WASHINGTON—Day Two of America’s Credit Unions’ 2025 Congressional Caucus brought credit union leaders face-to-face with some of their most influential allies on Capitol Hill, as lawmakers addressed top industry concerns and pledged continued support.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Rep. Andy Barr, Rep. Sean Casten, House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams, Rep. Bryan Steil, and Rep. Janelle Bynum were among the featured speakers.
Describing the current agenda in Congress and touting the credit union difference, Scalise (R-LA) said that credit unions’ work to help people “achieve the American Dream,” and praised advocates for meeting lawmakers in Washington, saying: “They need to know what your priorities are. Because when you’re thriving, you’re helping all the people you serve, and your community thrives as well.”
Barr (R-KY), chair of the House Financial Services Financial Institutions Subcommittee amplified what Scalise stated.
“The great thing about credit unions is you serve an incredibly important function in the financial services ecosystem,” said Barr, also referencing the industry’s efforts to support consumers in their pursuit of the American Dream. “:Credit unions are American Dream-makers.”
Barr detailed CFPB reform, fraud prevention, and data privacy as top legislative priorities. He also thanked America’s Credit Unions for providing input on data privacy, noting that current legislative action in the data privacy space is on track with the priorities America’s Credit Unions has offered.
House Financial Services Committee member Rep. Casten (D-IL), shared that access to capital markets is one of his top priorities, adding that “there has never and will never be a financial crisis caused by a credit union.”
House Small Business Committee Chairman Williams (R-TX) noted that his family couldn’t do business without credit unions. He highlighted priorities to reform the CFPB, continued oversight of the Small Business Administration, and addressed overregulation to help financial institutions and small businesses thrive.
House Financial Services Digital Assets Subcommittee Chairman Steil (R-WI) detailed credit unions’ “essential role in the digital assets space.” He thanked attendees for their work “on the front lines, helping people move their lives forward.”
Rep. Bynum (D-OR) offered support for expanded investment authority for credit unions and the industry’s tax status, as well as her personal experience as a member of a credit union. She stressed the importance of credit unions as a top financial option for young generations: “As our young people are growing, you need financial products that grow with you,” she said. “You need to be able to access credit and move money around for life’s big events.”