Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Today, over 415 organizations sent an updated letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, calling on them to use executive authority to cancel federal student debt immediately. In the letter, the 416 advocacy groups highlight that cancelling student debt would stimulate the economy, help reduce racial wealth gaps, and could have a positive impact on health...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), led by Secretary Marcia Fudge, announced steps to restore two key fair housing rules that the Trump Administration had gutted: (1) a regulation on the "disparate impact" standard for proving discrimination and (2) a regulation for the dismantling of segregation, as required by the Affirmatively Furthering Fair...

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Yesterday, a 20-year-old unarmed Black man was killed during a traffic violation stop in a suburb of Minneapolis. Center for Responsible Lending President Michael Calhoun made the following statement: We offer the family of Daunte Wright, who was a beloved father and son, our sympathy, as we support the Black community and their allies who are expressing their...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through June 30, 2021. Center for Responsible Lending Director of Advocacy Ashley Harrington issued the following statement: We applaud the U.S. Senate for joining the House in extending the Paycheck Protection Program, and urge President Biden to quickly sign the bill into law. The...

330+ groups representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia called for Congress to support a resolution to overturn a rule that helps triple-digit interest rate loans spread across the country by evading state and voter-approved interest rate caps WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) applauds Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Congressman...

DURHAM, N.C. – Today, Governor J.B. Pritzker is signing the Illinois Predatory Loan Prevention Act, which caps annual interest on consumer loans at 36%. The bill was part of a package put forth by the Legislative Black Caucus to address racial inequities in the state. It will save Illinois families more than $500 million per year in predatory fees and...

Only a majority vote in Congress would be needed to overturn rule that helps triple-digit interest rate loans evade state and voter-approved interest rate caps and spread across the country WASHINGTON, D.C. – With just a few days left before a crucial deadline, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) today joined a broad coalition of organizations is calling for Congress...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, over 60 community development, civil rights, and small business groups urged Congress to extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) until June 30, 2021. The House voted overwhelmingly to extend the program, but the Senate has not yet voted. The group also called for a recent rule change in how loan amounts are calculated to be made...

Borrower Bill of Rights Would Provide Oversight of Loan Servicers St. Paul, MN — A student debt crisis of epic proportions is causing stress and strain for Minnesotans who are struggling to repay their loans and putting off other bills, according to a Morning Consult survey commissioned by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) and Education Minnesota (EDMN). Three-quarters of...

California-based Oportun has filed the most debt collection cases in the state and sues to intimidate its mostly Latino customer base WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new report released today by the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) offers new evidence that Oportun, the California-based financial services provider that also operates in eight other states, regularly engages in egregious, abusive, and intimidating...