When credit union leaders visit Washington this year and speakwith their district's members of Congress, they should also beaware of key committee leaders that hold influence over other members.

These powerful leaders oversee financial institutions and theNCUA, originate tax reform and wield considerable influenceover legislation in those areas.

The House Financial Services Committee oversees the economy,banking system, housing, monetary policy, and provides oversightfor the NCUA, FDIC, Treasury, FHFA, HUD and other federalagencies.

Its counterpart in the Senate, the Committee on Banking, Housingand Urban Affairs, has jurisdiction over banking, insurance,financial markets, securities, housing, urban development and masstransit, international trade and finance and economic policy.

All tax reform must begin in the House Ways and Means Committee,which makes the group particularly important to credit unions thisyear. The Senate Finance committee oversees changes to the tax codein the upper chamber.

The following are eight congressional committee leaders everycredit union executive should know.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman JebHensarling (R-Texas)

Hensarling took over asleader of this important committee Jan. 3, after Rep. SpencerBachus (R-Ala.) had to vacate the position due to term limits.Hensarling is a loud critic of the Dodd-Frank Act and the ConsumerFinancial Protection Bureau, and could bring some regulatory reliefto credit unions. He drew applause at NAFCU's Congressional Caucusin 2012 when he called Dodd-Frank a “legislative drive-byshooting”; however, he also introduced a bill last year that wouldwind-down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which NAFCU opposed.

House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member MaxineWaters (D-Calif.)

Waters, who replaces retiringRanking Member Barney Frank (D-Mass.), has long been a credit unionsupporter and speaks highly of relationships with credit unions in herdistrict, particularly Kinecta FCU in Manhattan Beach. Waters represents California's43^rd district, which is centered in South Los Angelesand is home to the largest African American community in theWestern U.S. Waters' district is also largely Hispanic and she isknown for championing consumer protection and minority rights. Sheis supportive of credit unions, but may not bring much regulatoryrelief.

Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs CommitteeChairman Tim Johnson (D-S.D.)

The Banking Committee websitedescribes Johnson as a “community banking advocate”, and quoted himas saying that “community banks are the lifeline of many small,rural communities.” Johnson cautioned against S. 2231, the112^th Congress' member business lending bill, on the Senate floor in March. However, credit union tradeorganizations haven't called Johnson an enemy of credit unions,saying he is open to listening to credit union issues, too. Infact, Johnson was a key figure in passing a bill that eliminated anATM placard disclosure requirement that had spurred frivolous classaction lawsuits against ATM owners.

Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs CommitteeRanking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)

Crapo took over the RankingMember position from Alabama's Richard Shelby, who had to step downdue to term limits. Crapo, who supported the Durbin Amendmentto the 2010 financial overhaul legislation, also supported 2011'sTester-Corker Amendment, which would have delayed the FederalReserve's regulation of debit fees. Crapo also sponsored, alongwith Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), an amendment in 2009 that increasedthe NCUA's borrowing authority from $100 million to $6 billion, tofund corporate stabilization efforts.

House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp(R-Mich.)

Dave Adams, president/CEO of theMichigan Credit Union League, said although Camp is aggressively lobbied by bankers, he's also said he'sunwilling to help banks at the expense of credit unions. He was aCURIA co-sponsor and expressed support for raising the memberbusiness lending cap. Camp also penned a letter in support of thecredit union tax exemption in 2004. Adams said Camp has a goodrelationship with credit unions in his district, and has been knownto call credit union officials to get their views on issues.

House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member SandyLevin (D-Mich.)

Adams said Levin'sphilosophical position of supporting organizations that serveurban, underserved neighborhoods in his districts makes him anatural credit union supporter. Levin's brother, Sen. Carl Levin(D-Mich.), chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, andtogether, the two have considerable influence with the ObamaAdministration and Democratic Party, Adams said. NAFCU's BradThaler said both Camp and Levin recognize the role credit unionsplayed in supporting Michigan's auto industry by making auto loansin tough times.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus(D-Mont.)

Speaking of tax reform in 2012,Baucus said, “Everything is on the table.” However, Baucus is acredit union supporter and spoke at CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference a few years ago, said SeniorVice President of Legislative Affairs Ryan Donovan. NAFCU VicePresident of Legislative Affairs Brad Thaler said Baucus haspreviously expressed support for credit unions and in particular,the tax exemption.

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch(R-Utah)

Although Hatch represents thestate of Utah, where nasty bank vs. credit union battles have been fought, he is not decidedly pro-banker.Thaler said Hatch has a good relationship with NAFCU, and staffershave said they support the credit union tax exemption. Donovan saidthe Utah League has a good relationship with Hatch, as does CUNA inWashington.