[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2866-S2867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 Tribute to Major General Joseph Martin

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize MG 
Joseph M. Martin and his outstanding military career, which is made 
evident by a significant milestone promotion to lieutenant general. 
Major General Martin is the commanding general of the 1st Infantry 
Division at Fort Riley, KS, and assumed this command in October of 2016 
when he took command of the Big Red One--the Army's longest serving, 
permanent division since 1917.

[[Page S2867]]

  Within days of assuming command of the Big Red One in 2016, he 
deployed with his division headquarters, 500 of his soldiers, to Iraq. 
He assumed leadership of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component 
Command-Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
  Major General Martin's combat leadership was remarkable in Iraq. 
During the 9-month deployment, he led the fight, alongside the 
Government of Iraq, against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in 
Mosul. His efforts, and the efforts of the brave soldiers in the U.S. 
Army and all of our troops, led to the defeat of ISIS in Mosul and the 
destruction of their territorial hold. ISIS had been in control of 
Mosul since 2014 but were beaten back by Major General Martin and his 
forces. They liberated 1.8 million Iraqis, and it was a remarkable 
victory.
  In the manner of a true combat leader, Major General Martin was one 
of the last soldiers to return from the mission in July of 2017. When 
General Martin returned stateside, he quickly demonstrated his 
leadership back on base at Fort Riley, and he led the 100th anniversary 
of the division.
  He has been an outstanding partner to me and fellow Kansans on a 
number of initiatives to support the Big Red One. He has been involved 
in the communities of Manhattan and Junction City and those other 
communities that surround Fort Riley. It is no surprise to me that he 
has been selected for promotion to lieutenant general. He is a proven 
leader, capable of completing the most complex challenges under the 
most stressful situations. The Army has made the right move with his 
promotion and, furthermore, by placing him in a position of greater 
responsibility.

  I am confident Kansans will join me in congratulating soon-to-be-
confirmed Lieutenant General Martin on his promotion. We honor and 
thank him for his service.
  We recognize the sacrifices he and his family have made over the last 
32 years. I recognize his wife Leann and their children, Kylie and 
Joey, for their service over the years. Strong Army families make 
strong Army soldiers.
  I have no doubt--none--that Major General Martin will continue to be 
one of the Army's best leaders, and I look forward to seeing what lies 
ahead for him in his career.
  Congratulations, General Martin.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
  Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise in support of the nominations of Ms. 
Jelena McWilliams to be Chair and a member of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation.
  As one of the three primary Federal financial regulators, the FDIC 
plays a critical role in the U.S. financial system, particularly for 
community banks. As head of the FDIC, Ms. McWilliams will be 
responsible for administering the Deposit Insurance Fund and ensuring 
the safety and soundness of the financial system while also promoting 
economic growth. She will also contribute to deliberations on financial 
stability as a member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council.
  In having focused extensively on financial institutions throughout 
her career in both the private and public sectors, Ms. McWilliams is 
supremely qualified for this position.
  She has a unique view of the U.S. regulatory system and its regulated 
entities, most recently serving as the chief legal officer, executive 
vice president, and corporate secretary for Fifth Third Bank, which is 
a regional bank based in Ohio. Prior to that, she served as a valuable 
member of the Banking Committee's staff for both Senator Shelby and me. 
Ms. McWilliams also worked as an attorney at the Federal Reserve during 
the financial crisis and on the Small Business Committee under former 
Senator Snowe.
  Many of my colleagues and I can personally attest to her 
qualifications, her good judgment, and her expertise, which will be an 
asset to the FDIC and to the country.
  At her nomination hearing in January, Ms. McWilliams demonstrated a 
deep knowledge of the issues overseen by the FDIC as well as a 
commitment to carrying out its mission. She discussed how her personal 
experience has shaped her conviction in the FDIC's unique 
responsibility as a deposit insurer, noting that one of the side 
effects of the civil war that broke apart the former Yugoslavia was a 
collapse of its financial system. Her parents, who still lived there, 
had their savings disappear overnight when a local bank closed its 
doors. Yugoslavia had no deposit insurance, and her then 68-year-old 
father returned to work as a day laborer.
  As she stated at her hearing, ``I can assure you that the core 
mission of the FDIC resonates profoundly with me and, if confirmed, I 
will not take its mission or my duties lightly.''
  Ms. McWilliams has conveyed a strong desire to encourage economic 
growth and facilitate new bank creation by continuing to address the 
disproportionate regulatory burden that is faced by community banks. 
Additionally, she acknowledged the need to expand Americans' access to 
credit and the banking system.
  If confirmed as a member and Chair of the FDIC, I look forward to 
having the opportunity to work with Ms. McWilliams on these important 
issues. I strongly support her nominations today, and I urge my 
colleagues to do the same.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.