Sheila C. Bair
2009 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Honoree
Ms. Bair is the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which plays a pivotal role in insuring and supervising the nation's financial institutions. With the financial crisis affecting everyone from individual homeowners to some of the largest lenders and employers in the country, Chairman Bair's leadership has amplified the voice of social and economic justice and spurred government response to the crisis. With her unparalleled knowledge of the issues, credibility, and diplomatic skills, she has guided a process that serves as a model for limiting the cost and consequence of dealing with troubled banks.
Yet, Chairman Bair's passion and diligence have gone beyond protection of financial institutions; she has devoted much of her energy and focus to people who have been unfairly targeted by subprime lenders. Standing at the vanguard, she was one of the first people to take notice and speak against an alarming trend in aggressive lending practices, warning of the need for more regulation to protect consumers.
LCCR wishes to acknowledge Chairman Bair's exemplary role in promoting civil rights and advocating for economic justice at this most critical juncture. She has offered a visionary and holistic approach to solving the financial crisis, one that addresses the root of the problem. In the spirit of coalition that embodies the work of the Leadership Conference, she works across party lines to champion equality and equal opportunity. It is in this spirit of unity of equality that LCCR is pleased to present Sheila Bair with the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award.
