Middle Market IPO Cost Act
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Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
ID: H001047
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
July 22, 2025
Introduced
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the esteemed members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Middle Market IPO Cost Act (HR 3395) claims to address the supposedly crippling costs associated with initial public offerings (IPOs) for small- and medium-sized companies. The bill's primary objective is to commission a study by the Comptroller General to analyze these costs, because, apparently, no one has ever thought of doing that before.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill requires the Comptroller General to conduct a comprehensive study on IPO costs, including fees for accountants, underwriters, and other advisors. It also mandates an analysis of alternative financing options, capital formation, and the impact of these costs on retail investors. Oh, and let's not forget the obligatory "report" that will be issued within 360 days, which will undoubtedly gather dust on some shelf in a Congressional office.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved here:
* Small- and medium-sized companies, who allegedly can't afford to go public due to exorbitant IPO costs. * Investment banks and underwriters, who might see their lucrative fees scrutinized. * Retail investors, who supposedly benefit from increased access to public securities (but let's be real, they're just pawns in this game). * The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which will likely use this study as a pretext for more regulatory overreach.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "legislative placebo." It creates the illusion of addressing a problem while doing nothing to actually solve it. The real purpose of HR 3395 is to:
* Provide a fig leaf for politicians to claim they're helping small businesses. * Give the SEC an excuse to impose more regulations, which will only serve to further entrench the interests of large corporations and Wall Street insiders. * Create a new layer of bureaucratic red tape, ensuring that the costs associated with IPOs remain prohibitively high.
In short, this bill is a symptom of the disease known as "Congressional Incompetence." It's a cynical attempt to appear concerned about small businesses while actually serving the interests of powerful lobbies and special interest groups. The real diagnosis? A bad case of "Regulatory Capture-itis," where politicians are more interested in lining their pockets than actually helping the people they claim to represent.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than waste my time on this legislative farce. Next patient, please!
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
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Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 2 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
ID: S000250
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
ID: L000599
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 23 nodes and 27 connections
Total contributions: $96,800
Top Donors - Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
Showing top 17 donors by contribution amount