ICBA calling for grassroots outreach on CBDC bill ahead of vote

With the House expected to vote this week on ICBA-supported legislation to restrict the development of a U.S. central bank digital currency, ICBA is calling on community bankers to urge their members of Congress to support the bill.

Grassroots Alert: Community bankers can use ICBA's Be Heard grassroots action center to call on their lawmakers to support the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act (H.R. 5403), which would address many of ICBA’s concerns with the creation of a CBDC.

Bill Details: The bill—which community banker grassroots advocacy during the recent ICBA Capital Summit helped bring to the House floor—would:

• Prohibit the Federal Reserve Banks from offering products or services directly to individuals, maintaining individual accounts, or issuing a CBDC to individuals or through an intermediary.

• Prohibit the Federal Reserve and the Federal Open Market Committee from using a CBDC to implement monetary policy.

Background: In a letter to House members, ICBA commended House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for scheduling floor consideration of H.R. 5403 and urged lawmakers to advance the bill.

ICBA View: ICBA has repeatedly expressed opposition to the creation of a U.S. CBDC, recently requesting from U.S. agencies federal records on whether legislative changes are required to issue a U.S. CBDC.