H.R. 3579 Well Worth Fighting For

I have been reading with interest the details of the new credit union regulatory relief bill, H.R. 3579. It looks like a very important and positive development for credit unions. Aside from the aspects that had already been covered in other bills earlier this Congress, I am pleased to see the issues of capital and member business lending addressed in the way they are. But above all else, I am pleased by one thing: in working on this bill, CUNA listened to the movement. For the last two years, there has been a debate within the movement about secondary capital. That debate still is unresolved. Rather than favor one side over the other, CUNA obviously took the prudent step of lobbying the sponsors of the bill to look at risk-based capital. That’s a sensible approach to a very complicated issue, and it shows that Congress is willing to listen when we make good arguments. This bill, if passed, will be beneficial to all credit unions. I challenge the movement to roll up our sleeves and get it passed. Joseph Garay CEO Oceanside Christopher FCU Oceanside, N.Y.