WASHINGTON — The Defense Credit Union Council urged congressional leaders on Election Day to enact three credit union measures before the 119th Congress ends, seeking changes to veteran business lending, loan maturities and emergency liquidity access.
DCUC is asking lawmakers to include the provisions in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act or another must-pass legislative package.
Chief Advocacy Officer Jason Stverak addressed the request to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“The election does not end this Congress’s responsibility to deliver for veterans and military families,” Stverak said.
Three Legislative Requests
According to DCUC, the measures it is seeking would:
- Expand veteran business lending. The Veterans Member Business Loan Act, H.R. 507 and S. 110, would exclude qualifying loans to veterans from the definition used to calculate credit unions’ aggregate member business lending cap. DCUC said the change would create no federal lending program or government guarantee and would preserve underwriting responsibilities.
- Extend loan maturities. The Expanding Access to Lending Options Act, H.R. 4167 and S. 3616, would raise the general federal credit union loan maturity limit from 15 to 20 years, allow longer terms through National Credit Union Administration regulations and remove a principal-residence restriction from a specified mortgage provision, DCUC said.
- Broaden liquidity access. The Padilla-Cramer NCUA Central Liquidity Facility Enhancements Act, S. 3575, would permanently allow corporate credit unions acting as agents to purchase required facility stock for a subset of their members. DCUC said that flexibility would make participation more practical, particularly for smaller institutions.
Veteran Financing Challenges
DCUC also cited the Federal Reserve’s 2026 Chartbook on Veteran-owned Firms, based on the 2025 Small Business Credit Survey, in arguing that veterans face persistent financing barriers.
Among majority-veteran-owned small employer firms, 38% reported credit-availability challenges, compared with 28% of firms with no veteran ownership, according to figures cited by the council.
Among financially challenged firms, 62% of majority-veteran-owned businesses used personal funds, compared with 53% of firms with no veteran ownership. Among majority-veteran-owned applicants for loans, lines of credit or merchant cash advances, 17% were denied and 30% received partial approval.
DCUC further cited a September 2025 Government Accountability Office report identifying barriers including limited business networks and difficulty establishing credit and business relationships after relocation.
DCUC said easing lending restrictions could help finance veteran-owned suppliers seeking working capital and equipment for defense contracts. It urged congressional leaders and the financial services and armed services committees to resolve technical differences and secure passage.
“If these provisions cannot move in the final NDAA, Congress should carry them in another must-pass package,” Stverak said.
