Credit Union Advocates Make Their Voices Heard in Washington, D.C. during Fall Hike 

Posted by Ryan Fitzgerald on September 12, 2025

When Congress returned from its August recess, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), federal funding, and other pressing issues were immediately on the agenda, and GoWest advocates were ready to engage. 

This week, 42 credit union leaders from all six GoWest states walked the halls of Capitol Hill, meeting with 34 Congressional offices to share how credit unions are strengthening communities back home. Their message was simple yet powerful: credit unions are improving the lives of their constituents and helping to bolster communities every day, and Congress must ensure they can continue to do so. 

“In every meeting, lawmakers heard real stories about how credit unions work to bolster financial security for members, small businesses, and entire communities, while fraud and scams continue to be a real challenge” said Ryan Fitzgerald, GoWest’s SVP of Advocacy. “That’s the value of bringing local credit union advocates to D.C.—these stories cut through the noise and put a human face on the policies being debated.” 

Conversations That Matter 

Advocates shared how credit unions are helping families afford their first homes, supporting small businesses with operating capital, acting as the frontline defenders fighting fraud, and serving underserved rural areas that larger financial institutions have left behind. Credit union leaders expressed gratitude to the Members of Congress who supported credit unions during the passage of the large reconciliation package, while providing context for five key policy priorities: 

1. Protect the Credit Union Tax Status – Continue to preserve the not-for-profit structure that allows credit unions to return value to members and reinvest in local communities, especially in future reconciliation efforts. 

1. Modernize the Federal Credit Union Act – After nearly 30 years without updates, the FCUA must be modernized to give credit unions flexibility to meet consumers’ evolving needs. 

1. Reject Harmful NDAA Amendments – Unrelated measures like the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) would harm credit unions and reduce consumer choice. After our time on the Hill, the House passed the NDAA without the harmful CCCA amendment. The bill is being considered in the Senate, and we continue to advocate that this amendment be rejected.  

1. Partner to Fight Fraud: Support the TRAPS Act – Credit unions are on the front lines of fraud prevention and are urging Congress to create a task force to study and provide full-scale response and recommendations to Congress and regulators through the passage of the TRAPS Act. 

1. Protect and Promote the CDFI Program – Safeguarding this program ensures credit unions can continue serving low-income and rural communities. 

Beyond Congress: Conversations with the Federal Reserve 

The advocacy didn’t stop on Capitol Hill. A group of credit union leaders met with staff at the Federal Reserve to discuss critical issues shaping the future of financial services: 

• Interchange: Advocates emphasized that smaller issuers must not be forced into a one-size-fits-all regulatory model that ignores real cost differences and threatens competition. 

• Stablecoin: With new legislation creating a regulatory framework for digital assets, credit unions stressed the need for clear, consistent rules that allow them to responsibly serve members in this emerging space. 

“As regulatory agencies and Congress work to tackle critical policy matters, this was a perfect opportunity for advocates from across the GoWest region to deliver clear, concise credit union messaging,” said Jennifer Wagner, GoWest’s EVP and Chief Advocacy Officer. “As members of Congress and agencies confront complex issues, we need to continually remind them that credit unions are uniquely positioned to serve as the local financial partners to consumers, small businesses, and communities in every corner of the country.” 

From underscoring the importance of protecting and modernizing the operating environment of credit unions to tackling complex issues like interchange and digital currencies, the trip demonstrated the power of unified advocacy.  

Each story told by GoWest advocates reinforced a simple truth: credit unions are unique and essential financial services providers, and when they thrive, their members continue to build financial well-being, and communities succeed.  

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Federal Advocacy.