The confirmation of Richard Cordray, the former Attorney General of Ohio who was nominated by President Obama in mid-July, 2011 to serve as the first confirmed Director of the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is scheduled to come up for a vote in the full US Senate as early as Thursday, December 8, 2011. The NAACP strongly supports this nomination as we are convinced that he will be fair, even-handed, and that he will do an excellent job of protecting all Americans as they navigate the sometimes confusing and challenging world of financial products. We are also convinced that he will be able to provide much needed guidance on issues which may pertain to the special challenges which have plagued and continue to face racial and ethnic minorities, including African Americans.

The urgency of expeditiously confirming Mr. Cordray to this position cannot be understated: until the Bureau has a Director, the new CFPB cannot gain its full authority to protect and inform consumers, including racial and ethnic minorities, workers, service members and seniors from unfair practices by banks, payday lenders and other financial firms. We must contact every Senator and let them know of our support for Mr. Cordray and this new agency and urge them to do the right thing. Please review the attached Action Alert for more information on the nomination, the struggle we face, and how you can be an effective advocate.

As always, thank you for your time and energy.

Sincerely,

Hilary