Media

A Democratic lawmaker who wants to apply the NFL’s approach to diversifying its coaches to the Federal Reserve will chair a first-of-its-kind congressional panel charged with examining diversity in financial industries and services.

Of the 18 members Ohio has in the United States Congress, only three are women. But they are taking on new roles this year that will give them considerable influence. And now that the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is over, they can set their goals in motion.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed relief that the partial shutdown of the federal government ended Friday, but many Democrats appear cool to a possible compromise that includes President Donald Trump’s coveted steel barrier along hundreds of miles of the border with Mexico.

The full Financial Services Committee — chaired by Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. — announced all six subcommittee chairs, including the appointment of Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, as head of the newly created diversity and inclusion subcommittee. The full committee is also expected to create a fintech task force, but has not yet announced its membership or leadership.

The House Financial Services Committee today announced subcommittee chairmen and ranking members for the 116th Congress.