Full Federal Reserve Audit Needed: HR1207 and S604

It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning. — Henry Ford

Read the Small Print

Pull out your billfold and take a look at a bill of any denomination and notice inscribed across the top the words "Federal Reserve Note." You've seen these words almost daily throughout your lifetime, but only a handful of Americans actually understand what the Federal Reserve is and what it is that it does. Most assume the Federal Reserve is a branch of the government, perhaps related to the Treasury Department in some way. That assumption is far from the truth. While the subject is far too complex to cover in this post, what Americans need to understand and be concerned about is that this agency (actually a legalized banking cartel), is not a branch of the government, and yet they have the power to create money from thin air and then infuse that money into our economy in extremely large amounts in almost utter secrecy, with no oversight and only limited hindsight.

Right now the Federal Reserve is audit exempt in the areas of monetary policy, foreign transactions, and Federal Market Committee operations. Questions like where has all the TARP money gone can remain unanswered — legally. When logic dictates that Americans should have the right to "follow the money" that ultimately affects the nation's economy, when it comes to the Federal Reserve, we simply cannot. There are trillions of American dollars involved here, controlled by a select few in almost complete secrecy and, according to them, for purposes that you have no business knowing about. Something is very wrong with that, and because most people are not attuned to what the Fed is, much less what it does, this status quo operation has operated under cloak for nearly a century.

Since the Federal Reserve has operated unsupervised for nearly 100 years, things must be going pretty well; right? Wrong. The American dollar has lost over 95% of its value since the Federal Reserve began in 1913, and right now they're creating money in unprecedented amounts. Some say there are about $9 trillion in Fed transactions, but they admit to $2 trillion. Believe it or not, the Fed is protected by law from disclosing this $7 trillion discrepancy.

Federal Reserve Transparency: Bills H.R. 1207 & S. 604

In an effort to introduce long overdue transparency to the Federal Reserve, there are two bills recently introduced that would require a full-scale audit of the Fed by the end of 2010. These bills were each read twice in their respective House and Senate chambers and are now shelved in committees taking backseat to controversial health care and cap-and-trade legislation. The House version, called the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, H.R. 1207, is sponsored by Texas Representative Ron Paul (R) and currently has 282 co-sponsors. This Bill now sits in the Committee on Financial Services, chaired by Barney Frank, since February 26, 2009. There are enough co-sponsors to pass this bill in the House, but it will need to get past Barney Frank and then be allowed by Nancy Pelosi, who is not in support of a transparent Fed. She alone can stop this vote from occurring even with over 60% of the House wanting the Bill to pass. The Senate version, The Federal Reserve Sunshine Act of 2009, S.604, is sponsored by Vermont Senator Bernard Sanders(I), and currently has 23 co-sponsors. That Bill is now in the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, chaired by Chris Dodd, on March 16, 2009.

These are brief, easily-readable one-page bills that should be receiving enthusiastic ayes from the Democrats, whose 2008 campaign mantra was all about transparency. Not so. Even with the tremendous amount of support these bills have received, they remain sidelined in committee. To get these bills to the floor for a vote, they need to get through these committees first. In the House Committee on Financial Services, all 29 Republican representatives sitting on this committee support H.R. 1207 and have signed on as co-sponsors, while only 10 of the 42 Democrats in this committee have done the same. Barney Frank, the Chair of the Committee on Financial Services, so far is not one of the bill's cosponsors. There are seven Blue Dog Democrats currently sitting on the Financial Services Committee, but only three of them are showing support by cosponsoring the bill. Joe Baca (CA), Joe Donnelly (IN), Charles, Wilson (OH), and Dennis Moore (KS) are the four Blue Dog Democrats that have NOT co-sponsored the bill. Since Blue Dogs are supposed to be moderate, especially on fiscal issues, you may want to call these people and ask them why they have not supported this bill along with their fellow committee Blue Dogs.  

Below is a list of Co-sponsors of HR1207, the House Bill, and S604, the Senate Bill. This list is current through 8/2/09. If your representative or senator is not on this list, call them right away and ask that they become a co-sponsor for these bills seeking a Fed audit or ask them to explain why they will not. Visit the websites for the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and contact them to ask when the bills will return to the House and Senate for a vote. If they have since become a co-sponsor but are not yet on this list, let them know you appreciate their support for a transparent Fed.

Who's Voting How – Read. Remember. Vote.

HR 1207 Co-Sponsors (as of 8/2/2009)

Rep Abercrombie, Neil [HI-1] – 2/26/2009
Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4] – 5/6/2009
Rep Adler, John H. [NJ-3] – 5/6/2009
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] – 3/19/2009
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] – 3/10/2009
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] – 5/20/2009
Rep Austria, Steve [OH-7] – 5/6/2009
Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] – 2/26/2009
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] – 4/29/2009
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] – 7/10/2009
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] – 4/21/2009
Rep Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] – 4/28/2009
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] – 5/12/2009
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] – 2/26/2009
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] – 5/4/2009
Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] – 5/21/2009
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] – 5/20/2009
Rep Biggert, Judy [IL-13] – 4/28/2009
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] – 4/21/2009
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] – 5/4/2009
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] – 4/21/2009
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] – 7/10/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] – 3/16/2009
Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] – 3/24/2009
Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] – 7/28/2009
Rep Boehner, John A. [OH-8] – 6/10/2009
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] – 6/9/2009
Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] – 4/29/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] – 5/7/2009
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] – 6/9/2009
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] – 7/20/2009
Rep Boustany, Charles W., Jr. [LA-7] – 5/13/2009
Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] – 7/14/2009
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] – 4/22/2009
Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] – 6/11/2009
Rep Bright, Bobby [AL-2] – 6/11/2009
Rep Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] – 2/26/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] – 6/11/2009
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] – 4/28/2009
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] – 5/20/2009
Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] – 3/17/2009
Rep Burgess, Michael C. [TX-26] – 3/19/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] – 2/26/2009
Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] – 4/30/2009
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] – 4/29/2009
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] – 6/18/2009
Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] – 5/4/2009
Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] – 6/23/2009
Rep Cao, Anh “Joseph” [LA-2] – 6/11/2009
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] – 4/1/2009
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] – 6/9/2009
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] – 3/31/2009
Rep Cassidy, Bill [LA-6] – 5/4/2009
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] – 3/17/2009
Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] – 3/6/2009
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] – 7/7/2009
Rep Childers, Travis [MS-1] – 6/9/2009
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] – 6/11/2009
Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] – 6/16/2009
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] – 4/21/2009
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] – 5/7/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] – 6/23/2009
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] – 7/8/2009
Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] – 5/4/2009
Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] – 3/26/2009
Rep Dahlkemper, Kathleen A. [PA-3] – 7/22/2009
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] – 6/26/2009
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] – 5/6/2009
Rep Deal, Nathan [GA-9] – 3/23/2009
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4] – 3/9/2009
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] – 5/6/2009
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] – 7/10/2009
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] – 6/18/2009
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] – 4/21/2009
Rep Dreier, David [CA-26] – 6/10/2009
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] – 3/6/2009
Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] – 6/16/2009
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] – 6/11/2009
Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] – 4/21/2009
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] – 7/15/2009
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] – 4/2/2009
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] – 7/8/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] – 7/28/2009
Rep Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] – 5/11/2009
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] – 3/18/2009
Rep Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] – 5/20/2009
Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] – 5/12/2009
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] – 3/10/2009
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] – 3/23/2009
Rep Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [NJ-11] – 6/3/2009
Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] – 7/9/2009
Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] – 7/7/2009
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] – 3/5/2009
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] – 5/11/2009
Rep Giffords, Gabrielle [AZ-8] – 6/16/2009
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] – 3/30/2009
Rep Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] – 4/23/2009
Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] – 4/28/2009
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] – 4/28/2009
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] – 4/22/2009
Rep Grayson, Alan [FL-8] – 3/11/2009
Rep Griffith, Parker [AL-5] – 6/16/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] – 6/3/2009
Rep Guthrie, Brett [KY-2] – 5/7/2009
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] – 4/29/2009
Rep Halvorson, Deborah L. [IL-11] – 6/3/2009
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] – 5/11/2009
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] – 7/7/2009
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] – 5/11/2009
Rep Hastings, Doc [WA-4] – 5/11/2009
Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] – 3/6/2009
Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] – 5/4/2009
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] – 4/21/2009
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] – 5/6/2009
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] – 6/2/2009
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] – 7/8/2009
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] – 4/28/2009
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] – 6/4/2009
Rep Hunter, Duncan D. [CA-52] – 5/13/2009
Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] – 4/23/2009
Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] – 5/12/2009
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] – 6/16/2009
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] – 7/30/2009
Rep Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] – 4/23/2009
Rep Johnson, Henry C. “Hank,” Jr. [GA-4] – 6/9/2009
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] – 4/22/2009
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] – 4/23/2009
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] – 2/26/2009
Rep Jordan, Jim [OH-4] – 6/2/2009
Rep Kagen, Steve [WI-8] – 2/26/2009
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] – 4/23/2009
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] – 6/4/2009
Rep King, Steve [IA-5] – 6/11/2009
Rep Kingston, Jack [GA-1] – 3/6/2009
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] – 7/15/2009
Rep Kirkpatrick, Ann [AZ-1] – 7/14/2009
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] – 4/29/2009
Rep Kosmas, Suzanne M. [FL-24] – 6/17/2009
Rep Kratovil, Frank, Jr. [MD-1] – 6/4/2009
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [OH-10] – 6/11/2009
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] – 4/21/2009
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] – 5/11/2009
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] – 4/21/2009
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] – 4/28/2009
Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] – 5/20/2009
Rep Lee, Christopher J. [NY-26] – 6/10/2009
Rep Lewis, Jerry [CA-41] – 6/24/2009
Rep Linder, John [GA-7] – 5/6/2009
Rep Lipinski, Daniel [IL-3] – 6/4/2009
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] – 5/4/2009
Rep Loebsack, David [IA-2] – 6/10/2009
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] – 7/7/2009
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] – 4/21/2009
Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] – 4/21/2009
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] – 3/19/2009
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] – 5/7/2009
Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] – 5/12/2009
Rep Maffei, Daniel B. [NY-25] – 5/12/2009
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] – 4/21/2009
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] – 3/11/2009
Rep Markey, Betsy [CO-4] – 6/25/2009
Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] – 4/22/2009
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] – 5/4/2009
Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] – 4/21/2009
Rep McClintock, Tom [CA-4] – 3/6/2009
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] – 3/19/2009
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] – 4/29/2009
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] – 6/10/2009
Rep McHenry, Patrick T. [NC-10] – 4/30/2009
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] – 5/4/2009
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] – 6/10/2009
Rep McKeon, Howard P. “Buck” [CA-25] – 6/11/2009
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] – 5/4/2009
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] – 7/10/2009
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] – 5/12/2009
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] – 5/7/2009
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] – 4/28/2009
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] – 6/10/2009
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] – 3/24/2009
Rep Minnick, Walter [ID-1] – 5/13/2009
Rep Mitchell, Harry E. [AZ-5] – 6/9/2009
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] – 5/4/2009
Rep Murphy, Christopher S. [CT-5] – 7/7/2009
Rep Murphy, Patrick J. [PA-8] – 6/9/2009
Rep Murphy, Scott [NY-20] – 7/9/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] – 4/29/2009
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] – 4/28/2009
Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] – 4/30/2009
Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] – 6/12/2009
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] – 7/31/2009
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] – 4/21/2009
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] – 5/14/2009
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] – 6/9/2009
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] – 5/20/2009
Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] – 3/30/2009
Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] – 7/30/2009
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] – 4/21/2009
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] – 6/10/2009
Rep Perriello, Thomas S.P. [VA-5] – 5/13/2009
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] – 3/19/2009
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] – 3/10/2009
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] – 4/28/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] – 3/19/2009
Rep Poe, Ted [TX-2] – 2/26/2009
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] – 6/11/2009
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] – 2/26/2009
Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] – 3/10/2009
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] – 4/28/2009
Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] – 5/6/2009
Rep Rehberg, Denny [MT] – 2/26/2009
Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] – 5/20/2009
Rep Richardson, Laura [CA-37] – 7/28/2009
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] – 4/21/2009
Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] – 7/14/2009
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] – 5/13/2009
Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] – 5/20/2009
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] – 3/6/2009
Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] – 4/22/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] – 4/28/2009
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] – 6/2/2009
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] – 5/21/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] – 6/18/2009
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] – 5/12/2009
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] – 5/14/2009
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] – 7/15/2009
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3] – 6/15/2009
Rep Scalise, Steve [LA-1] – 5/20/2009
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] – 5/6/2009
Rep Schauer, Mark H. [MI-7] – 5/20/2009
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] – 7/14/2009
Rep Schmidt, Jean [OH-2] – 6/11/2009
Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] – 5/6/2009
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] – 7/20/2009
Rep Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [WI-5] – 5/7/2009
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] – 3/23/2009
Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] – 5/7/2009
Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] – 6/9/2009
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] – 6/23/2009
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] – 4/22/2009
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] – 6/12/2009
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] – 5/7/2009
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] – 4/28/2009
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] – 6/17/2009
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] – 4/22/2009
Rep Smith, Adrian [NE-3] – 4/28/2009
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] – 6/15/2009
Rep Smith, Lamar [TX-21] – 4/2/2009
Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] – 6/23/2009
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] – 6/16/2009
Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] – 6/23/2009
Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-12] – 6/11/2009
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] – 3/26/2009
Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] – 3/6/2009
Rep Sullivan, John [OK-1] – 7/8/2009
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] – 3/6/2009
Rep Teague, Harry [NM-2] – 6/12/2009
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] – 3/30/2009
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] – 7/17/2009
Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] – 4/22/2009
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] – 5/21/2009
Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] – 4/28/2009
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] – 4/28/2009
Rep Tierney, John F. [MA-6] – 7/20/2009
Rep Titus, Dina [NV-3] – 7/14/2009
Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] – 6/9/2009
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] – 5/13/2009
Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] – 4/29/2009
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] – 7/20/2009
Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] – 5/4/2009
Rep Walz, Timothy J. [MN-1] – 5/7/2009
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] – 3/16/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] – 5/21/2009
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] – 4/2/2009
Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] – 5/14/2009
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] – 4/29/2009
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] – 4/1/2009
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] – 6/11/2009
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] – 2/26/2009
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] – 7/13/2009
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] – 7/14/2009
Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] – 6/3/2009
Rep Young, Don [AK] – 3/6/2009

S 604 Co-Sponsors (as of 8/4/2009)

Sen Barrasso, John [WY] – 7/15/2009
Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] – 7/15/2009
Sen Brownback, Sam [KS] – 7/8/2009
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] – 7/9/2009
Sen Cardin, Benjamin L. [MD] – 7/28/2009
Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] – 7/8/2009
Sen Coburn, Tom [OK] – 7/20/2009
Sen Cornyn, John [TX] – 7/20/2009
Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] – 6/25/2009
Sen DeMint, Jim [SC] – 6/11/2009
Sen Feingold, Russell D. [WI] – 7/15/2009
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] – 7/24/2009
Sen Grassley, Chuck [IA] – 8/3/2009
Sen Harkin, Tom [IA] – 7/20/2009
Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] – 7/24/2009
Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] – 7/20/2009
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] – 7/9/2009
Sen Isakson, Johnny [GA] – 7/8/2009
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] – 7/15/2009
Sen McCain, John [AZ] – 7/15/2009
Sen Risch, James E. [ID] – 8/3/2009
Sen Vitter, David [LA] – 6/16/2009
Sen Webb, Jim [VA] – 8/3/2009