Washington, D.C., March 22, 2021 – SIFMA today released the following statement from Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., SIFMA president and CEO, supporting legislation introduced by Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)  that would require public companies to disclose the race, ethnicity, gender, and veteran status of their board members, nominees and executive officers.

“SIFMA supports Congressman Meeks and Senator Menendez’s efforts to increase gender, racial, and ethnic diversity on corporate boards of directors through the ‘Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2021.’ SIFMA and our members have long prioritized diversity and inclusion in the financial services industry, and we understand there is still much more to do. We recognize that achieving diversity is an evolutionary process that requires an ongoing commitment to diversity policies and practices, as well as regular assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of workforce and employment practices, business practices and supplier diversity, and transparency of organizational diversity and inclusion. As such, we look forward to supporting Congressman Meeks and Senator Menendez on this important legislation.”

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SIFMA is the leading trade association for broker-dealers, investment banks and asset managers operating in the U.S. and global capital markets. On behalf of our industry’s nearly 1 million employees, we advocate for legislation, regulation and business policy, affecting retail and institutional investors, equity and fixed income markets and related products and services. We serve as an industry coordinating body to promote fair and orderly markets, informed regulatory compliance, and efficient market operations and resiliency. We also provide a forum for industry policy and professional development. SIFMA, with offices in New York and Washington, D.C., is the U.S. regional member of the Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA). For more information, visit http://www.sifma.org.