[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 209 (Wednesday, December 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S19296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     NOMINATION OF JOSEPH H. NEELY

 Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am very proud that my fellow 
Mississippian, Joseph H. Neely, commissioner of the Mississippi 
Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, has been nominated to serve 
on the FDIC Board. I would urge his prompt confirmation by the full 
Senate.
  Joe will bring a unique perspective to the Board. Having been both a 
community banker and a State bank supervisor, I believe he is 
imminently qualified for this position. He is a man of character and 
integrity. He has earned a reputation as an excellent regulator who is 
able to balance safety and soundness issues with an understanding of 
the banking industry. His wealth of on-point community banking 
experience and familiarity with the broad range of supervisory issues 
affecting the FDIC Board will make him a valuable addition to the 
Board.
  Joe is the first Mississippian to ever be nominated to serve on the 
FDIC Board. He was born in my hometown of Grenada, MS. He attended the 
University of Southern Mississippi where he obtained his undergraduate 
and graduate degrees. He was a college professor before beginning his 
banking career in 1977.
  He was appointed the commissioner of the Mississippi Department of 
Banking and Consumer Finance by Gov. Kirk Fordice in 1992. As such, he 
is the primary regulator and supervisor of all State-chartered banking 
and thrift institutions. He also supervises State-chartered credit 
unions as well as all consumer finance activities within the State. Joe 
is held in high esteem by people in Mississippi and in other States. 
His experience as a board member of the Conference of State Bank 
Supervisors has already drawn national attention to his talents.
  He has done a super job as the commissioner. In that capacity: He has 
been very active in initiating and supporting improvements in the State 
banking system; he pressed for legislative authorization for 
realignment of the department which allowed the department to attract 
and keep qualified, experienced examination staff; he also worked in 
support of legislation to standardize and modernize a number of State 
statutes to improve supervision of State banks and savings 
institutions; and, under his leadership, the department entered into 
cooperative agreements with the FDIC and the Federal Reserve whereby 
the banking department and the Federal regulators cooperate in the 
examination process.
  I know that Joe will bring much academic, practical, and supervisory 
expertise to the FDIC Board. They are fortunate to have someone of his 
caliber join them. I am thankful that Joe is willing to go into public 
service and look forward to welcoming him, his wife Linda, and their 
two children, Joel and Jessica, to Washington.

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