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Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., has offered a "skinny" version of the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that does not include a NAFCU-opposed provision that would treat big banks the same as a local, not-for-profit credit union when it comes to nominal leases on military bases.

While the conference committee comprised of members from both the Senate and House continue to debate a final version of the bill, Inhofe's proposal would likely be considered as an alternative if a compromise can't be reached on a larger package. NAFCU Vice President of Legislative Affairs Brad Thaler sent a message to keep member defense credit unions informed of the situation. 

"This fight is not over, however, as this is only a proposal during the negotiations right now, and there is no indication yet that the House will agree to it," Thaler wrote. "The House did not include the Senate's bank leasing language during their consideration of the bill, so we have a lot of support from the House. Still, differences between the House and Senate about what, and how, to address broader issues in the NDAA remain.

"The conference is not finished until both the House and Senate conferees agree on one bill. We must continue to be vigilant and ensure that the conferees continue to hear from credit unions on the importance of this issue," Thaler added.

While NAFCU advocates on Capitol Hill, credit unions are encouraged to use NAFCU's Grassroots Action Center campaign to contact lawmakers directly and urge their opposition to the harmful, bank-sought provision that would disadvantage not-for-profit credit unions.

NAFCU has consistently opposed this provision's inclusion – the association's advocacy efforts kept it out of the FY2019 NDAA – and has teamed up with the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) to oppose it. NAFCU, DCUC, and CUNA recently published an op-ed in Military Times to hit back at bankers' efforts to include harmful provision in the NDAA.

Bolstering the credit union cause, House Armed Services Subcommittee Chairwoman Jackie Speier, D-Calif., and a bipartisan group of more than a dozen lawmakers voiced their support for striking this provision in a letter sent last month.