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Floor Speech

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Mr. HAGERTY. Mr. President, I rise today to urge my colleagues to confirm the confirmation of my teammate and friend Luke Pettit, President Trump's nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions.

Luke has served on my staff for more than 3 years. In that time, he has become a vital part of my team, but more than that, Luke has become a leader, an indispensable adviser, and, in fact, a close friend.

Luke is exceptionally qualified. He came to the Senate with an already impressive resume. He has sterling academic credentials. Luke has years of experience at the Federal Reserve and in the private sector. His background has given him a deep understanding of how our Nation's financial system works, not just in theory but also in practice.

Luke is a true rarity here in Washington, DC. While possessing a deep understanding of complex technical matters, Luke has never lost sight of the true aim of economic policy, which is very simply to expand opportunity and to deliver prosperity to Americans from every walk of life.

Here in the Senate, Luke worked arm in arm with many of your staffers to write the GENIUS Act, landmark legislation to regulate stablecoins and promote innovation. Many of you and your staff will recall the long hours it took to move this measure forward.

This bill's passage was never guaranteed. It passed, in great part, thanks to Luke's tireless efforts to overcome obstacles and to bring people together across the aisle. In fact, without Luke's leadership and perseverance, the GENIUS Act, as we know it, would not have been possible.

Beyond his many qualifications, Luke is a leader in the truest sense. He is admired not merely for what he knows but how he carries himself, with humility and with selfless dedication to the task at hand.

Luke is beloved and respected by my entire team, and he mentors countless young men and women in the Halls of the Senate and beyond, including my own children.

To Senate staffers gathered here today, I hope you will see Luke's confirmation as an inspiration and an acknowledgment of the vital role that all of you play in shaping policy and serving this country. The strength and stability of the financial system are vital to our Nation's prosperity, to our global competitiveness, and, frankly, to the American way of life.

At the highest levels of government, we need leaders who understand the weight of that responsibility, leaders who will approach their duties with wisdom, humility, and an unshakable commitment to do what is right.

Luke Pettit is just that kind of leader.

Mr. President, I can think of no one more qualified, no one more committed, and, frankly, no one more ready to serve than Luke Pettit. Therefore, I urge all of my colleagues to support the confirmation of Luke Pettit, which is about to occur.

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