Spring Hike the Hill Meetings Yield Positive Momentum

Posted by Ryan Fitzgerald on June 4, 2026

This week, credit union advocates traveled to Washington D.C. for GoWest’s Spring Hike the Hill where advocates met with federal regulators and the GoWest Congressional delegation to reinforce credit unions’ leadership in championing practical solutions for the members they serve.

The Spring Hike the Hill meetings provide opportunities for more in-depth conversations and the ability to build on the momentum generated by the earlier Hike the Hill at the National Government Affairs Conference. This year’s meetings yielded stronger relationships with key federal regulators and positive momentum on credit union priority legislation.

Federal Regulators

Spring Hike the Hill included a focus on deepening credit unions’ relationships with key federal regulators, as well as bettering credit unions’ understanding of said regulators’ priorities. During the visit, advocates highlighted opportunities to strengthen liquidity, modernize regulation, expand affordable lending, and preserve housing finance tools that support communities.

On Tuesday, credit union advocates met with Amy Zirkle, Senior Program Manager, Payments and Deposits Markets, for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Next, advocates spent valuable collaboration time with Joe Cwiklinski, Vice President and Head of Government Relations with the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), gaining key insights and discussing strategies for advocacy on behalf of credit unions on Capitol Hill. Additionally, credit unions met with leadership at the Federal Reserve and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

We met with the NCUA to discuss ongoing efforts to provide regulatory relief through the Deregulation Project, sharing future rulemaking concepts to support safety and soundness and operational flexibility, and addressing examination and supervision concerns raised by credit unions. The conversation was productive, and meaningful progress was made toward resolving an issue related to capital write-downs.

Congress

On Capitol Hill, advocates met with Members of Congress and their staff from 28 offices across the GoWest region, building momentum behind our legislative priorities and encouraging more co-sponsors.

Credit unions advocated for congressional action on these priorities:

Affordability: Credit unions are on the front lines of affordability and are helping consumers with affordable financial solutions every day.
- Credit Union Offer: Credit unions want to help address and solve affordability challenges by having a seat at the table to discuss and develop policy solutions on affordability issues.
Housing: As leaders on affordability, credit unions are working to expand their ability to provide affordable home lending opportunities by adding credit unions to the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) statutory definition of a “Community Financial Institutions,” which would unlock new liquidity options and affordable housing options.
- Credit Union Ask: Expand the CFI definition to include credit unions by passing the MORE Opportunities for Homeownership Act (H.R. 7647) and/or including it in the 21st Century Road to Housing package currently being negotiated.
Expanding Access to Lending: The Federal Credit Union Act (FCUA) has not been updated in 30 years and one of the low-hanging opportunities to bring it up to market standards is to update loan maturity limits.
- Credit Union Asks:
  - Co-sponsor and support the Expanding Access to Lending Options Act (S. 3616 / H.R. 4167).
  - Co-sponsor and support the Veteran Business Loan Act (S. 110 / H.R. 507).
NCUA Board Leadership: The Administration nominated John Crews to succeed Kyle Hauptman as the NCUA Board Chair.
- Credit Union Offer: Credit unions are proactively offering resources and information to assist Senators as they consider Crews’ nomination in the Senate.
Financial Fraud: There is an urgent need for industry, government, and law enforcement to collaborate on understanding the full scope of consumer fraud and recommend solutions to Congress and regulators.
- Credit Union Asks:
  - Co-sponsor and support the Taskforce for Recognizing and Averting Payment Scams (TRAPS) Act (S. 2019 / H.R. 4936).
  - Co-sponsor and support the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act (H.R. 7548).

Both regulatory and Congressional meetings included extremely valuable and impactful conversations that continue to move our credit union relationship and policy goals forward.