Trade association representatives on Capitol Hill say seniorleadership on the Senate Banking Committee, poised to replaceChairman Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) who recently announced he will retire atthe end of the current congressional session, is credit unionfriendly.

Should Democrats retain Senate majority following the 2014mid-term elections, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) would be next in lineto chair the committee. Last congress, Reed was an originalco-sponsor of S. 2231, the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act,which would have raised the member business lending cap to 27.5% ofassets.

“He's been supportive of credit unions and their members, andwould do a great job as chairman,” Katie Marisic, NAFCU director ofpolitical affairs, said of Reed.

However, CUNA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs RyanDonovan said Reed's succession isn't guaranteed. The process ofnaming congressional committee chairmen has “a bunch of differentmoving parts,” the CUNA lobbyist said.

“It doesn't always follow seniority,” he said. “There will be aprocess at the beginning of the next Congress to determinethis.”

For example, he said, if Reed were to be named the chairman ofanother committee, the next Democrat in line would be Sen. ChuckSchumer (D-N.Y.).

Donovan and Marisic agreed Schumer is credit union friendly,also having signed on as original co-sponsor of member businesslending legislation.

Should the 2014 mid-term elections result in a change in Senatemajority, the upper chamber's committees would then be chaired byRepublicans. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who is currently the BankingCommittee's Ranking Member, would be in line to take over as chairshould the GOP gain the majority.

Crapo, who supported the Durbin Amendment to the 2010 financialoverhaul legislation, also supported 2011's failed Tester-CorkerAmendment, which would have delayed the Federal Reserve'sregulation of debit fees.

Crapo also sponsored, along with Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), anamendment in 2009 that increased the NCUA's borrowing authorityfrom $100 million to $6 billion, to fund corporate stabilizationefforts.

Both trade group representatives said Crapo has been receptiveto credit union issues.

“He has a good relationship with Idaho credit unions, and he andhis staff have always been receptive to our concerns,” Donovansaid.