A Brief Overview of Actions Taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in Its First Year

This report looks at actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) during its first year. The CFPB exists to implement and enforce federal consumer financial laws, ensure consumer access to financial products and services, and ensure that the markets for consumer financial services and products are fair, transparent, and competitive

The Ability-to-Repay Rule: Possible Effects of the Qualified Mortgage Definition on Credit Availability and Other Selected Issues

From Introduction: "This report summarizes the ATR rule and analyzes the potential effects it may have on the mortgage market. The next section provides background information on the perceived problems in the mortgage market that motivated the ATR requirement.

How Have Small Banks Been Affected by Financial Reform?

This report briefly summarizes a CRS analysis of major rules issued since 2010 by banking regulators pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act

Senate Banking: Financial Regulatory Improvement Act

This report briefly highlights some of the major policy proposals included in a May 12, 2015 discussion draft released by Senator Richard Shelby that is scheduled for markup by the Senate Banking Committee. The draft encompasses a broad package of reforms to the financial regulatory system, including some changes to the Dodd-Frank Act (P.L. 111-203)

Chicago Recovery Partnership Evaluation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

From 2009-2011, the City of Chicago and Cook County received a total of $2.35 billion in funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA]. The stimulus money was allocated to seven areas: education, basic needs, transportation and infrastructure, housing and energy, public safety, broadband and workforce development. The Chicago Recovery Partnership Evaluation of ARRA analyzes the impact of the stimulus spending using a costbenefit analysis framework. This report evaluated$1.09 billion of total spending in Chicago and Cook County, resulting in net benefits ranging from -$173.9 to$2,740.2 million. The wide range in net benefits is attributed largely to education, which received over half of ARRA funding

An Overview of the Housing Finance System in the United States

This report provides an overview of how the housing finance system works and provides context for housing finance-related policy issues that Congress might choose to consider

Design of a Shear-Stress Sensor Load Cell for Liquid Flows

ME450 Capstone Design and Manufacturing Experience: Fall 2007The measurement of friction drag produced by flowing liquids can be accomplished with a floating plate balance. A flush-mounted plate will experience the flow induced shear stress, and this stress is measured by a load cell. Precision mounting of the plate, and the stiffness and sensitivity of the load cell are key elements to the design of the shear-stress sensor. Moreover, these elements must be submerged in liquid if they are to be used for water flows. Steven Ceccio’s group has developed a shear-stress sensor and load cell assembly which is sufficient for these measurements. But, he would like to make the following design improvements: 1. Replace the semiconductor strain gauges on the cell with foil gauges without decreasing the sensitivity of the cell. This will require a re-design of the load cell itself. 2. Re-design of the waterproofing of the cell. 3. Consideration of optical strain gauges to replace the resistive gauges.Prof. Steven Ceccio, Mechanical Engineeringhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57944/1/me450f07project14_report.pd

Selected Legislative Proposals to Reform the Housing Finance System

This report briefly explains the different approaches to housing finance reform proposed by the three bills, focusing on efforts to replace Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and reform FHA

114th Congress

This report discusses regulatory relief legislation for banks in the 114th Congress that, at the time this report was published, has seen floor action or has been ordered to be reported by a committee