Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee (unofficial records), 1997 - 2008

This sub-series of 9 cubic feet of material contains files pertaining to Senator Chuck Hagel’s service on the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee from 1997 to 2008. The files on committee hearings are the largest sub-series containing almost 40% of overall material. Subcommittee hearings are a separate sub-series and comprise 30% of the overall material. Please note that the official records for this committee, along with all other official committee records for the U.S. House and Senate, are held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

The topics covered in this sub-series include the state of banks and the financial markets after 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008. A number of hearings covered oversight and reform efforts for the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE). A wide variety of topics were covered, from the financial reconstruction of Iraq, stopping terrorism financing, and recovering assets of Holocaust victims from Swiss Banks. Urban Affairs issues explored included fraud in the Indian Housing program and the impact of lead-based paints on children. Federal Reserve Chairmen Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke frequently testified.

Each sub-series contains copious memoranda detailing the various topics covered. Handwritten notes by Senator Hagel or his staff can be found across the documents and cover a wide range of issues. Many of the notes contain information regarding questions for persons testifying before the committee, as well as other pertinent details.

Most of the sub-series are arranged in chronological order.

The majority of the Banking committee files contain meeting agendas, memorandums, hand-written notes, testimony invitations, testimony texts, committee notices, email correspondence, Senator Hagel’s statements, and attachments in forms of articles and research materials. Testimony texts and research materials take up the largest space in most files.