Congressional Caucus

September 14-17, 2008
Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, DC

Quick Links

NCUA Chairman Michael E. Fryzel
Confirmed to Speak

Don't miss NCUA Chairman Michael Fryzel in his address to NAFCU's Congressional Caucus on Wednesday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear the new NCUA chairman at one of his first major speaking engagements since the US Senate confirmed Fryzel as chairman of the NCUA on June 27, 2008.

Your Direct Connection to Washington

With bankers working harder then ever to slow credit union regulatory relief legislation, merchants pushing for price caps on credit card interchange fees and a presidential election where the buzzword is "change", you need to ensure that your voice is heard on Capitol Hill now more than ever! Your full participation in NAFCU’s 2008 Congressional Caucus will help elevate lawmakers’ understanding and commitment to support the grassroots efforts by credit union lobbyists. Help advance legislation that will enhance the credit union charter, and help defeat bills that hurt credit unions. Make sure your views are heard loud and clear at NAFCU's Congressional Caucus and throughout this election year! Register today for NAFCU’s 2008 Congressional Caucus and take the initiative to make a difference!

Keynote Presenter

David Gregory

NBC Chief White House Correspondent and Host, MSNBC's Race for the
White House

When the president and his aides field hardballs at press conferences, few reporters pitch them as well as David Gregory. As NBC’s chief White House correspondent, he has led the network’s coverage of the George W. Bush presidency since inauguration day and has been a fixture on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Today, MSNBC and MSNBC.com. He is the host of Race for the White House on MSNBC. Gregory speaks candidly about covering the most powerful office in the world and talks openly about the role of the popular media, its reputation and its responsibilities as a form of mass communication.

In the fall of 2005, Gregory became a frequent substitute for Matt Lauer on Today. He also serves as guest moderator on Meet the Press, and has anchored the weekend editions of Nightly News and Today. As a political commentator, he can often be seen and heard on the Chris Matthews Show and
Hardball.

As a White House correspondent, Gregory has circled the globe, traveled with President Bush on every major foreign trip, and visited nearly every state in the nation during the presidential campaigns of 2000 and 2004. He has also reported on every aspect of the War on Terror and the war in Iraq since September 11, 2001.

Through terror attacks, two wars, presidential campaigns, policy debates, Supreme Court nominations and a historic leak investigation, Gregory has earned a reputation for being one of the toughest interrogators of President Bush and press secretaries Scott McClellan and Tony Snow.

Advisors for Presidential Candidates Facing Off at Monday's Luncheon

Monday’s luncheon at NAFCU’s Congressional Caucus will feature Gary Gensler, Obama’s senior economic advisor and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain’s chief policy advisor, who will speak on behalf of the presidential hopefuls and then take questions about the candidates’ policies on economic and financial matters.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin has directed the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies and held the Paul A. Volcker Chair in International Economics at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has also served with the Congressional Budget Office and the President's Council of Economic Advisers.

Gary Gensler is a previous Treasury Department undersecretary and has worked as a senior advisor to Sen. Paul Sarbanes, an author of the writing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. He spent 18 years at Goldman Sachs and co-authored the book “The Great Mutual Fund Trap.”

Speakers

• Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-HI;

• Rep. Joe Baca, D-CA;

• Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-MN;
• Rep. Judy Biggert, R-IL;

• Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-MO;

• Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-TN;

• Hon. Rodney Hood, NCUA;

• Hon. Gigi Hyland, NCUA;

• Rep. Walter Jones, R-NC;

• Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-PA;

• Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY;
• Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI;

• Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-NC;

• Rep. Gary Miller, R-CA;

• Daniel Mudd, President & CEO, Fannie Mae;

• Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-CO;

• Rep. Tom Price, R-GA; and
• Rep. Melvin Watt, D-NC.

Preliminary Agenda

Sunday, September 14

3:00 p.m.   Delegate Registration

4:00 p.m.   Lobbying and Legislative Policy Roundtable

5:00 p.m.   Welcome Reception

Monday, September 15

7:30 a.m.   Delegate Registration

7:30 a.m.   NAFCU Delegate Breakfast

8:45 a.m.   Opening Ceremonies

9:00 a.m.   General Session with David Gregory, NBC White House Correspondent

12:00 p.m. NAFCU Delegate Lunch featuring a debate between Douglas Holtz-Eakin,   
                  Senior Policy Advisor to Sen. McCain's Presidential Campaign & Gary

                  Gensler, Senior Economic Advisor to Sen. Obama's Presidential Campaign

2:00 p.m.   Capitol Hill Visits

5:15 p.m.   NAFCU/PAC Event
(Board buses for NAFCU/PAC event at Nationals Stadium)

Tuesday, September 16

8:15 a.m.   NAFCU's Daily Update

9:00 a.m.   General Session

12:30 p.m. Capitol Hill Visits

5:00 p.m.   Congressional Reception

Wednesday, September 17

7:30 a.m.   NAFCU/PAC Breakfast

8:45 a.m.   NAFCU's Daily Update

9:00 a.m.   General Session

11:00 a.m. Closing Remarks

Issues that Matter to You!

Regulatory Relief

On March 15, 2007, Reps. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) and Ed Royce (R-CA) introduced H.R. 1537, the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act of 2007 (CURIA). The proposal is similar to legislation that Rep. Royce and Rep. Kanjorski introduced during the 109th Congress with further enhancements that improved the bill. CURIA would create a risk-based and PCA structure for federally insured credit unions, modify the member business lending cap to 20 percent of total assets and allow any credit union to add underserved areas to its field of membership.H.R. 1537 has gained the support of over a full third of the House of Representatives, but continuing to grow support is vital. Additionally, Reps. Kanjorski and Royce introduced H.R. 5519, the Credit Union Regulatory Relief Act of 2008 (CURRA), which is a pared-down version of CURIA. Companion legislation to H.R. 1537 was introduced in the Senate on May 1, 2008, by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). This is an important step toward moving credit union regulatory relief forward.

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA)

NAFCU continues to work to reduce the regulatory burden on credit unions such as that posed by unnecessary data collection or the imposition of the banking-focused CRA on credit union operations. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) has indicated that he believes CRA requirements should be expanded. As you know, NAFCU has historically opposed, and continues to oppose, extending CRA requirements to federal credit unions.

Interchange Fees

The House Judiciary Antitrust Committee recently held a hearing on H.R. 5546, which would set prices for credit card and debit card interchange fees. Specifically, the proposal would authorize a three-judge panel to set interchange rates at the same rate they would be in a "hypothetical perfectly competitive market." NAFCU strongly opposes the legislation. The current interchange system has proven beneficial to merchants and consumers. An artificial price cap would disproportionately affect credit unions as larger financial institutions would be better able to internalize the costs. The current electronic payment system enables credit unions to compete head to head with the largest institutions. When you meet with your representatives at Congressional Caucus, be sure to tell them to oppose artificial price caps on interchange fees.

Registration

Hotel Accomodations

The Grand Hyatt Washington

1000 H Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

The 2008 Congressional Caucus is back at the Grand Hyatt Washington, a state of the art conference center and hotel that is conveniently located near Capitol Hill, the White House, the Smithsonian Institution and other major landmarks and museums.

Room Rates

To receive NAFCU’s negotiated room rate, make your hotel reservations through our online conference registrations system.

Room Rate: $264 Single, $284 Double plus tax*, gratuity and incidentals.

Room Reservation Deadline: August 14, 2008

* Federal credit unions are exempt from the hotel tax if payment is made by the credit union’s official check or credit union’s official credit card.

** After the room reservation deadline, all room reservations and rates will be confirmed subject to availability.

NAFCU reserves the right to change dates, cities, venues, or speakers should circumstances warrant. NAFCU’s members will be apprised of any such changes.