Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer’s (MO-03) legislation that would end Operation Choke Point. Today, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced companion legislation in the United States Senate with the same goal: to end the practice of allowing government bureaucrats from using personal and political motivations to block financial services to licensed, legally-operating businesses.

“I am pleased that my colleagues, Senators Cruz and Lee, recognized the importance of the bipartisan Financial Institution Customer Protection Act and filed legislation that is identical to what the House of Representatives passed earlier this year,” Luetkemeyer said. “Today’s action confirms that Americans, all across the country, are speaking up after having been affected by Operation Choke Point. The Senators recognize the need for greater transparency in the Department of Justice and federal banking agencies. Operation Choke Point runs contrary to who we are as Americans, and I want to thank Senators Cruz and Lee for joining me in this effort. I look forward to working with them to encourage the Senate to bring this bill to the floor in the very near future.”

“Under President Obama’s rein, the DOJ has abandoned its longstanding tradition of staying out of politics and has instead become a partisan arm of the White House,” Senator Cruz said. “The Obama administration initiated Operation Choke Point to punish law-abiding small businesses that don’t align with the President’s political leanings. The DOJ should not be abusing its power by trying to bankrupt American citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. I am proud to stand with Senator Lee and Rep. Luetkemeyer to stop this insidious manipulation by the administration and look forward to sending this legislation to the President’s desk.” 

H.R. 766 passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 250-169 on February 4, 2016.