Newsroom

September 11, 2012

NAFCU Congressional Caucus opens

James Clyburn
James Clyburn
Michael Fryzel
Michael Fryzel
Jeb Hensarling
Jeb Hensarling

Sept. 12, 2012 – NAFCU's Congressional Caucus general sessions open in Washington today – just three days into lawmakers' return from the August recess and the political conventions – and the energy level is expected to be high.

Headquartered at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel, this year's Caucus brings more than 300 representatives of credit unions from around the country to the nation's capital to hear from and speak with lawmakers about the key issues that affect credit unions and their member-owners.

Nearly 40 speakers are on this week's Congressional Caucus speaker slate. More than two-thirds of that slate is comprised of House and Senate members.

This week, Caucus participants will be working to generate added support in the House and Senate for action on an increase in the member business lending cap from 12.25 percent of assets to 27.5 percent for eligible credit unions.

Also high among the concerns of Caucus attendees are preservation of credit unions' federally tax-exempt status, credit union access to supplemental capital and, among others, housing finance reform.

Today's program is a special one. Political commentator Tucker Carlson and NAFCU President and CEO Fred Becker will give their addresses to Caucus attendees. Following opening session remarks, attendees will hear from:

  • Assistant House Democratic Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C.;
  • NCUA Board Member Michael Fryzel;
  • Freddie Mac CEO Donald Layton;
  • Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Government Reform;
  • House Financial Services Vice Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas; and
  • Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., member of the House Financial Services Committee.

This morning's session closes with a special presentation of a landmark credit union study conducted for NAFCU.

Following the general session, the credit union attendees will lunch together at the Caucus hotel then proceed to Capitol Hill to meet with their senators and representatives. A Congressional Reception takes place this evening.

On Tuesday, NAFCU held a "Lobbying 101" session with Caucus attendees in preparation for this week's Hill meetings. Congressional Caucus general sessions continue through Friday.