Press Releases
Congressional Delegation Announces $1.9 Million in Funding for Fair Housing Initiatives in Mass.
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, along with Representatives Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Michael Capuano, Stephen Lynch, and Bill Keating announced today that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded organizations in Massachusetts a total of $1,873,778 in funding through the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) to assist victims of housing discrimination. More information about this federal grant program is available at … Continue Reading
September 29, 2016
Merkley, Warren, Menendez Urge SEC Investigation of Wells Fargo for Misleading Investors and Violating Whistleblower Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) formally called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate whether Wells Fargo and senior officials violated laws by misleading investors and firing whistleblowers while the bank oversaw the creation of millions of unauthorized, fraudulent accounts. "After regulators discovered this widespread problem, Wells Fargo conducted an analysis that revealed that … Continue Reading
September 29, 2016
In Light of Troubling New Data, Sen. Warren Demands Education Department Halt Collection of Former Corinthian Students' Debt and Discharge Their Loans
Text of the letter available here Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today wrote to U.S. Secretary of Education John King to halt collections on the loans of former Corinthian students and to discharge their debts. This request comes following new data uncovered relating to the Education Department's (ED) treatment of students who attended Corinthian Colleges, the large, for-profit educational outfit that filed for bankruptcy in 2015 amid findings from state and … Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Senator Warren Raises Further Questions About Wells Fargo Executives' Compensation
Text of the letter available here Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren today wrote to the Lead Independent Director of Wells Fargo, Steven Sanger, raising further questions about the compensation for Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO John Stumpf and former head of Community Banking Carrie Tolstedt. The senator's letter comes after the announcement by the Wells Fargo Independent Directors of the Board that they will be opening an investigation "into the Company's retail banking sales … Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Sen. Warren and Rep. Pascrell Renew Call for FBI Director Comey to Release Materials Related to Financial Crisis Referrals and Investigations
Text of the letter available here Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) today wrote to Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director James Comey to renew their request that the agency release materials related to the investigation of individuals and companies referred by the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC) to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The letter comes following the FBI's release on Friday of additional … Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Sen. Warren: GOP Threatens Gov't Shutdown By Demanding That Corporate Political Spending Remain Secret and by Withholding Emergency Funding for Flint
Any Member of Senate or House Who Refuses to Stand with Children of Flint "Lacks the Moral Courage to Serve in This Congress" Video of floor speech available here Washington, DC - In a floor speech on Tuesday evening, Senator Elizabeth Warren called out Republicans in Congress for refusing to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government unless language is included to block a federal rule requiring corporations to disclose political contributions. The senator further highlighted GOP … Continue Reading
September 27, 2016
Warren Commends Labor Department's Decision to Review Potential Labor Violations by Wells Fargo
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today commended the Department of Labor's (DOL) announcement that it will conduct a "top-to-bottom review of cases, complaints, or violations concerning Wells Fargo over the last several years" related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other labor laws. DOL's decision comes in response to a request for an investigation from Senators Warren, Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernard … Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Senators Renew Questions About Aetna's Billion-Dollar Break-up Fee and Decision to Leave ACA Exchanges After DOJ Challenged Merger with Humana
Washington, DC - In a letter sent to Aetna's CEO today, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) renewed their request for information about the company's decision to withdraw from the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care exchanges after the Department of Justice (DOJ) challenged Aetna's proposed merger with Humana. The senators previously requested the information in a letter sent to … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Senator Warren Applauds Education Department's Decision to Withdraw Recognition of For-Profit Accreditor ACICS
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren applauded the Education Department's (ED) announcement today that it will withdraw its recognition of higher education accreditor Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Senator Warren released a report this summer detailing ACICS's long track record of failing to hold schools accountable for wrongdoing, and urged the Department to take strong oversight action against this accreditor. "Accreditors are supposed to … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Senator Warren Celebrates Career of Immigration Specialist Emily Winterson
Washington, DC - Today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered remarks on the Senate floor to mark the retirement of Emily Winterson, an Immigration Specialist for more than 32 years in the Boston Senate offices of Senators Edward Kennedy, Paul Kirk, Scott Brown, and Warren. The text of Senator Warren's remarks is below, and video is available here. Remarks by Senator Elizabeth WarrenSeptember 22, 2016 Today I rise to celebrate the retirement of Emily Winterson, an Immigration … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Sens. Warren and Lee Applaud Committee Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Help Graduate Students Build Retirement Savings
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) applauded the unanimous passage of the Graduate Student Savings Act of 2016 by the Senate Committee on Finance. This bipartisan bill would allow funds from a graduate student's fellowship or stipend to be deposited into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Stipend or fellowship funding that is currently taxed as income by federal and state governments does not qualify as "compensation" for retirement … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Senators Warren, Durbin, and Schatz Introduce Bill to Reform Higher Education Accreditation and Strengthen Accountability for Students and Taxpayers
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2016 (AREAA). The legislation would take steps to reduce student debt and to protect students and taxpayers by reforming higher education accreditation and strengthening the Education Department's (ED) ability to hold accreditors accountable. AREAA would rebuild our college quality assurance system with … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Senators Ask Labor Department to Investigate Wells Fargo's Potential Violations of Fair Labor Standards Act
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) today sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Tom Perez and Wage and Hour Division Administrator David Weil requesting that DOL investigate whether Wells Fargo violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) with respect to its account … Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Senator Warren: Wells Fargo CEO Skirts Accountability by Blaming Scam on Low-Level Employees While Pocketing Millions
Warren Asks if Wells Fargo Will Claw Back Compensation for Senior Executives, Including Carrie Tolstedt Video from the hearing available here WASHINGTON, DC - At today's Senate Banking Committee hearing, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO John Stumpf about his unwillingness to hold himself or senior executives accountable for the recent fraud that resulted in a $185 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) … Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Senators Release Wells Fargo Answers on Executive Compensation
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) released Wells Fargo Senior Executive Vice President Hope Hamilton's response to questions from the Senators about the compensation of Senior Executive Carrie Tolstedt. Ms. Tolstedt is the former Senior Executive Vice President of Community Banking who led the division responsible for the misconduct. She announced her retirement … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
Senators Ask if Wells Fargo Will Use Clawback Provisions to Recover Bonuses from Senior Executives, Including Carrie Tolstedt, Following CFPB Settlement for Employee Misconduct
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), today sent a letter to Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO John G. Stumpf asking whether the bank will use its clawback authority to recover compensation it has paid to senior executives, including to former Senior Executive Vice President of Community Banking Carrie Tolstedt. The … Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Statement on Marine National Monument Designation
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement about the Marine National Monument designation off the coast of New England: "The ocean and seafood industry are critical parts of our coastal economy, culture, and identity. Nearly a year ago, I joined several of Massachusetts colleagues in urging President Obama to further engage all regional stakeholders before advancing any plans to use his Executive Authority to designate a marine National Monument off the … Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
After Urging from Warren, Franken and Brown, HUD Releases New Guidance to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren applauded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for releasing federal guidance on how local governments can make sure that their nuisance ordinances don't endanger survivors of domestic violence and other victims of crime. "Domestic violence survivors, crime victims, and other people should never be forced to choose between calling 911 and keeping a roof over their heads. But nuisance ordinances do exactly that by … Continue Reading
September 15, 2016
On 8th Anniversary of Lehman Bankruptcy, Senator Warren Calls for IG Review of DOJ's Failed Response to Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Referrals
Washington, DC - On the eighth anniversary of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to conduct an investigation into the inability of the DOJ to prosecute any of the individuals referred to the agency by the FCIC for potential law-breaking related to the 2008 financial crisis. Recently-released documents revealed that the FCIC referred nine individuals and 14 corporations to the DOJ in … Continue Reading
September 13, 2016
Senator Warren Presses FEMA About High Cost of Flood Map Appeals for Mass. Cities and Towns
Washington, DC - At a Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs hearing today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren asked Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials about mistakes in federal flood insurance maps and the high cost of appeals shouldered by Massachusetts cities and towns. "Over three years ago, FEMA released many flood maps that our cities and towns knew were not accurate, and those mistakes have created real problems for many Massachusetts communities," … Continue Reading
