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The House and Senate remain out of session this week as they prepare for the Nov. 6 midterm elections. NAFCU's award-winning advocacy team remains active in Washington, and encourages credit unions to reach out to their representatives at home on top industry issues.

On Capitol Hill, NAFCU is currently defending the credit union industry against efforts to wrap it into the Community Reinvestment Act, and is instead asking that credit unions be granted the ability to serve underserved areas. The association is also pushing for the withdrawal of a proposed rulemaking that would loosen Volcker rule requirements on big banks.

In addition, following NCUA action last week to delay its risk-based capital rule by one year, NAFCU Vice President of Legislative Affairs Brad Thaler sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Banking and House Financial Services Committees pushing for additional relief. Thaler urged Congress to act on the bipartisan bill the Common Sense Credit Union Capital Relief Act of 2018 (H.R. 5288), which would ensure a two-year delay of the rule. At NAFCU's leading, this legislation has passed the House three times this year.

When Congress returns next month, NAFCU will be engaged as the Senate is expected to take up a number of pending nominations, which could include Kathy Kraninger to lead the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; Rodney Hood's nomination to serve on the NCUA Board has yet to be taken up by the Senate Banking Committee.

Congress must also finish work on government spending, including the financial services and general government (FSGG) appropriations measure. NAFCU has heavily advocated for full funding for the NCUA's Community Development Revolving Loan Fund (CDRLF) and Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund, which is included in the Senate-passed version of the bill. Both Senate- and House-passed bills include full funding for the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 7(a) and 504 loan programs, which are used by credit unions.

For those credit unions looking to reach out to their lawmakers, NAFCU's website has resources available on top industry issues, and its Grassroots Action Center has lawmakers' contact information readily accessible.

Also happening this week:

• NAFCU's Management and Leadership Institute runs through Friday in Annapolis, Md. (Read more)

• Tuesday, NAFCU Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and General Counsel Carrie Hunt and Senior Regulatory Affairs Counsel Ann Kossachev will meet with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau.

• NAFCU Senior Regulatory Compliance Counsel Elizabeth LaBerge will attend a workshop Thursday that's focused on privacy issues, specifically implementation of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

• Also Thursday, Kossachev and Regulatory Affairs Counsel Kaley Schafer will meet with the Small Business Administration's Office of Capital Access.