Newsroom

February 17, 2017

O'Brien: CU advocacy is a 'team sport'

NAFCU Director of Political Affairs Dan O'Brien last week urged association members to lend their voices to the call for regulatory relief – especially during congressional recess periods like this week.

In addition to contacting members of Congress through NAFCU's Grassroots Action Center, O'Brien encouraged credit union representatives to find ways to speak to lawmakers face to face.

"Arrange a personal visit to your credit union. Schedule a time when your representative or senators can visit your facility, meet your staff and say hello to your members," O'Brien wrote in a NAFCU Compliance Blog post. "Use this meeting as an opportunity to let them know about the unique way in which you serve your members – who are the lawmaker's constituents."

O'Brien emphasized the importance of speaking up about regulatory relief during the first 100 days of the new Trump administration. He noted that House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, is expected to reintroduce the "CHOICE Act" in coming weeks, which includes many NAFCU-backed regulatory relief measures including the repeal of the Durbin amendment.

"The demands shouldered by compliance community continue to increase day-by-day as federal regulators, such as the CFPB and NCUA, continue to finalize a plethora of regulations mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act," O'Brien continued. "While this may abate slightly with the Trump administration, any substantive relief is going to require Congress passing legislation."

NAFCU members with advocacy questions are encouraged to contact O'Brien at dobrien@nafcu.org. Registration is also open for NAFCU Congressional Caucus in Washington, slated for Sept. 10-13.