July 31, 2015

Dear Stanford Victims Coalition:

I wanted to apologize for the rescheduled Senate Banking Committee field hearing entitled
"Does SIPC Have a Conflict of Interest." Unfortunately, Senate leadership has scheduled a vote
Monday night prohibiting taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood. The vote will take place at
5:30 PM EST making it impossible to attend the hearing and make it to Washington in time to
vote. I am deeply saddened that this turn of events makes having the hearing Monday
impossible, but the vote to defund Planned Parenthood, whose leadership has been shown on
video discussing the organization's role in the harvesting and selling the organs of unborn babies,
is tremendously important. I profusely apologize to you and the Stanford Ponzi Scheme victims
who planned to attend this hearing. I am committed to rescheduling the hearing as soon as
possible in Washington, DC or Louisiana and continue my push to force SIPC to compensate
victims of the Stanford Ponzi Scheme.
I have already begun discussing with the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee,
Senator Richard Shelby, to have a Senate Banking Subcommittee hearing in Washington when
the Senate returns from recess in September. I am committed to ensuring this hearing happens
and I am confident that we will reach an agreement to reschedule the hearing very soon.
Although, I understand that this will make it more difficult for victims to attend the hearing,
having the hearing in Washington, DC will give me an opportunity to share your stories with my
colleagues in a push to garner more support for the Restoring Main Street Investor Protection
and Confidence Act and the need to reform SIPC. I am hopeful that this hearing will also be
helpful to make this a truly bipartisan issue and that Senator Schumer will once again cosponsor
the legislation.
Your work with the coalition has impressed me greatly, and I appreciated your great support
in my efforts to block Sharon Bowen from being confirmed at the CFTC. The Stanford Ponzi
Scheme devastated thousands of families across the country, including many Louisianians who
invested their hard-earned savings in good faith that it would be there for them when they retire.
Again I am extremely sorry that this hearing is being postponed and I will let you know as soon
as a hearing date has been scheduled. Please know that I am still committed to fight for you.
Sincerely,

David Vitter
United States Senator