Federal Register: September 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 180)
DOCID: FR Doc 03-23762
FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD
Federal Housing Finance Board
CFR Citation: 12 CFR Parts 900, 932, and 955
RIN ID: RIN 3069-AB18
DOCUMENT ID: [No. 2003-21]
NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES
ACTION: Federal home loan bank system:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Withdrawal of proposed rule.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Federal Home Loan Bank Acquired Member Assets
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is withdrawing its proposed rule that would have amended its Acquired Member Assets (AMA) regulation to place greater responsibility with each Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) to manage its AMA program, subject to ongoing supervisory review by the Finance Board.
SUMMARY:
Acquired member assets; withdrawn,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
I. Background
The Finance Board proposed a rule in the Federal Register of July 1, 2003, to amend its AMA regulation to place greater responsibility with each Bank to manage its AMA program, subject to ongoing supervisory review by the Finance Board. See 68 FR 39027 (July 1, 2003). The proposed rule would have maintained the core provisions in the current rule relating to safety and soundness, but would have been less prescriptive and simpler than the current rule. The proposed rule also would have codified the authority of a Bank to acquire as AMA instruments that are created by Bank members or housing associates in cooperation with a Bank and that represent an interest in loans that individually could qualify as AMA. The proposed rule provided for a 60 day public comment period, which closed September 2, 2003.
II. Reasons for Withdrawal of the Proposed Rule
All twelve Banks as well as other interested parties have requested that the Finance Board extend the original 60day public comment period for an additional 90 days, to provide additional time to submit comments on a number of complex issues raised by the proposed rule.
The Finance Board recognizes that the proposed rule could better
reflect the intent of the Finance Board if it were written with greater
clarity, and that a greater degree of clarity would facilitate the
submission of informed and meaningful comments to the Finance Board.
The Finance Board believes that the rulemaking process would be better
advanced by the withdrawal of the proposed rule and subsequent issuance
of a revised proposed rule, than by a simple extension of the comment
period. Therefore, the Finance Board is withdrawing the proposed rule.
The Finance Board will retain the comment letters received on the
proposed rule and will incorporate them into the public record of a subsequent proposed rule addressing the AMA regulation.
List of Subjects
12 CFR Part 900
Credit, Federal home loan banks, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
12 CFR Part 932
Capital, Credit, Federal home loan banks, Housing, Investments, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
12 CFR Part 955
Credit, Federal home loan banks, Housing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, the Finance Board hereby withdraws the Proposed Rule published at 68 FR 39027 on July 1, 2003.
Dated: September 11, 2003.
By the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Finance Board. John T. Korsmo,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 0323762 Filed 91603; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 672501P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Scott Smith, Associate Director, Office of Supervision; smiths@fhfb.gov or (202) 4082991; Sharon Like, Senior Attorney Advisor, Office of General Counsel, likes@fhfb.gov or (202) 4082930, Federal Housing Finance Board, 1777 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006.