WASHINGTON — Raising the cap on member business loans and implementing a system of risk-based capital would help credit unions do more to aid small businesses, CUNA President Dan Mica told lawmakers today.

Mica wrote members of the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee in an attempt to help shape the agenda if Congress decides to enact another economic stimulus bill.

“We know credit unions cannot be the entire solution to the problems our economy faces, but we remain an important resource to credit union members; and data suggests that the existence of a strong credit union movement benefits all consumers,” he wrote.

House and Senate leaders have talked about such a measure, which would include increases in unemployment benefits and food stamps and additional funds to improve the infrastructure.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told a House committee on Monday that any fiscal package should include measures to improve access to credit by consumers, homebuyers and businesses.

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