WASHINGTON—Dozens of leagues and credit union advocates met with key committee members on Capitol Hill this week, America’s Credit Unions reported.
ACU President/CEO Jim Nussle met with House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO), along with Missouri Credit Union Association Executive Director Ray Bozarth and Riverways Federal Credit Union CEO Scott Shults to discuss the importance of the credit union tax status.
Nussle also met with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) (sponsor of a recent bipartisan credit union lending bill), and other lawmakers, while the advocacy team held additional meetings.
America’s Credit Unions Chief Advocacy Officer Carrie Hunt met with House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) following the committee’s community banking hearing.
CrossState Credit Union Association and Pennsylvania credit unions also met with members of their delegation.
CrossState Credit Union Association Senior Vice President of Government Relations Christina Mihalik said the meetings help both highlight credit unions’ role in supporting communities while shaping policy to “allow credit unions to continue delivering member-focused financial services without unnecessary regulatory burdens.” credit unions’ role in supporting communities while shaping member-focused financial services without unnecessary regulatory burdens.
“As Congress debates critical tax policy issues, it’s essential that credit unions actively engage with legislators to ensure fair treatment in the legislative process. Meeting with lawmakers, including House Ways and Means Committee members, provides a crucial opportunity to advocate for policies that protect the unique structure of credit unions and their ability to serve their members and local economies,” she said.
The League of Credit Unions and Affiliates has several Florida members on the Ways and Means Committee, and a group of credit unions from the state traveled north to share perspectives from leadership, retail delivery, member experience, and more, ACU said.
The Illinois Credit Union League said it continued its outreach to Illinois members of Congress this week, discussing the credit union tax status and other important issues.
The ICUL team met with Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL), Representative Sean Casten (D-IL), Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), and Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL).
"It was great to have to the opportunity to meet with Congressman LaHood to provide firsthand examples of the value of the credit union tax exemption and the devastating impact that any change to the tax status would have upon our membership, communities, and his constituents. We look forward to working with Congressman LaHood to help protect the credit union tax status," said Matt Mamer, CEO of CEFCU.