WASHINGTON—The Defense Credit Union Council this week advanced two key advocacy priorities in Congress—protecting servicemembers’ pay during government shutdowns and expanding access to capital for veteran-owned small businesses.
In a letter to Representative Jennifer Kiggans, DCUC’s Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak called for swift passage of the bipartisan Pay Our Troops Act Of 2026 to ensure servicemembers and their families are never left financially vulnerable during government shutdowns.
“For too long, servicemembers have faced delayed paychecks amid budget gridlock,” said Stverak. “While credit unions have repeatedly stepped up with emergency loans, payroll advances, and other relief programs, these are stopgaps—not solutions. The Pay Our Troops Act is a moral imperative that guarantees those who defend our nation are paid on time, no matter what.”
“Credit unions have a long history of supporting military families during shutdowns,” reminded Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president/CEO. “This includes interest-free advances, automatic payroll credits, and more. Credit unions have helped thousands of servicemembers weather funding lapses and continue to serve in this area of need across the Nation as leading financial cooperatives.”
“Credit unions will always stand by our servicemembers, but Congress must act to remove the threat of financial instability altogether,” Stverak added. “DCUC and our member credit unions fully support this legislation and look forward to working with lawmakers to see it passed.”
Support For Expanding Credit Union Small-Business Lending
Wednesday, DCUC called attention to a recent Washington Reporter article that highlights a poll revealing that 62% of voters – across party lines – support eliminating the federal cap on small-business loans by credit unions.
“Support was especially strong among Republican voters, with 71% in favor, signaling real momentum for legislative action in this Congress. By a 41-point margin, Americans want to empower credit unions to lend more to small businesses – a decisive mandate in today’s polarized political climate,” DCUC said.
DCUC immediately activated a grassroots advocacy initiative, alerting its member credit union leaders to contact their Congressional representatives, providing key messaging for their outreach. DCUC encouraged its members to call on both their representatives and senators to co-sponsor and/or support the passing of the Veterans Member Business Loan Act (VMBLA), in light of these findings.
"This poll shows what we’ve known all along: Americans want credit unions to do more to support small businesses," said Stverak. "By starting with the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, credit unions are uniting behind a commonsense, bipartisan solution that puts veteran entrepreneurs first. This is the first step toward finally repealing the outdated member business lending cap—and credit unions are ready to lead the charge."
"DCUC has been proud to lead the fight on this issue, working alongside our member credit unions and lawmakers to champion veteran-owned small businesses,” Hernandez added. “This is about more than policy—it’s about creating real economic opportunities for those who have served our country. We will continue to push until these barriers are removed and credit unions can fully deliver on their mission to serve communities nationwide."