[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 104 (Thursday, June 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4167-S4168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 Unanimous Consent Request--S. Res. 742

  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise today to remind this body that 42 
days ago, it was confirmed that Martin Gruenberg fueled a toxic 
workplace culture at the FDIC. Yet he is still collecting a taxpayer-
funded salary.
  On his first day in office, President Biden said:

       I am not joking when I say this: If you're ever working 
     with me and I hear you treat another with disrespect . . . I 
     promise you I will fire you on the spot.

  So that begs the question: Did the President forget his pledge or is 
he just ignoring it?
  Well, President Biden, it is time to put up or shut up.
  At Chairman Gruenberg's FDIC, employees stalked one another. They 
sent coworkers unwanted sexual photos of themselves and others. They 
made gross, lewd, and downright sexist comments, designed to belittle, 
intimidate, and sexualize their female coworkers. As the FDIC's own 
hand-picked investigator stated, ``for far too many employees and for 
far too long, the FDIC has failed to provide a workplace safe from 
sexual harassment, discrimination, and other interpersonal 
misconduct.''
  The FDIC needs to clean up the raunchy 1990s frat house that 
Gruenberg has allowed to fester, and there is no better place to start 
than at the top. Gruenberg has proven he lacks the skills, judgment, 
and temperament to lead the FDIC. How can someone who can't regulate 
the behavior of the Agency be trusted to regulate the banking industry?
  He can't, and that has been proven. Public reports say Gruenberg 
personally looked the other way when it came to sexism, harassment, and 
racial discrimination. Investigators determined that Gruenberg himself 
had a reputation of ``losing his temper and interacting with staff in a 
demeaning and inappropriate way.'' They also claimed Gruenberg was 
either unable or unwilling to recognize his failures, except when the 
writing was on the wall.
  I am aware Gruenberg has agreed to resign, but only after the Senate 
confirms a replacement. By his own admission, Gruenberg must resign--
not tomorrow, not next week, but today. But we all know why he is 
refusing to just quit today. If and when the FDIC chairmanship becomes 
vacant, the Vice Chair, who is currently a Republican, assumes the 
chairmanship.
  Now, President Biden has nominated someone to backfill Gruenberg, and 
I look forward to reviewing her record and her credentials. But we all 
know it will take significant time for her to go through the 
confirmation process and face a vote here in the Senate.
  Let us be crystal clear about what is happening. President Biden is 
letting a dirtbag run the FDIC for who knows how long because he cares 
more about politics than protecting women in the workplace.
  Integrity means doing the right thing when no one is looking. At this 
turbulent time, the FDIC deserves a leader who acts with integrity, and 
Gruenberg's conduct doesn't fit the bill. Simply put, the time has come 
to turn the page on Martin Gruenberg. President Biden should put his 
money where his mouth is and fire him.
  But since Biden doesn't seem to remember his own pledge, it is the 
responsibility of the Senate to remind him of it. And for that reason, 
as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 742, which is at the desk. I 
further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed 
to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Michigan.

[[Page S4168]]

  

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, first, I 
want to agree with my friend from Iowa. There is no question that we 
need a new FDIC Chair. We don't need a bunch of potshots on the 
President or using this for political purposes. We need a new FDIC 
Chair, and the good news is that the President has already sent the 
Senate a nomination for a new Chair.
  So, first of all, this resolution isn't necessary. It is not going to 
do anything to improve the culture of the FDIC. I wish it would, but it 
won't. The reality is that the Banking and Housing Committee is moving 
quickly to consider and report out the nomination.
  Additionally, I should just note the resolution has some factual 
inaccuracies that misrepresent the findings of the third-party report. 
But the most important thing is that the Senate should be focused on 
providing new leadership that can implement the recommendations of the 
third-party report and begin the much needed overhaul of the FDIC.
  I could not agree more. We need to work together. Put the potshots 
and partisanship aside. It is not about attacking the President. It is 
about getting this person out of there to be able to have new 
leadership come in.
  That is what is happening. That person has been nominated. The 
Banking and Housing Committee are moving forward, and that is where we 
need to be focused. Anything else is just wasting time.
  So, with that, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Iowa.
  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, the women of the FDIC do deserve more than 
a fly-by-night confirmation. This needs to be carefully considered. 
Simply put, this position at this time is too important.
  We are talking about an Agency that for literally decades has been 
plagued by some of the most toxic working conditions that any of us 
have ever seen.
  So we know that President Joe Biden has nominated Commissioner Romero 
to replace a scumbag--we know that--but it doesn't mean that her 
nomination shouldn't be carefully scrutinized. So we do hope we can put 
some time and consideration into the nomination.
  But I would say that getting rid of Martin Gruenberg today would 
state to the employees of the FDIC that the President takes these 
allegations seriously and that he does want to prevent sexual 
harassment, hopefully setting the stage for future leaders within the 
FDIC, because right now, those employees do not feel they have been 
heard. Allowing Martin Gruenberg to continue in the position is just 
furthering--furthering--the way they feel, and they feel very little at 
this time.
  Sexual harassment has no place in this workplace or any workplace. 
The President needs to send a strong message to the FDIC that it will 
not be tolerated.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
scheduled vote occur immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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