WASHINGTON—With most congressional activity frozen by the ongoing government shutdown, the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) could emerge as one of the few viable vehicles for legislation to move through Congress before year’s end.
Jason Stverak, chief advocacy officer for the Defense Credit Union Council, said staff from both chambers are already working behind the scenes to prepare for the formal NDAA conference process, which could begin this week or next. Lawmakers aim to have a final bill ready for discussion before Thanksgiving and passed by mid-December—a “very ambitious goal,” Stverak noted Monday during a call with the media, given the shutdown’s disruption across Capitol Hill.
“As Senator Kennedy said, if this shutdown goes to Thanksgiving, you’re going to see a sprint to the end of the year to pass whatever else they can,” Stverak explained. “That makes the NDAA a much more attractive vehicle to add additional items—even non-defense-related provisions.”
Stverak said DCUC will stay vigilant to ensure that harmful measures like the Credit Card Competition Act aren’t attached to the NDAA. But he added that the widespread goodwill credit unions have earned by supporting federal workers and military families during the shutdown could create new opportunities for advancing pro–credit union provisions.
“Credit unions have really stepped up during this difficult time,” Stverak said. “That kind of goodwill could open the door for positive credit union measures to be considered as Congress works to finalize the NDAA.”