ceremony, which generated both praise and criticism from political pundits. At the time of his swearing in Ellison said he intended to focus on wages, housing, "relief and justice for the middle class", and ending the U.S. involvement in the Iraq War. Ellison was also a vocal critic of the George W. Bush administration, and sought a position on the House Judiciary Committee for oversight. In his first week as a member of Congress Ellison voted with the new Democratic majority as part of the 100-Hour Plan to raise the minimum wage, for federal funding of stem cell research, and to allow Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices. On April 3, 2014, Ellison introduced the Money Remittances Improvement Act of 2014 (H.R. 4386; 113th Congress) into the United States House. The bill would make it easier for nonbank financial institutions such as money service businesses to provide remittance payments internationally. Ellison said that "passage of the Money Remittances Improvement Act is cause for celebration for all diaspora communities, including the Somali and Hmong communities I am proud to represent in Minnesota." Credit reform On May 3, 2007, Ellison introduced a bill to outlaw universal default, the practice whereby credit card companies raise interest rates on customers who are behind on payments to other creditors. The bill was supported by House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank. Ellison, who described the bill as "the beginning of a whole credit reform effort we're going to be pursuing," also announced his interest in limiting high interest rates on credit cards and easing the process for those who have a legitimate need to file bankruptcy. This provision ultimately became law in 2009 as part of the "Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" portion of the Credit CARD Act of 2009. Committee assignments Committee on Financial Services (since January 12, 2007) Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Terms on Committee (and "Thomas" links at the Library of Congress): 113th Congress ( – Dem's), 112th ( – Dem's), 111th () and 110th (). Committee on Foreign Affairs 111th Congress, 2009–2010 () Judiciary Committee 110th Congress, 2007–2008 () Caucus memberships Congressional Progressive Caucus (Vice-chair) Congressional Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Caucus (Vice-chair) Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Arts Caucus Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Candidacy for Chair of Democratic National Committee In 2017, after acting chair Donna Brazile resigned, Ellison ran for the chairmanship of