WASHINGTON — The House is out of session this week while the Senate remains in Washington, even as a growing issue for both bodies and the administration looms in the background.
America’s Credit Unions said it remains active on Capitol Hill with a focus on several issues, including ensuring that credit unions receive parity in the Main Street Capital Act, which is primarily aimed at easing regulations on community banks, and following up on a House hearing last week on fraud at which a credit union witness testified.
Greg Mesack, SVP of advocacy with America’s Credit Unions, said he expects Congress’ attention when it comes to issues of interest to credit unions will be dominated by housing-related legislation, specifically the 21st Century Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act, which is aimed at making it easier for people to get into homes.
“We think, overall, it’s moving forward in a positive way, so we’re excited to see where that plays out,” he said. “There’s been a lot of discussion back and forth about the next step for this bill. We know that’s still being debated and discussed … and we’re getting closer to something being done to bring relief for sky-high housing costs.”
Letter Sent on ROAD Act
In Support of the ROAD to Housing Act, America’s Credit Unions has sent a letter to Senate leaders calling for the adoption of an amendment to improve Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund transparency.
America’s Credit Unions noted the amendment would add the Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development (AFFORD) Act, which has the support of the trade group, to the bill. The AFFORD Act includes:
- The CDFI Fund Transparency Act, to require annual testimony from the CDFI Fund before Congress
- The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act of 2025, to reduce the program’s minimum loan amount
- The Scaling Community Lenders Act, to fund the long-dormant CDFI liquidity enhancement pilot program that awards funds to private sector liquidity facilities that help build capacity of CDFIs in both rural and urban communities.
The Senate is still considering amendments to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, with a final floor vote likely this week or next, America’s Credit Unions added.
A Complicating Issue
But another issue could upset any schedule Congress may hope to keep. The ongoing budget impasse related to funding the Department of Homeland Security has begun to affect air travel in the United States as employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have been calling in sick or not showing up for work because they are not being paid. That has led to delays at many airports and at customs.
Democrats in Congress have refused to approve any funding for DHS until changes are made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Asked by the CU Daily whether the headlines the travel delays have begun to attract could affect the fate of credit union-favored legislation in Congress, Mesack replied, “I do think it will have an impact. As you see more and more backups, people will start to feel pressure. I think that will also be combined with some of the recent security incidents we’ve seen showing the need for Homeland Security. But it’s going to take a little bit of time. Remember, the last time there was a government shutdown, people didn’t really start to cave until we were six weeks in and air traffic control got really bad.”
DHS Change May Aid Progress
Mesack said he believes both sides in Congress remain entrenched, but he does believe the removal of Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security could help, as she had become a “figurehead” for the Trump administration’s disputed ICE operations.
The president has nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to succeed Noem.
“I think Sen. Mullin has a lot of bipartisan support. I think he’s worked across the aisle in the past and he’s someone respected,” said Mesack. “He might be able to help bring some things to the finish line, but I don’t think there’s an end in sight for the next couple of weeks.”
