10 Hoosier Banker July 2015 COVER STORY Recent developments have been reflecting positive news for the U.S. economy, now on the upswing since the 2008 financial crisis. For banks, however, the news is more cautionary, as they struggle under the weight of regulations still materializing as reaction to the crisis. Yet for the Indiana banking community, the outlook is more optimistic. On the state front, Hoosier bankers enjoy the benefit of living and working in a business-friendly environment. And on a federal level, they are ably represented in Washington, D.C., by thoughtful leaders who stand for moderation and reason. Sen. Joe Donnelly, 59, embodies those solid traits. As his Senate website states: “Joe is committed to a moderate and common sense agenda that includes creating and preserving jobs, a strong national defense, reducing the debt and deficit, fighting for our veterans, and promoting an all-in energy plan.” On Jan. 3, 2013, Donnelly took the oath of office to serve in the U.S. Senate, following his election in November 2012. He is in line to become Indiana’s senior senator in 2017, upon the upcoming retirement of Sen. Dan Coats. Deeply embedded in financial matters, Donnelly serves on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, which influences the management of legislation affecting banking, financial markets, securities, international trade and finance, economic policy, insurance, housing, and urban development and mass transit. He also serves on three related subcommittees: Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection; Securities, Insurance and Investment; and Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. Additionally Sen. Donnelly is a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, the Committee on Armed Services and the Special Committee on Aging. Before being elected to the Senate, Donnelly served for three terms in the second Congressional District of Indiana in the U.S. House of Representatives; he first was elected in 2006. In the House, Donnelly likewise was closely connected to banking issues through his service on the Financial Services Committee. Prior to serving in Congress, Donnelly helped run a small business in Mishawaka and also practiced law in South Bend. He gained experience in public service as a member of the Mishawaka Marian High School Board, including a term as board president, and through the Indiana State Election Board. A Democrat, Donnelly earned a reputation for bipartisanship while serving on the election board by working closely with both Democrats and Republicans to ensure accurate election results. A longtime resident of north central Indiana, Donnelly earned bachelor’s and JD degrees from the University of Notre Dame, where he met his wife Jill. The senator and Mrs. Donnelly are proud parents to daughter Molly and son Joe Jr. Hoosier Banker interviewed Sen. Donnelly this spring in his South Bend office. Thank you for serving as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs. As a committee member, what are your priorities? “To serve on the Banking Committee is a special privilege for me. I was fortunate enough to serve on the Financial Services Committee in the House for six years, so it’s a continuation of issues that I have great passion for. “My goal is to work toward continued safety, stability and growth for our economy and, through that growth, the creation of jobs for every Hoosier and every American. In particular, we are now working on a package to try to provide regulatory relief to community banks. Sen. Joe Donnelly: Moderation Prevails Sen. Joe Donnelly discusses policy with Hoosier bankers in his Capitol Hill office.
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