Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2006
Official title: To improve ratings quality by fostering competition, transparency, and accountability in the credit rating agency industry.
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| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2006 | House · vote #368 | On Passage | Passed | 255–166 | See who voted → |
Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.
1 agreed to 1 failed
| Amendment | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| HAMDT 1,181 | – | Failed |
| HAMDT 1,180 | – | Agreed to |
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2006 - (Sec. 4) Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to define a credit rating agency as any person: (1) engaged in the business of issuing credit ratings on the Internet or through another readily accessible means, for free or for a reasonable fee; (2) employing either a quantitative or qualitative model, or both, to determine credit ratings; and (3) receiving fees from either issuers, investors, or other market participants, or a combination of them.
Defines a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO) as a credit rating agency that has been in business for at least three consecutive years and is registered under this Act.
Prescribes procedural requirements for mandatory NRSRO registration and certification.
Authorizes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to: (1) take action against any NRSRO that issues credit ratings in contravention of the procedures, criteria, and methodologies it includes in its registration application or makes and disseminates in required reports; and (2) censure, place limitations on the activities, functions, or operations of, suspend for a period not exceeding 12 months, or revoke the registration of any NRSRO for violations of this Act.
Declares it is unlawful for an NRSRO to represent or imply that it has been sponsored, recommended, or approved, or that its abilities or qualifications have in any respect been passed upon, by any federal agency or officer. Makes it unlawful for an unregistered credit rating agency to state that it is an NRSRO.
Requires an NRSRO to establish and enforce written policies and procedures to: (1) prevent the misuse in violation of this Act of material, nonpublic information by the NRSRO or any associated person; and (2) address and manage potential conflicts of interest.
Grants the SEC discretion to adopt rules or regulations to prohibit, or require the management or disclosure of, any conflicts of interest relating to the issuance of credit ratings by an NRSRO.
Authorizes the SEC to adopt rules that prohibit unfair, coercive, or abusive practices relating to the issuance of credit ratings by an NRSRO.
Requires an NRSRO to: (1) designate a compliance officer for ensuring compliance with securities laws and regulations; and (2) file with the SEC certified statements of financial condition.
Requires the SEC, within 30 days of enactment of this Act, to cease designation of persons and companies as NRSROs, as the term is used under current regulations.
Declares void and of no force or effect the no-action relief that the SEC has granted with respect to the designation of certain NRSROs.
(Sec. 5) Includes an NRSRO among the financial entities required to maintain SEC-prescribed records and reports.
(Sec. 6) Instructs the Comptroller General to study and report to certain congressional committees on: (1) factors that have led to the consolidation of credit rating agencies; (2) the resulting impact upon securities markets; (3) the problems, if any, faced by business organizations resulting from limited competition among credit rating agencies; and (4) whether and to what extent federal or state regulations impede such competition.
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF
- Reported in House Formatted Text PDF
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2990: Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2006. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2990/
"H.R. 2990: Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2006." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2990/.
H.R. 2990, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2990/.
[H.R. 2990: Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2006](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-2990/)