Virginia CUs, League reach more than 60 lawmakers in series of summer events

The Virginia Credit Union League and member credit unions met with more than 60 federal and state lawmakers and candidates in  a series of legislative events across the Commonwealth this summer in preparation for Congress’s September return to Washington and an unprecedented election season in Virginia.

“Advancing our legislative agenda starts with building a good working relationship with legislators and policymakers,” said Virginia Credit Union League President/CEO Carrie Hunt. “Our legislative events provide us the opportunity to connect lawmakers and credit unions, showcase the good work of credit unions in serving their members and communities, and build awareness of the issues that matter most to us.”

In meetings with U.S. Reps. Bob Good, R, Ben Cline, R, Morgan Griffith, R, Jennifer Wexton, D, as well as key staff members for U.S. Sens. Mark Warner, D, Tim Kaine, D, and Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D, credit unions made note of a number of pressing federal issues, including:

• The defeat of interchange legislation,
• Preventing a government shutdown,
• Support for legislation that would allow meeting flexibility for the boards of federal credit unions, and
• Review of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations’ potential harm to credit unions and their members.

At the state level, the Virginia General Assembly will look very different come January and the start of the 2024 session. Based on retirements and results from the June primaries, more than two-fifths of the 40-member state Senate will be new, as will more than one-third of the 100-member House of Delegates. Election defeats this November would push the turnover higher.

Credit unions and the League have been active in meeting with both incumbents and political candidates, including hosting over 20 events at the League’s Credit Union House facility in downtown Richmond since the beginning of the year.