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Gov't shutdown ends; CUs, NAFCU remain engaged
As consequences from the now-ended partial government shutdown worsened, NAFCU and credit unions stepped up advocacy efforts to educate the media, public, Congress and administration on credit unions' efforts to support their members.
The shutdown – which lasted 35 days – ended Friday after a deal was reached to fund the impacted departments for three weeks. (Read more here)
Scores of credit unions offered assistance to federal employees and personnel impacted by the shutdown as soon as it began. In a letter last week to House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger outlined some of the products and services being offered and also provided specifics from several credit unions across the nation.
"As we always do during times of economic crisis, credit unions are focusing on their members and doing all they can to help," Berger emphasized.
NAFCU also launched a grassroots campaign allowing credit unions to directly contact their representatives and senators to share how their institution is supporting members affected by the shutdown and to also urge an end to it.
"NAFCU realizes that the impact of this shutdown is being felt by many credit unions and their members in a number of ways," wrote Brad Thaler, NAFCU's vice president of legislative affairs, in a message to member credit unions. "We share the sentiment with many of you that it is time to end the shutdown. I write today to ask you to share that message with your elected officials."
Further stressing the need for the shutdown to end, NAFCU on Thursday joined with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and roughly 650 other trade associations asking Congress and the administration to "immediately take steps to restore the full operation of the federal government."
"The current shutdown – now the longest in American history – is causing significant and in some cases lasting damage to families, businesses, and the economy as a whole," the trades said. "The harm is well documented and continues to compound with each passing day."
NAFCU will keep credit unions updated as Congress and the president work on a longer-term spending bill.