West STL News

Congresswoman Ann Wagner has introduced three bipartisan bills aimed at enhancing capital formation and supporting Main Street investors. In a statement, Wagner emphasized the need for families to have more investment opportunities and for small businesses to grow without excessive government regulation.

"Families need greater access to investment opportunities, and small businesses deserve to grow without fighting reckless overregulation by the government," Wagner stated. She expressed gratitude for bipartisan support and anticipation of the Financial Services Committee's review of her proposals. "I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support and look forward to the Financial Services Committee taking up my legislation so we can make sure we accomplish our most important goal in Congress, making life better for families in Missouri and the nation."

The first bill, the Encouraging Public Offerings Act, seeks to codify Rule 163B under the Securities Act. This would allow issuers to communicate with potential investors about interest in a securities offering before or after filing a registration statement.

The second proposal, known as the Increasing Investor Opportunities Act, aims to provide retail investors with more access to private fund investments while maintaining protections under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

Lastly, the Small Entity Update Act directs the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct a study that will lead to rulemaking based on its findings. This includes defining "small entity" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.