Sen. Sherrod Brown, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, said Bostic's appointment "is an historic step forward that is long overdue. In its century of existence, the Fed's ranks have lacked the kind of diversity — of race, gender, background and ideas — that reflects the wide spectrum of Americans' experiences and economic realities." Rep. Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, also issued a statement applauding the appointment of Bostic as the first black and first openly gay regional Fed president.