WASHINGTON — Maine Credit Union League Government and Public Affairs Manager Jon Paradise said the credit union visitors got enthusiastic feedback from its four-person congressional delegation on the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 1537).

Even though a companion bill to CURIA has not been introduced in the Senate, both Senator Olympia Snowe (R), ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee, and Susan Collins (R) were aware of and supportive of the measure, the credit union representatives found during their sixth annual Hike the Hill visit. Paradise commented that Collins was "very forceful in her support of CURIA and would like to see a version of it in the Senate." While he said it was "too early to tell" whether she would be interested in introducing a Senate version of CURIA, the credit union visitors "got very positive vibes from her."

Congressmen Tom Allen (D) and Mike Michaud (D) both signed onto CURIA in April of this year, only about a month after it was introduced. Both reported to the credit union representatives that they were hopeful for a hearing in the House Financial Services Committee on the legislation before Congress recesses.