{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lewis-scott-conyers-and-waters-urge-inclusive-search-new-atlanta-fed", "Lewis, Scott, Conyers, and Waters Urge Inclusive Search for New Atlanta Fed President", "2016-10-04", "2016", "2016-10", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "John Lewis", "L000287", "johnlewis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. John Lewis (D-GA), a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee; David Scott (D-GA), a senior member of the Financial Services Committee; John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee; and Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee, urged the Federal Reserve to conduct an inclusive, transparent search for the next President of the Reserve Bank of Atlanta, one that engages candidates from many diverse backgrounds.\nIn a letter to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and Thomas Fanning, Chairman of the Atlanta Fed, the Members emphasized the need for Federal Reserve policymakers to account for our nation\u2019s grave racial disparities in terms of unemployment, wages, and income in the development of monetary policy, especially since the economic downturn severely damaged the already tenuous financial security of traditionally underserved communities. \u00a0In the sixth Federal Reserve district, where the new president will serve, unemployment and poverty rates for African Americans, for example, are about double those for white Americans.\nPresidents of the 11 other reserve banks have all worked for major financial firms or at the Federal Reserve before their appointments. \u00a0The Members urged the Fed to consider a wider range of backgrounds, including academia, labor, and non-profit institutions, to capture the perspectives of all Americans as they develop economic policy. \u00a0Since the appointment of Andrew Brimmer to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors by Lyndon Johnson, there have been only a few minority governors, and no African American or Latino bank presidents have ever been appointed. \u00a0Currently there is one Asian bank president, Neel Kashkari, who heads the Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. \u00a0This letter is a follow-up to one sent by 127 Democrats in both the House and Senate in May, urging the Federal Reserve to increase diversity in its executive ranks.\n\u201cWith this search, the Federal Reserve has a unique opportunity to restore confidence in our financial system by including the perspectives and experiences of a wider range of Americans,\u201d Rep. John Lewis said. \u00a0\u201cMetro Atlanta was hit hard by the Great Recession, and many people in the South are still mired in poverty due to that downturn. \u00a0In light of recent crises, the Federal Reserve should look far and wide to find the best person for this important job, not only within its own network. \u00a0The Fed has a responsibility to ensure that the financial needs of the most vulnerable are considered within the policymaking process.\u201d\n\u201cThe Federal Reserve has an opportunity to do something very significant with the recent retirement announcement of the current President of the Atlanta Federal Bank,\u201d said Rep. David Scott. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ve never had an African American Regional Fed president. \u00a0I\u2019m asking the Federal Reserve to take this opportunity to make history. \u00a0We have many exceptionally qualified African Americans who can do this.\u201d\n\u201cSelecting the first African-American or Latino Regional Bank president would be a historic milestone for the Federal Reserve, and I greatly appreciate Chair Yellen\u2019s focus on increasing diversity. \u00a0But given the Fed\u2019s long history of prioritizing low inflation over job creation, the candidate also should be truly committed to full employment and possess deep knowledge of labor market disparities that too often leave workers, especially workers of color, behind,\u201d said Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee and chair of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus.\nOn September 13, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Dennis Lockhart announced his retirement, effective in February 2017. \u00a0To find a new president, the Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta will identify and consider candidates, who then must be interviewed and approved by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. \u00a0The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks and covers Georgia, Florida, Alabama, eastern Tennessee, southern Mississippi, and southern Louisiana.\n###\nLetter to Chair Yellen and Chair Fanning about Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta presidential search", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://johnlewis.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lewis-scott-conyers-and-waters-urge-inclusive-search-new-atlanta-fed"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.384791150689125, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}