WASHINGTON–Credit unions believe the opportunity to look into the eyes of the chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services during an in-person meeting will pay dividends in some of the current debate taking place over legislation in Congress right now.
As the CU Daily reported here, in Little Rock, Ark., last week, America’s Credit Unions and the Cornerstone Credit Union League met with House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AK) for a roundtable with Arkansas credit unions. The organizations said the focus was on how credit unions bring expanded access to affordable financial services.
As CU Daily had also reported earlier, some in the banking community have been taking something of a victory lap over their input into recent legislation and White House executive orders, even as CUs responded by saying they have played an equally prominent role.
During a call with the media, America’s Credit Unions President and CEO Scott Simpson was asked by the CU Daily whether the discussion also included ensuring the kind of regulatory relief for community banks that has been discussed on Capitol Hill. Hill is a former banker who is obviously familiar with the industry.
‘Amenable to Dialogue’
“We absolutely did have the conversation and he was amenable to further dialogue,” said Simpson. “I’m optimistic about that the opportunity to continue those discussions. But you know, packaging legislation is an art form and we’ve definitely got to keep working with the chairman.”
Simpson described the overall tenor of the meeting in Little Rock as one of “collegial engagement.”
“The part that is always critical to me is to see the respect that lawmakers have for the work that’s being done in their districts,” Simpson added. “When credit union professionals can look a lawmaker in the eyes in their home state and make that connection, it’s a powerful political expression.”
