[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 1 (Thursday, January 3, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          TRIBUTE TO GAVIN GEE

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Gavin Gee, 
director of the Idaho Department of Finance, who announced his 
retirement after over four decades of distinguished service to the 
State.
  Gavin has led an impressive career in the banking sector, dedicating 
the majority of his life to promoting access to vigorous, healthy, and 
comprehensive financial services for Idaho citizens. He began his 
career at the Idaho Department of Finance in 1977 and has served as the 
department's director since 1996 after a short stint as its acting 
director in 1995. Impressively, in a post that requires Gubernatorial 
appointment, as well as the advice and consent of the State senate, 
Gavin has served under four different Governors.
  Prior to being acting director, he served the department in a number 
of other roles, including as the department's deputy attorney general, 
securities bureau chief, and financial institutions bureau chief. He 
also served as chairman and a member of the State Liaison Committee of 
the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council between 1994 and 
1999 and as chairman and on the boards of directors of both the 
Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the National Association of 
State Credit Union Supervisors.
  Throughout his career, Gavin has fought to ensure the financial 
interests of Idaho citizens are effectively served. He has also 
championed policies and enforced laws to protect Idaho's citizens from 
fraud, unsafe practices, and unlawful conduct. He is a leading figure 
in community banking, widely respected by those in the industry and 
those with whom he works.
  In addition to his service at the State level, Gavin has contributed 
meaningfully to the national dialogue on financial services supervision 
and regulation. He was instrumental in the development of the 
Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry, improving 
supervision of the mortgage industry and enhancing consumer protection. 
From 2006 to 2012, he served as chairman of the CSBS/American 
Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators State Regulatory 
Registry, the board which oversees the development and operation of the 
System. He has worked closely with Congress on regulatory relief 
efforts, counseling lawmakers on the Financial Services Regulatory 
Relief Act of 2006 and then again on the Economic Growth, Regulatory 
Relief and Consumer Protection Act in 2018. On several occasions, Gavin 
lent his expertise in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee. We 
have enjoyed a close working relationship, and I am grateful for his 
willingness to engage and educate lawmakers.
  Gavin has been a real asset to the State of Idaho and the Nation, and 
I consider him a good friend. I appreciate his lifetime of service and 
wish him well in retirement.

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