FIRM Act

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 32.

Bill 119 s 875 aims to address the issue of political influence within Federal banking agencies by removing reputational risk as a factor in the supervision of depository institutions. The bill seeks to prevent these agencies from being used as political tools, ensuring that their focus remains on the financial stability and soundness of the institutions they oversee.

The bill specifically targets the practice of using reputational risk as a justification for imposing additional regulatory requirements on banks and other depository institutions. By eliminating this consideration, the bill aims to prevent regulatory decisions from being influenced by political considerations rather than objective financial criteria.

Supporters of the bill argue that removing reputational risk as a factor in supervision will help to ensure a more transparent and fair regulatory process for depository institutions. They believe that this will ultimately lead to a more stable and efficient banking system. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that reputational risk is an important factor in assessing the overall health of a depository institution and that removing it from consideration could weaken the regulatory oversight of these institutions. Overall, Bill 119 s 875 seeks to promote the independence and integrity of Federal banking agencies by preventing them from being used for political purposes. The bill is currently under consideration in Congress and its ultimate impact on the banking industry remains to be seen.