news.cuna.org/articles/114684-photo-gallery-the-fight-for-hr-1151
Photo Gallery: The fight for HR 1151

Photo Gallery: The fight for H.R. 1151

CU movement declared victory after 17 months of intense grassroots lobbying.

August 7, 2018

On August 7, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed into law the Credit Union Membership Access Act (H.R. 1151).

This followed a massive, 17-month advocacy campaign: The Credit Union Campaign for Consumer Choice.

A coalition of credit union and cooperative organizations launched the campaign after a Supreme Court decision severely limited credit unions’ fields of membership.

Lobbying efforts involved thousands of credit union members signing petitions and rallying in Washington, D.C., and other cities, urging Congress to produce legislation that would allow for the expansion of credit unions’ fields of membership.

Following are scenes from a rally supporting H.R. 1151 and the signing of the bill.

 

  • Slide 01

    More than 6,000 credit union supporters converged on Washington in July 1998 to urge senators to vote for H.R. 1151.

  • Slide 02

    Former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, R-N.C., addresses credit union supporters.

  • Slide 03

    “We’re fighting for your future,” said former Senate Banking Committee Chairman Alphonse D’Amato, D-N.Y.

  • Slide 04

    Organizers had less than a week to organize the rally before the Senate voted on H.R. 1151.

  • Slide 05

    Former CUNA CEO Dan Mica (far left) addresses the crowd.

  • Slide 06

    Credit union lobbyist Larry Blanchard shakes hands with President Bill Clinton before the signing of H.R. 1151.

  • Slide 07

    President Clinton signs H.R. 1151, the CU Membership Access Act.

  • Slide 08

    President Clinton gathers with credit union supporters.

  • Slide 09

    President Clinton hands out pens used to sign the landmark legislation.

Read more about H.R. 1151 here