WASHINGTON — Eight members of Congress have added their names as co-sponsors to the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (H.R. 1537) bringing the total to an even 80 with primary sponsor Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.).

Representatives Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Tim Holden (D-Pa.), Don Young (R-Alaska), Susan Davis (D-Calif.), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), and Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) signed onto the bill yesterday as returning supporters. New to CURIA this year are Financial Services Committee Member Albio Sires (D-N.J.) and freshman Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), who serves on the Small Business Committee.

Credit union lobbyists have been stressing the importance of gaining co-sponsors as a show of support for the bill to push it through Congress over the bankers' objections. The bill would expand business lending authorities, establish a risk-based capital framework, and institute a minimum voter participation requirement on mutual saving bank conversions.