Ben S Bernanke: Swearing-in ceremony remarks
Speech by Mr Ben S Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, at the ceremonial swearing-in, Washington DC, 3 February 2010.
* * *
It is with considerable gratitude and not a little humility that I begin a second term as
Chairman of the Board of Governors. I thank President Obama for the confidence he has
shown in me by renominating me and the members of the Senate for confirming my
nomination.
The past four years have been an extraordinary time. In many respects, this period has
shown this institution at its finest, as we moved rapidly, forcefully, and creatively to confront
the deepest financial crisis since the Great Depression and help prevent a looming economic
collapse. This swift and effective response would not have been possible without the
remarkable dedication, professionalism, and personal sacrifices of the Federal Reserve staff.
I would like to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your creativity and hard work.
America and the world owe you a debt of gratitude.
At the same time, this institution, like our country, faces enormous challenges, challenges
that will demand continued commitment and professionalism from staff members in every
division.
On the economic front, the resumption of growth in the nation's output of goods and services
is encouraging. But far too many people remain unemployed, foreclosures continue at record
rates, and bank credit continues to contract. We at the Federal Reserve cannot hope to solve
all these problems on our own - other policymakers and those in the private sector must do
their part - but we must continue to do all that we can to ensure that our policies are helping
to guide the country's return to prosperity in an environment of price stability.
At the Federal Reserve and other agencies, the crisis revealed weaknesses and gaps in the
regulation and supervision of financial institutions and financial markets. Working together,
the Fed staff and the Board have made considerable progress in identifying problems and
improving how we carry out our oversight responsibilities. We are restructuring our
supervisory framework, for example, to incorporate a more systemic, multidisciplinary
perspective. We are engaging with international colleagues to develop tough, comprehensive
regulations to promote the safety and soundness of financial institutions, and we have
developed and implemented strong new protections for consumers. We will continue to work
with the Congress to develop an effective, comprehensive reform of financial regulation. As
we move forward, we must continue to do all that can be done to ensure that our economy is
never again devastated by a financial collapse.
The Federal Reserve has been granted, both in law and in political tradition, considerable
independence and autonomy. That independence serves important public objectives.
Critically, it allows the Federal Open Market Committee to make monetary policy in the
longer-term economic interests of the American people, rather than in the service of
shortterm political imperatives. It also allows the Federal Reserve to make supervisory decisions
based on the facts of each case and the need to preserve financial stability, not on the basis
of political considerations. In the interest of maintaining public confidence and promoting
economic and financial stability, we must continue to protect our independence.
At the same time, in a democratic society like our own, institutional independence brings with
it fundamental obligations of transparency, responsiveness, and accountability. The Federal
Reserve is already one of the most transparent and accountable central banks in the world,
providing voluminous information and explanation concerning all of its activities. However, I
believe that we should be prepared to do even more, to become even more transparent. It is
essential that the public have the information it needs to understand and be assured of the
integrity of all our operations, including all aspects of our balance sheet and our financial
controls. We will continue to work with the Congress to ensure maximum transparency of
America's central bank, without compromising our ability to conduct policy in the public
interest.
These are just some of the challenges that we will all face in the coming months and years. I
thank you for the many expressions of support I received during the confirmation process, for
your hard work and dedication, and for your service to your country. I look forward to
continuing to work with all of you to strengthen our economy and to make the Federal
Reserve as effective as it can possibly be in advancing the economic wellbeing of all
Americans. Thank you.