WASHINGTON – All four of Maine's congressional delegation including two senators and two representatives shared their strong words of praise for the role credit unions play in the lives of members and the communities they serve throughout the state at a special breakfast in the Capitol Hill complex on Feb. 28. Sen. Olympia Snowe, the senior member of the delegation, told the nearly 70 credit union attendees, "We appreciate what you do for the people of Maine. Credit unions do what is right and do it well." Snowe highlighted the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger as an example of where "great teamwork can make a tremendous difference in helping people. What you do for this cause deserves our appreciation." She also called the fact that nearly one of every two Maine residents uses a credit union "remarkable." Republican Sen. Susan Collins reaffirmed her support of CUs, telling them, "I stand with credit unions on all issues and am proud to support credit unions. Credit unions view members as partners which is a big difference from other financial institutions." The senator called the personal generosity of credit unions "unmatched," adding, "From the more than $2 million that the Maine Credit Unions' Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised since 1990 to making the fourth highest contribution among all credit union associations in the country to Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts, credit unions are about reaching out." Democrat Rep. Tom Allen thanked CUs for helping to build communities both financially and socially and called the partnership and support credit unions show in providing assistance to small business owners "a perfect match." Congressman Michael Michaud (D), the only U.S. credit union board member to be elected to Congress, said, "Credit unions are not just financial institutions but are the hearts and souls of our communities. Credit unions are one big family and that makes a difference in how they operate."