Obama taps Gruenberg for FDIC

WASHINGTON, June 10 (UPI) -- U.S. President Obama Friday announced his intention to nominate Martin J. Gruenberg as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Gruenberg has been vice chairman of the FDIC Board of Directors since August 2005 and served as acting chairman from Nov. 15, 2005, to June 26, 2006. He served as senior counsel to Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes, D-Md., on the staff of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs from 1993 to 2005.

Obama also announced Ken Kopocis as his pick to serve as assistant administrator for the Office of Water, Environmental Protection Agency.

Kopocis has served as senior counsel on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure since 2008 and from 2006-2008 was the deputy staff director for infrastructure on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He has worked on water issues in Congress for nearly three decades and played a role in the development of the Clean Water Act.

"I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to join this administration and serve our country. I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come," Obama said in a release from the White House.