Rush Introduces Three Bills to Address Key Issue Areas
New legislation that seeks to mitigate environmental harm and improve consumer protections
WASHINGTON – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) introduced three new bills that focus on key issues of the energy sector, credit reporting and home loan lenders. Rush introduced H.R. 3540, the Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2017, H.R. 3538, the Mortgage Sale Transparency Act of 2017 and H.R. 3539, the Mugshots Elimination Act of 2017.
“These bills were drafted with my constituents in mind because I represent their needs and serve as a voice on the issues that affect them most,” said Rush. “Each bill directly seeks to increase opportunities for economic growth across the United States. My goal is to improve quality of life and help eliminate hurdles to the American dream.”
A synopsis of each bill:
Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2017: The aim of the bill is to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to replace the current requirement for a biennial energy policy plan with a quadrennial energy review. Congress finds that the development of an energy policy resulting from Quadrennial Energy Review would enhance energy security.
In June 2013, President Obama initiated a quadrennial cycle of energy reviews as part of the President’s “Climate Action Plan.” On January 9, 2014, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Administration to conduct a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER). Planned annual installments of the QER over the ensuing four years are to focus on resource extraction and processing, energy transport and storage infrastructure, electricity generation and energy end-use. On April 21, 2015, the first installment of the QER was released, focusing on energy transmission, storage and distribution infrastructure (TS&D).
Mortgage Sale Transparency Act of 2017: The bill seeks to amend the Truth in Lending Act to create additional requirements for original and new creditors of mortgage loans in case of sale, transfer or assignment of a mortgage loan. This bill focuses on consumer protections that require banks to provide advance notice of all mortgage sales.
The bill will increase the grace period from 30 days to 90 days for a home owner to submit their mortgage payments and protects homeowners from penalties resulting from bank errors.
Mugshots Elimination Act of 2017: This bill will amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to establish a procedure for the removal of a booking photograph from a consumer’s file and from websites that financially exploit those seeking redress. Hard-working Americans have been exploited by websites that advertise and sell people’s booking photographs to employers, credit agencies, and home relators.
This bill expands the definition of protected information to include booking photograph (a picture taken upon arrest, detention before or during trial, or conviction).
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