C) Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Washington, DC 20219 May 3, 2017' The Honorable eb Hensarling Chairman Committee on Financial Services United States House of Representatives Washington, DC. 205 5 Dear Chairman l-lensarling: Thank you for your March 31, 2017, letter providing information regarding the Committee?s practices and procedures during the l5'l? Congress, and the Committee?s expression of intent to retain control over communications between the Committee and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in connection with various legislative, oversight, and investigative matters. The OCC takes its disclosure responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act very seriously, and likewise respects Congress' authority to maintain control over Congressional records. We recognize that communications between the Committee and the OCC can be sensitive and confidential in nature. Consistent with the precedent established in Civil Liberties Unioii v. (ILA, 323 F.3d 655 (DC. Cir. 2016) and related precedents, the OCC will decline to produce Congressional records in response to a FOIA request. We will take the same approach with respect to other requests or agreements unless otherwise required by law. When the OCC determines that withholding records in response to a request is contrary to law, the OCC will discuss any such request with the Cormnitlee il" consistent with applicable law. The appropriate OCC staff have been instructed accordingly, and the OCC will work expeditiously toward formalizing its policies and procedures in this regard. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Carrie Moore, Director, Congressional Relations, at 202-649-6373? Sincerely. Thomas J. Comptr er of the Currency . i The Honorable MaxineWaters, Ranking Member