WASHINGTON-The National Cooperative Business Association recently awarded Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) the Honored Cooperator Award for her support of cooperative businesses. National Cooperative Bank President and CEO Charles M. Snyder presented the award to the senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, thanking her for her "unswerving dedication to cooperatives" and their contributions to the economy. CUNA President and CEO Dan Mica added that Maloney has been "a good friend of credit unions, one who truly understands what makes us unique as member-owned, not-for-profit cooperatives." She was an original co-sponsor of the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 3579). NCBA President Paul Hazen said that Maloney "works hard to ensure that cooperatives are treated fairly and promoted as engines of economic development in America's communities." Maloney has also been a strong supporter of legislation to allow veterans to use VA loans to purchase co-op housing units and to provide funding for worker-owned cooperatives and businesses. In addition to NCBA, CUNA, and the National Cooperative Bank, NAFCU, the New York State Credit Union League, Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums, the Federation of New York Housing Cooperatives, the National Association of Housing Cooperatives, and Amalgamated Bank made the presentation. "We wanted to show our appreciation for her tireless efforts to ensure that cooperatives are available to all who want to belong," Hazen said.