[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6546 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 453
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6546
[Report No. 119-528]
To require the Inspector General of each Federal prudential regulator
to carry out a review every 3 years of the regulator's handling of
insured depository institution merger applications, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 9, 2025
Mr. Williams of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Financial Services
February 25, 2026
Additional sponsors: Mr. Davidson and Mr. Lawler
February 25, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
December 9, 2025]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Inspector General of each Federal prudential regulator
to carry out a review every 3 years of the regulator's handling of
insured depository institution merger applications, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Merger Process Review Act''.
SEC. 2. INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEW OF THE HANDLING OF INSURED DEPOSITORY
INSTITUTION MERGER APPLICATIONS.
(a) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the Inspector General of each
Federal depository institution regulatory agency shall review the
Federal depository institution regulatory agency's merger review
procedures, including record of timeliness and efficiency in reviewing
and acting upon insured depository institution merger applications. The
review shall--
(1) include an evaluation of relevant quantifiable metrics,
including mean and median application processing times;
(2) identify sources of delay that may hinder the timely
consummation of proposals that meet the relevant statutory
factors;
(3) consider the benefits and risks of utilizing different
merger review approaches and procedures in compliance with the
law;
(4) include an evaluation of the impact of such merger
review procedures and resulting approved mergers on safety and
soundness, financial stability, competition, and the
availability of financial products and services offered by
insured depository institutions; and
(5) include specific recommendations to improve the merger
review process, including timeliness and efficiency of
application processing, consistent with the Federal depository
institution regulatory agency's statutory responsibilities.
(b) Report.--Each Inspector General described under subsection (a)
shall, at the conclusion of each review required under subsection (a),
issue a report to Congress containing all findings and determinations
made in carrying out the review, and publish such report online.
(c) Agency Response.--In response to each report issued to Congress
under subsection (a), the appropriate Federal depository institution
regulatory agency shall submit to Congress and publish online a written
response, including a plan to implement the recommendations in the
report, to the extent such implementation is appropriate.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Application.--The term ``application'' means an
application, notice, or other similar request for permission
submitted to a Federal depository institution regulatory
agency.
(2) Federal depository institution regulatory agency.--The
term ``Federal depository institution regulatory agency'' means
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the
Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation, and the National Credit Union Administration
Board.
(3) Insured depository institution.--The term ``insured
depository institution''--
(A) has the meaning given that term in section 3 of
the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); and
(B) means an insured credit union, as defined in
section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.
1752).
(4) Insured depository institution merger application.--The
term ``insured depository institution merger application''
means an application with respect to the acquisition of an
insured depository institution, its equity interests, its
assets, or its deposits under--
(A) section 10(e) of the Home Owners' Loan Act (12
U.S.C. 1467a(e));
(B) section 205(b) of the Federal Credit Union Act
(12 U.S.C. 1785(b));
(C) section 7(j) of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j));
(D) section 18(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1828(c)(2));
(E) section 3 of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 (12 U.S.C. 1842); and
(F) section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843).
Union Calendar No. 453
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6546
[Report No. 119-528]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Inspector General of each Federal prudential regulator
to carry out a review every 3 years of the regulator's handling of
insured depository institution merger applications, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 25, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed