Letter to the Hon. Jeb Hensarling, Committee on Financial Services Chairman - Second Hearing on Credit Reporting Failures

Letter

Mr. Chairman:

In accordance with Clause 2(j)(1) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, and Clause (d)(5) of Rule 3 of the Rules of the Committee on Financial Services, we write to notify you of our intent to call additional witnesses selected by Committee Democrats to testify in continuation of the Full Committee hearing entitled, "Examining the Equifax Data Breach." Holding this hearing, also known as a "minority day hearing," in addition to the Majority's hearing on Thursday, October 5, 2017, will provide Members of the Committee and the American public the opportunity to consider and discuss ideas for ensuring the integrity of our country's consumer reporting system and safeguarding consumer data.

Given the scope of the cybersecurity breach, which has affected approximately 143 million consumers or nearly half the U.S. population, additional testimony from other credit reporting agencies and consumers, businesses, and financial institutions impacted by the breach are in order. Moreover, the hearing will also serve to present the public with policy solutions to the persistent problems plaguing our nation's credit reporting agencies.

Mr. Chairman, credit reporting agencies play an important role in the lives and financial futures of hardworking Americans. It is our duty, as Member of Congress, to fully examine how these agencies are operating and how they can be improved. That is why Democrats will exercise our right to hold a minority day hearing on the Equifax cybersecurity breach and we look forward to working with you to determine the date, time, and place of such hearing.

Sincerely,