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NAFCU's Berger: Relationship building is the key to strong advocacy
With President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris being officially sworn in earlier this month, NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger penned an editorial in CUInsight touting the association's commitment to credit union advocacy amid changes in political leadership.
"These new leaders bring new priorities to the federal landscape," said Berger. "At NAFCU, we look forward to working with the Biden Administration and the 117th Congress to help bring our nation closer together, respond to the pandemic, and promote a brighter future for all Americans."
To accomplish this, NAFCU will remain focused on advocating at the regulatory agencies and in Congress. "Our team is already on the ground building and strengthening relationships with a host of new regulators and their teams," added Berger. "[In Congress,] we see opportunity for bipartisan agreement to advance several key reforms important to credit unions.
"Our award-winning advocacy team is ready to do what they do best – secure policy wins,” continued Berger. “This is what we do at NAFCU: We fight for credit unions."
Earlier this year, NAFCU launched its 2021 legislative and regulatory priorities to achieve an operating environment in which credit unions – and their 123 million members – can thrive. They include the following:
- Growth: Supporting legislation and regulation that helps credit unions grow membership, loans and retained earnings.
- Fair and Innovative Market: Fighting back against banker attacks and establishing regulatory standards for fintech and other non-depository institutions.
- Regulatory Relief: Providing clear rules of the road and streamlining regulation that allows credit unions to put more resources towards serving members.
- Strong NCUA: Pressing for the NCUA to be the sole industry regulator and fostering a strong relationship with the agency to ensure credit unions’ voices and concerns are heard.
- Data Protection: Encouraging federal standards for data privacy and data security that recognize existing regulatory requirements for credit unions.