H.R. 2797 — Reported in House

IB Union Calendar No. 56 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2797 [Report No. 118–77] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 24, 2023Mr. Flood (for himself and Mr. Nickel) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services May 30, 2023Additional sponsors: Mr. Lawler and Mr. Thanedar May 30, 2023Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printedStrike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italicFor text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 24, 2023 A BILL To amend the Securities Act of 1933 to require certification examinations for accredited investors, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equal Opportunity for All Investors Act of 2023. 2. Certification examinations for accredited investors (a) In general The Securities and Exchange Commission shall revise the definition of accredited investor under Regulation D (section 230.501 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations) to include any natural person who is certified through the examination required under subsection (b). (b) Establishment of examination Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Securities and Exchange Commission shall establish an examination (including a test, certification, or examination program)— (1) to certify an individual as an accredited investor; and (2) that— (A) is designed with an appropriate level of difficulty such that an individual with financial sophistication would be unlikely to fail; and (B) includes methods to determine whether an individual seeking to be certified as an accredited investor demonstrates competency with respect to— (i) the different types of securities; (ii) the disclosure requirements under the securities laws applicable to issuers and private companies as compared to public companies; (iii) corporate governance; (iv) financial statements and the components of such statements; (v) aspects of unregistered securities, securities issued by private companies, and investments into private funds, including risks associated with— (I) limited liquidity; (II) limited disclosures; (III) variance in valuation methods; (IV) information asymmetry; (V) leverage risks; (VI) concentration risk; and (VII) longer investment horizons; (vi) potential conflicts of interest, when the interests of the financial professionals and their clients are misaligned or when their professional responsibilities are compromised by financial motivations; and (vii) other criteria the Commission determines necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors. (c) Administration Beginning not later than 180 days after the date the examination is established under subsection (b), such examination shall be administered and offered free of charge to the public by a registered national securities association under section 15A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78o–3). May 30, 2023Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed