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The House and Senate are back in session this week and Congress is expected to work through various appropriations bills. NAFCU will continue to track progress on two of the bills that include NAFCU-sought language related to delaying the NCUA's risk-based capital (RBC) rule and obtaining clarity on website accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

NAFCU will also monitor a House Financial Services subcommittee hearing on Wednesday on ways to improve transparency and accountability at the CFPB. NAFCU has suggested to lawmakers and CFPB leaders ways to improve the CFPB while also seeking regulatory relief for credit unions.

NCUA's RBC Rule

In recent weeks, NAFCU efforts have led to the inclusion of language to delay the implementation of the NCUA's RBC rule by two years in two major pieces of legislation: the House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government's appropriations bill, and the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (H.R. 5841).

The language included in both bills comes from the Common Sense Capital Relief Act (H.R. 5288), which was introduced by Reps. Bill Posey, R-Fla., and Denny Heck, D-Wash., in March. NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger recently met with Posey and Heck to thank them for their ongoing efforts to protect the industry from the adverse effects of this rule.

The general government appropriation's bill is still under consideration by the committee; H.R. 5841 has been advanced out of committee and is expected to be brought to the House floor for a vote in the coming weeks.

ADA Website Accessibility

NAFCU remains active on Capitol Hill seeking clarification of regulatory standards for websites. Language was recently added to a House Appropriation's measure that would require the Justice Department (DOJ) to clarify website accessibility standards under the ADA, and Reps. Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Lou Correa, D-Calif., are currently circulating a letter among House members to urge the DOJ to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

NAFCU also continues to support credit unions facing litigation over unclear website accessibility requirements under the ADA. The association has filed 10 amicus briefs in the effort; five of the lawsuits in which NAFCU has filed an amicus brief have been dismissed.

Credit unions are encouraged to use NAFCU's Grassroots Action Center to urge their lawmakers to support an RBC rule delay and clarification for ADA website standards.

Also happening this week:

• Comments are due to NAFCU on two of the CFPB's requests for information: adopted regulations and new rulemaking authorities (comments due Tuesday), and inherited regulations (comments due Friday).

• Five webinars are being offered by NAFCU and NAFCU Services Preferred Partners on funds availability, repossessions and remarketing processes, debt collection, Artificial Intelligence, and financial planning and investment services.