the debt security has no indicia of ownership other than the right of the banking entity to participate in the removal for cause, or in the selection of a replacement after removal for cause or resignation, of an investment manager or investment adviser of the collateralized loan obligation. Defines "collateralized loan obligation" as any issuing entity of an asset-backed security comprised primarily of commercial loans.

Mortgage Choice Act of 2014 - Amends the Truth in Lending Act regarding requirements for disclosure to a consumer of points and fees information about a consumer credit transaction, secured by the consumer's principal dwelling, but which is neither a residential mortgage transaction, a reverse mortgage transaction, nor a transaction under an open end credit plan, when the total points and fees the consumer must pay at or before closing will exceed 8% of the total loan amount or $400, whichever is greater. (Such consumer credit transactions might include an equity credit line to which consumer purchases or leases may be charged.)

Excludes from the computation of such points and fees any escrow for future payment of insurance.

Modifies the criteria for exclusion from the computation of points and fees of certain reasonable charges elsewhere exempted from the computation of the finance charge in extensions of credit secured by an interest in real property. Excludes from points and fees any such reasonable charges even though a creditor receives compensation, but only in so far as the creditor or its affiliate retains the compensation as a result of their participation in an affiliated business arrangement.

(An "affiliated business arrangement" is one in which: (1) a person who is in a position to refer business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan, or an associate of such person, has either an affiliate relationship with or a direct or beneficial ownership interest of more than 1% in a provider of settlement services; and (2) either of such persons directly or indirectly refers such business to that provider or affirmatively influences the provider's selection.)

Revises the additional requirement that such a reasonable charge be paid to a third party unaffiliated with the creditor. Requires the charge to be either: (1) a bona fide third party charge not retained by the mortgage originator, creditor, or an affiliate; or (2) a fee or premium for title examination, title insurance, or similar purposes.

Modifies the conditions under which federal agencies may exempt refinancings under a streamlined refinancing from an income verification requirement that the consumer has a reasonable ability to repay the loan and all applicable taxes, insurance, and assessments. Repeals the exception for bona fide third party charges not retained by the mortgage originator, creditor, or an affiliate from the requirement that total points and fees not exceed 3% of the total new loan amount. (Thus subjects such charges to the same 3% ceiling.)

Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2013 - Amends the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) to exempt, from the rules of prudential regulators for swap dealers and major swap participants with respect to initial and variation margin requirements for swaps not cleared by a registered derivatives clearing organization, those swaps in which one of the counterparties: (1) is eligible for an exception from clearing requirements because it is not a financial entity, uses swaps to hedge or mitigate commercial risk, and notifies the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) how it meets financial obligations associated with entering into non-cleared swaps; or (2) satisfies specified criteria governing treatment of affiliates in connection with clearing requirements.

Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, regarding registration and regulation of security-based swap dealers and major security-based swap participants, to exempt from initial and variation margin requirements for swaps not cleared by a registered derivatives clearing organization a security-based swap in which one of the counterparties: (1) qualifies for a specified exception from clearing requirements, or (2) satisfies certain criteria governing the treatment of affiliates.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2014-09-17IntroReferralReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.Senate
2014-09-16FloorMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
2014-09-16VoteOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 327 - 97 (Roll no. 502). (text: CR 9/16/2014 H7508-7510)House floor actions
2014-09-16FloorConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7577)House floor actions
2014-09-15FloorAt the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.House floor actions
2014-09-15FloorDEBATE - The House continued with debate on H.R. 5461.House floor actions
2014-09-15FloorDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5461.House floor actions
2014-09-15FloorConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7508-7515)House floor actions
2014-09-15FloorMr. Huizenga (MI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.House floor actions
2014-09-15IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2014-09-15IntroReferralReferred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.House floor actions
2014-09-15IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Policy Area :

Finance and Financial Sector
See Subjects
  • Accounting and auditing
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Bank accounts, deposits, capital
  • Banking and financial institutions regulation
  • Business records
  • Commodities markets
  • Corporate finance and management
  • Credit and credit markets
  • Financial services and investments
  • Foreign and international corporations
  • Housing finance and home ownership
  • Insurance industry and regulation
  • Securities
  • User charges and fees
  • Commodity Futures Trading Commission
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau