SUMMARY: The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, the “world’s largest business organization,” is lead plaintiff in a major banking industry lawsuit against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB’s) anti-discrimination enforcement policies. The Chamber has claimed that “‘the CFPB is pursuing an ideological agenda,’” even though consumer advocates have noted that “consumers of color have long faced discrimination” in financial services.

Notably, the U.S. Chamber’s membership includes Wells Fargo, which is known for its “historically racist treatment of Black customers.” Wells Fargo’s top lobbyist is currently William M. Daley, a former Obama and Clinton White House figure who helped create a U.S. Chamber center that had a “prominent role in attacking” consumer protections in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. While a top JPMorgan executive, Daley also lobbied the Obama White House against creating the CFPB while his bank had a $30 billion subprime mortgage business.

An Accountable.US review of the U.S. Chamber’s leadership ranks has found that at least nine of its most senior figures have concerning histories on race and discrimination that have likely influenced the group’s opposition to the CFPB’s efforts to counter bias in the banking sector. These figures include:

U.S. Chamber Executive Committee member Chris Womack is the current Chairman, President, and CEO of Georgia Power and former Executive Vice President for Southern Company, utilities companies which have given over $420,000 to the Republican State Leadership Committee and state lawmakers which have led voter suppression efforts.

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