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Advocacy Organization Argues Need for CFPB Prepaid Rule Communications Before CRA Vote
On April 28, an advocacy organization filed a reply to the CFPB’s opposition for expedited handling of two FOIA requests issued to the Bureau on April 12. The organization filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on April 18 contending that the Bureau failed to comply with a statutory expedition processing request, and asserts that there is a “compelling need” for information that would enable the public to learn about efforts to influence the government's policymaking process before a proposed Congressional vote in mid-May to overturn the CFPB’s Prepaid Rule. The organization further argues—despite the Bureau’s assertions to the contrary—that in order to fulfill its mission it is “primarily engaged in disseminating information” with its public education efforts, and therefore, like others whose requests have been granted expedited processing, has “met the dissemination of information as a primary activity” requirement (citing Leadership Conference on Civil Rights v. Gonzales, 404 F. Supp. 2d 246, 260 (D.D.C. 2005)). Additionally, the organization claims that its FOIA requests pertain to issues for which there is an “urgency to inform the public” because of an imminent deadline under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which “permits Congress to overrule a regulation within a certain amount of time after its promulgation.” Specifically, the FOIA requests seek access to communications about the Prepaid Rule between the CFPB and 12 Senators, and between the Bureau and two prepaid companies. The organization is asking the court to order the Bureau to take whatever steps are necessary to comply with the FOIA requests prior to the CRA vote on the Prepaid Rule.
Fannie and Freddie Open Records Act of 2017 Passes House, Forwarded on to the Senate
On April 27, the House passed (by a vote of 425 to 0), the Fannie and Freddie Open Records Act of 2017 (H.R. 1694). The proposed measure—sponsored by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT)—would subject Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to the transparency requirements applicable to federal agencies under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) for the duration of the time the enterprises remain under FHFA conservatorship. Pursuant to FOIA, the public has presumptive access to agency records unless the material falls within any of FOIA’s nine categories of exception. Having passed in the House, the bill was subsequently forwarded on to the Senate, where it has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary committee. An April 24 Committee Report on the bill provides some explanatory background on the issue addressed by the bill and the bill’s intentions.
FHFA Includes New Classifications for Reporting Adverse Examination Findings; Amends FOIA Regulations
On March 14, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) issued an Advisory Bulletin establishing classifications of adverse examination findings for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Federal Home Loan Banks (“FHLBs”), and the FHLB’s Office of Finance (AB 2017-01). Effective for the 2017 examination cycle, the bulletin establishes three designated “classifications,” which can be used by examination staff to communicate adverse examination findings more effectively. The three classifications are meant both to identify priorities for remediation and also to guide FHFA in the development of supervisory strategies. These supervisory strategies include: (i) Matters Requiring Attention—both high-priority critical supervisory matters that pose substantial risk to safety and soundness and deficiencies that, if not corrected, have the potential to escalate and negatively affect a regulated entity or the Office of Finance; (ii) Recommendations—advisory suggestions regarding changes to a policy, procedure, practice, or control; and (iii) Violations—non-compliance with laws, regulations, or orders that requires action by a regulated entity or the Office of Finance to correct, if possible.
On March 15, FHFA issued an interim final rule, amending its FOIA regulations (12 CFR Part 1202) in an effort to bring its internal policies into accord with guidelines established through the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (Pub. L. No. 114-185) and the “OPEN FOIA Act of 2009” (Pub. L. No. 111-83, 123 Stat. 2142, 2184 (2009)). The new FOIA rules – which are effective as of March 15—require agencies to, among other things, provide a minimum of 90 days (rather than 30 days) for requesters to file an administrative appeal; and provide notification to requesters about the availability of dispute resolution services.
FDIC Amends FOIA Regulations in Accordance with FOIA Improvement Act
The FDIC published a Notice of an Interim Final Rule and Request for Comment in the November 22 edition of the Federal Register. The new rule amends FDIC regulations in accordance with requirements set forth in the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016. The new rule also codifies changes brought about by prior amendments that had already been incorporated into agency practice. To meet the Act’s statutory deadline, the interim rule was adopted without prior notice and comment and became effective immediately upon publication on November 22. Comments on the interim rule are due on January 23, 2017, after which the FDIC will remove the interim designation.