-9999

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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. 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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source