Your Opinion: Consumers urged to oppose bill

Dear Editor:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was created by Congress and is the crowning achievement of Wall Street Reform. The CFPB has already returned nearly $11 billion to over 26 million consumers cheated by Wall Street and other financial companies. Additionally, it is taking complaints from financial consumers who have been wronged.

Complaints can be filed at: www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Five thousand six hundred and sixty-one Missourians have filed complaints so far.

It's therefore disappointing that members of Congress from Missouri are leading the effort to keep the CFPB from doing its job. In particular, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, who is a member of the Committee on Financial Services, is co-sponsoring a bill that will change the CFPB's leadership structure from one director to a commission of five people.

If it took two years to confirm one director due to gridlock, how long would it take to confirm five?

If more Missourians contact our members of Congress in support of the CFPB, we can make sure financial companies are kept in check and the voices of consumers don't get drowned out.