2018 Midterm Elections: Where Do Credit Unions Stand with Incumbents?

With midterm elections right around the corner, LCUL wanted to share some background information on incumbents in terms of credit union support.  On a state level, all 144 legislative districts (both senate and house) have four-year terms. There is no one running this November but they will all be up for re-election in November 2019.
 
On a national level, four hundred and seventy seats in the U.S. Congress (35 Senate seats and all 435 House seats) are up for election on November 6, including all six members of our House Delegation :
 

District 1: Steve Scalise
(running against 3 Democrats, 1 Libertarian, 1 Independent)
  • Credit union member/supporter
  • Voted in favor of S2155
  • Voted in favor of HR 5515

District 2: Cedric Richmond
(running against 3 Independents)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5515

District 3: Clay Higgins
(running against 4 Democrats, 1 Republican, 1 Libertarian)
  • Credit union member/supporter
  • Hosted meet and greet in April 2018
  • Voted in favor of S2155
  • Voted in favor of HR 5515
  • CUNA ADA letter sign on


District 4: Mike Johnson
(running against 1 Democrat, 1 Independent)

  • Credit union member/supporter
  • Hosted meet and greet in November 2017
  • Voted in favor of S2155
  • Voted in favor of HR 5515
  • CUNA ADA letter sign on
 
District 5: Ralph Abraham
(running against 1 Democrat,1 Libertarian, 1 Independent)
  • Credit Union friendly
  • Hosted a meet and greet on October 22
  • Voted in favor of S2155
  • Voted in favor of HR 5515
  • CUNA ADA letter sign on
 
District 6: Garret Graves
(running against 2 Democrats,1 Independent)
  • Credit Union member/supporter
  • Hosted a meet and greet in June 2018
  • Voted in favor of S. 2155
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5515
  • CUNA ADA letter sign on
Refresher on S. 2155: the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act
 
President Trump signed the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (S. 2155) into law this past May, enacting a major piece of credit union-supported bipartisan regulatory relief legislation. LCUL strongly supported the bill from the earliest negotiations in the Senate, and remained engaged with credit unions through House passage of the bill May. 22.
 
S. 2155 protects seniors from elder abuse, make mortgage processing easier and quicker, increase affordable rental housing in our communities, and help my credit union provide better service to our 110 million members. 
 
We are proud to report that the majority of our delegation has voted in support of the bill. All voted yes except for Representative Cedric Richmond. Representative Clay Higgins was not present for the vote due to scheduling conflict.
 
Refresher on HR 5515: Victory for credit unions on military bases
 
Credit unions will continue to be able to meet the financial services needs of America's servicemen and women on military installations in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Leagues and CUNA led the charge to strike a provision in the House version of the NDAA that would have put credit unions at a disadvantage when serving members on military bases.
  
Under the Federal Credit Union Act, on-base credit unions are exempt from the costs associated with leases, utilities, and services, which includes the furnishing of office space and/or land and ATM placement.
 
LCUL initially contacted to Anthony Hernandez, President/CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council, and our Louisiana credit unions with branches on military bases. All agreed that this legislation could impact operations. LCUL reached out to the Louisiana Congressional delegation expressing concern with this provision and then followed up with a letter to Louisiana Representative Ralph Abraham who also serves on the Armed Services Committee, opposing the provision. We are proud to report that our delegation voted in favor of credit unions.
 
Refresher on ADA Letter to Attorney General
 
More than 100 members of Congress signed a letter submitted to Attorney General Jeff Sessions calling for the Department of Justice to issue website standards for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Credit unions around the country are facing legal threats due to uncertainty with how the ADA applies to websites, and LCUL has made finding a solution a top advocacy priority. Several members of our delegation signed onto the letter as a direct result of advocacy by state credit union leagues.

Pelican Politics updates are dedicated to Louisiana Credit Union Governmental Affairs and is intended for affiliated credit unions.

LCUL's Governmental Affairs department guards CU rights at the state and national levels. As financial laws and regulations are changed or challenged, the League is there, protecting your interests and fighting for/against issues that are important to the vitality of the industry.