JEB HENSARLING. TX. CHAIRMAN MAXINE WATERS, CA, RANKING

Titlnitrh ?tatrs Jamar of MEMBER

Qiuntmittrr an thnanrtal Services
Elli. 20515

May 17,2017

The Honorable Richard Cordray

Director

Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
1700 Street NW

Washington, DC. 20552

Dear Director Cordray:

Thank you for your letter dated April 28, 2017 responding to House Financial Services Committee
(?Committee?) Chairman Jeb Hensarling?s request that your agency decline to produce any Committee
communications, agency responses to Congressional inquiries, or any other congressional records in
response to Freedom of Information Act requests. While I understand that you have agreed to
comply in part with the Chairman?s policy, I write to clarify that I do not share the Chairman?s position.

I have long understood that my and my staff?s communications with executive branch agencies are
subject to FOIA disclosure barring an explicit assertion on my part to retain control over such
documents. While Chairman Hensarling has chosen to make this assertion, I want to be clear that he
does not speak on my behalf in this instance.

It is my position that my correspondence with your agency, should you deem it responsive to public

FOIA requests, not be subject to exemption. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Burris or
Jennifer Read at (202) 225-4247.

Sincerely,

 

Committee on Financial Services

cc: The Honorable eb Hensarling, Chairman